Under current rules, Brits get free NHS prescriptions when they turn 60. But this could change under new proposals currently being weighed up by Health Secretary Sajid Javid.
One of the government's suggestions would see free prescriptions being scrapped for those aged 60 to 66 in England - affecting more than three million older Brits.
According to the government's own analysis, this would disproportionately affect women, minorities, and those on lower incomes the most.
NHS prescriptions charges currently stand at £9.35, with the price frozen for the next year in the wake of the cost of living crisis.
A public consultation on the scrapping of free prescriptions for those aged 60 to 65 was held in September 2021, but the publication of its findings has been delayed by months.
A petition against the change, which gained 40,000 signatures in January, received a government response, stating: "The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care is considering the results carefully and an announcement setting out the Government’s response and course of action will be made in due course."
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In his proposals, the Health Secretary offers two options. Option A is to implement the change to those aged 60 to 65 immediately; and Option B is to delay and implement the change for those who aren't yet 60.
AgeUK called these changes a "bitter pill to swallow" for many older people who are already struggling but do not qualify for benefits, and that it is effectively a "stealth tax" on men and women leading up to their retirement.
They said: "Our biggest worry about this proposal is its potential impact on people’s health, especially if their money is tight.
"We are deeply concerned they may be reluctant to act on symptoms, seek medical advice or get a diagnosis, for fear they will be unable to afford long term, symptom-relieving or even in some cases life-saving medication."
The government has defended its plans, citing the statistic that 89 per cent of all prescriptions in England are handed out free of charge and that the remaining 11 per cent raises more than £600m in revenue for the NHS.
The money raised from paid prescriptions equates to 3.5 per cent of the total £17bn spent on medicines by the health service in 2021.
Those who have a repeat prescription, but do not qualify for an exemption, can pay an annual charge of £108.10 for an unlimited use Prescription Prepayment Certificate - or apply for the NHS Low Income Support Scheme if earning under £16,000.
Who is eligible for free prescriptions?
In Scotland and Wales, all prescriptions are completely free.
Currently, in England, everyone over the age of 60 and under the age of 16 is able to get an unlimited number of prescribed items for free.
The other groups who benefit from free prescriptions are:
- Those who are pregnant or have had a baby in the previous 12 months, with a valid maternity exemption certificate
- Students and apprentices in a form of post-16 education
- Anyone with a specified medical condition and have a valid medical exemption certificate
- People with a continuing physical disability that prevents you from going out without help from another person, with a valid medical exemption certificate
- War pensioners with an exemption certificate and where the prescription is for an accepted disability
- Any NHS inpatient
-
Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Pension Credit Guarantee Credit, Universal Credit and meet the financial criteria
What does the government's analysis say?
Under the Equality Act 2010, public bodies are required to analyse how policy changes will affect different groups within society.
While you can read the full report here, below are the consequences of the change foreseen by the government.
- Disabled people - Accepting that the change will disproportionately affect people with disabilities, they said: "There is a possibility that people in the 60 to 65 age group may be deterred from claiming and using their medication correctly, to reduce their financial cost.
"The deterrent effect is likely to be most prevalent in long term conditions, some of which may be classed as disabilities, where full medicine adherence is important to manage the condition and people must pay for regular prescriptions over a long period of time." - Women - Citing the gender pay gap and the disproportionate care burden shouldered by women, they said: "Increasing the prescription exemption age could impact women more severely than men as they may be less able to afford to pay; however, other exemptions such as the NHS Low Income Scheme (NHS LIS) and exemptions related to claiming Universal Credit are available, to protect the most vulnerable."
- Race and minority groups - In reference to structural inequality and worse health outcomes for minority groups, they said: "People from black and minority ethnic backgrounds are more likely to have long-term health conditions requiring medications, not all of which would be covered by a medical exemption.
"For example, compared with their white British counterparts, estimates of disability-free life expectancy are approximately 10 years lower for Bangladeshi men and 12 years lower for Pakistani women."
