?ALL medication is free for those with lifetime conditions - WHY

I'm curious why you choose to masquerade as a fictional character?

I see, interesting. How would this scheme take into account the savings of the patient, do you advocate that GPs should have access to bank records ???

He's not doing anything I'm not--my name isn't DLTapped I can assure you. His just happenes to be about a series, mine's a short version of a saying that originated in India.

I was watching Jezza Kyle this morning--I do most days as I like to see how people live. Oh & don't think it's all staged. I know someone who works as a therapist on there & believe me it's real.

A young man came onto the show with his pregnant girlfriend. She was insanely jealous to the point of him packing in his job to be with her all the time. She won't let him out of her sight & was complaining that he gets aroused whilst out with her at the sight of an attractive woman.

He made himself poor. Now both of them are on state benefits (she actually stated if he went out to work again, then so would she & that would mean meeting blokes etc etc etc). There are many like them who make themselves in this situation & similar. Absolutely pathetic & it shouldn't be allowed.

Why should I make the decison to save & then have to spend it on medication when people like them get it for nothing?

My good friend Mike started with a serious heart & lung condition at the age of 57. His medication for this condition started at 50 grand a year--it will be more now (that was 10 years ago). He has money--a considerable amount of money. He managed to continue to work for a couple of years, reducing his hours until he finished altogether.

Should he have paid for this treatment because he had money? He most likely would have been able to afford it for a few years--possibly even now. I don't know how much money he has, but I know he's well off. His house is worth about 750 grand too. Should he have had to downsize & pay?

House is right--it would be difficult if not impossible to do what you suggest. It would also cost more than it would save to set up.

The money that goes to people with Thyroid disfunction is a drop in the ocean. The huge drain on this country by people who're like the Jezza Kyle case above, the waste of money by the NHS (look how many millions they wasted on a computer system that failed), darned Government swapping & changing power, policies--not to mention the money wasted on a war we shouldn't be involved in.

I've had nothing, but never did I whinge about people who had something--I did something about it. When I had a fair bit--I paid a whacking great amount of tax of various types + capital gains when I sold the business. Tax tax tax tax tax--all the way.

My Husband accrued his own pension from his income, which he paid tax on. He now pays tax on his pension. I sold my business & invested it for my future--my pension.

So--the layabouts of society get all found & people like me have to pay for everything until they have nowt left. Lovely! Oh & if I ever need 24 hr care--for sure we'll have to pay until the money, house & they can now look into your valuables (family heirlooms etc) to fund your care. Right down to around 20 grand.

Well--you think like this now, but I bet you won't once you've got on in life--and you will. I also bet your partner will continue to take his free prescriptions once he gets a decent job.

To be honest Ellie, you would be better off picking up another cause to wave your banner for. I still work, but as a volunteer now. I do it online for a charity I have passion about. You seem to think I'm out of touch about poor people/less well off. I am not. Part of my work is supporting people who suffer from a mostly invisible illness. People who suffer with this condition & there are many conditions like this are being penalised by the new benefits system for disability/sickness.

The Jezza Kyle brigade can get money, but people with illness/disability where the symptoms fluctuate or are hard to define are being denied benefits or are having to fight until they are at their wits end to get them. Believe me--it is terrible.

Actually, one of the suffe

House - people who are on low income can already apply through the NHS for an exemption card. If they had that card then if a GP ticked that they have to pay they wouldn't.

DLTapped - I agree about scroungers. But there are genuine people out there.

As I said a few times before this isn't my 'cause' its just something I've only just become aware of. Please, please check posts before you make statements like that. It shows you up.

I've also said I have no arguments about people getting meds for things to do with their lifetime condition - AGAIN please check previous posts

If they communicate with their GP about what is wrong and why they needs meds it might work - not perfectly - nothing ever does.

I can't agree with what you want to do but you don't need to answer to me, only your own conscience. You're complaining about having to pay for something when you have savings in the bank.

Likewise my partner will make his own decision but he knows my opinion.

We're not going to agree on this. I'm not sure why you feel the need to tell me so much self-congratulatory stuff but i'm sure it makes you feel better or helps you feel you've proved

I could bang on about good things I do, or how much my parents worked/gave up but that's not what this discussion is about.

I'm sorry you've misunderstood. I hope you get to keep hold of your heirlooms instead of selling them to be able to look after yourself. I know how important material possessions are in contrast to health and care.

Yes the government waste money all over the shop - this is one of the ways - not the biggest I concede.

does that mean i can have free scrips i have had over active thyroid over a year now and i still pay for my pills

Yes you should be able to get all prescriptions free. Ask your pharmacist about it.

Ellie,

I missed your comment, probably due to the fact I had quite a bit to do at the time.

My bees were more interesting than my computer at the time of your post. I think you have too much time on your hands to read into what you think the sort of person I am.

I'd get a life if I was you.

Jea--get to your Doctor & ask for a form to be completed & send it off. I get mine free until next year, when I shall be applying for another. I hope you get a rebate too, but I doubt it.

Wow resurrecting an argument that finished 2 months ago and I need to get a life? Pot, kettle, black m'dear.

PS: good on you for keeping bees and helping them. I only wish I had time for such hobbies

Try living in the Irish Republic.

In Ireland, those not on a Medical Card (see below) or registered with the Long term Illness Scheme must go through the Drugs Payment Scheme.

Pharmacies here charge, for each item: cost price + 100% mark-up + €7 dispensing fee.

You pay in full, up to a maximum of €132 per month (it was €120 but they put it up last budget - a tax on the sick).

A visit to the GP costs between €50 and €60.

Those with a means-tested medical card (about 30% of population) get free GP visits, free prescriptions and appliances.

Those on the Long-Term Illness scheme get free prescriptions and appliances. Free GP visits are to be introduced. But only 15 illnesses and conditions are covered by this. For example, these do not include any kind of mental illness (for the over-16s) or asthma. Diabetes has only just been added to the list.

The result is that people who fall just above the income threshold for the medical card are almost certainly struggling to make ends meet. Even those on 'relatively good incomes' may be struggling thanks to current ecomomic conditions. As a result, some people are missing routine GP appointments and not taking regular medication. They have little choice.

In the longer term this will cost the health services more because more people will present with acute or more severe illnesses at hospitals. Indeed, this is already starting to happen and is contributing to the current crisis in Anad E departments.

Providing good primary care and careful management of long-term conditions could be part of the reasoning behind providing free medication for long-term illnesses in the UK.

Ellie--remember I can't hold down a job these days (not on benefits). Hubby does all the heavy stuff with the bees. However I still have a brain (well, when the condition I have doesn't duck with it) & I do what I can, when I can. So I do have time to make comments when I can do little else. You're obviously young, healthy & should have a life. No way would I be on here at all if I was your age & fit.

I am doing it for environment reasons & economic reasons--however the weather's put a dampener on any profit for this year. In fact it's beggar'd up my hives, so I'm having to import queen bees as they're sturdier than the ones I have & less swarmy.

Anona (lovely name btw)--thanks for making your comment. We don't always appreciate the benefits we have in this country--our health service is not always perfect, but most of it is free to us.

As I have said in a previous post--I have a friend who would probably be broke & dead now as the NHS have funded his 50 grand medication per year to keep him alive.

Anona - thanks for you comment. If you read the whole thread what i'm confused about is NOT why people get medication for long-term illnesses free. I absolutely agree with those who have long-term illnesses getting their medication free. My partner is in that situation and I know how difficult or impossible it would be for people if they had to pay. I hope that Ireland (& the UK to a degree) are quicker to recognise the conditions that should receive this sort of help.

What I don't understand is why that qualifies them for ALL medications free. For example, if they had a standard ear infection unrelated to their long term condition they would get the treatment free whilst others would have to pay. I just don't understand the discrepancy.

They are two different issues.

As for not being here if you were fit and healthy... i'm surprised to hear that. I have an interest in things like how the NHS works and how the government spend its money so I looked for answers. I don't think that should illicit insults about not having a life. More people need to ask questions and not just accept what is going on.

Regarding the bees (off topic I know) - hasn't the UK and Europe had a massive problem with bees dying off? I seem to remember there being real concern.

Ellie--some of the comments you have made would be considered to be insulting to most people. No, I would not be here if I was fit & healthy. I've always had an interest in everything, but spent my early life living life to the full (both work & pleasure). Thankfully I did as things change--life is too short/health can be too short.

I perfectly understand why you have your opinion, but in my circustances, as usual I would not be having my free prescriptions if my thyroid was not dysfunctional. Having other chronic illnesses that medication's not free to everyone with the problem, would mean me paying a lot of money in medication per year. No longer working, savings diminishing, benefits no longer available unless you go through a most undignifying/degrading process, which I did & failed--never to try again.

I actually do some voluntary work with a disabled charity online. You have no idea what people go through & people with my primary health issue often have thyroid problems too & it means the world of difference to them to get medication free. There are many people like me who are on the cusp of earnings/savings who never seem to benefit from anything.

As for my bees, yes, they have massive problems with disease. Fortunately nothing bad is in my area & if European foul brood or even worse, American foul brood should reach my area--government inspectors can walk in & destroy everything I have. It's the reason I'm importing Buckfast Queens. They're less swarmy, gentler & hardier than British bees. If it was just for a hobby, I'd go for British black bees, but I'd like to be able to earn a bit from it. I've got an arrangement to sell it locally (whenever I get enough) & on good days I will be able to make beeswax polish & candles--also to sell.

Believe it or not--I am in exactly the same position my Father was in just after the war. He lost his job, had to live off his savings, eventually having to sell his house. Fortunately he was fit & took a job with a house, moving himself & his family far away from his home town. Hmmmmm & I thought this country had made progress instead of going backwards.