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

  1. I'm confused and just after someone to explain the logic. I understand that certain lifetime conditions warrant free medication to treat that condition or associated problems. - Very noble of the NHS.

    BUT I don't understand why this means ALL medications are free to those people?

    I someone with a thyroid problem gets a fungal infection on their toe nail (for example) they will get the treatment cream for free. While someone without a thyroid problem won't.

    Given that our government needs to save money, how can this situation stand? It doesn't make any sense. Please help me understand it.

  2. Government and Sense are an irresolvable contradiction,, a bit like Democracy and Freedom :D

  3. It's a good job I get all meds free. I now have thyroid meds, but I'm asthmatic, have hay fever,

    eczema, psoriasis, fibromyalgia, osteopenia & a yeast skin disorder.

    After 38 years of working full time I lost my job thanks to my health. I'm not bad enough for DLA & thanks

    to the changes in benefits I can't even claim sick pay.

    My Husband lost his job at the same time, but he has a small pension. i am grateful for the free meds.

    I have 3 inhalers, skin creams, thyroxine, calcium & daily meds for the fibromyalgia.

    If I was still able to work---I'd be glad to pay.

  4. You would get free meds as a person on a low income even if you didn't have a lifetime condition. So it's not exactly the same thing.

    I don't understand why people who work get free meds for things that aren't to do with their condition.

  5. In mad house Britain it's insane to think otherwise,, let's all sit in a circle and sing Kumbaya :D

  6. The thing is--having certain conditions like thyroid disfunction, can lead to other health issues, like in my case.

    Our income is low, but not low enough to qualify for anything & we've been topping up our living with savings for over 3 years. I worked for 38 years, earned my own money with odd jobs for 3 years before officially working (babysitting, pea pulling, shopping for elderly neighbours). I've paid my share into the system in contributions & taxes. Why the heck should a chronically ill person have to pay for meds when certain countries in the UK don't pay at all?

    If I worked I wouldn't even have applied for free meds with the thyroxine. I'm not a greedy person & I had a very good job, hence the savings.

    I like your style house!

    wink wink

  7. I don't think the inequaity between countries in the UK is especially fair either.

    And I did say I wasn't begrudging illnesses associated with any lifetime condition.

    Surely your savings are for topping up in old age? Isn't that why people save? You're lucky you had a very good job that you can now reap the rewards of? Or should we supplement you now while you have money in the bank? That's pretty greedy.

    I earn £13,000 a year and you're asking me to pay for you? I don't mind with your thyroid problem, or problems it cause. My partner also has a thyroid problem. I do object to paying for medication that isn't to do with your thyroid problem and isn't associated with it.

  8. I paid into the system & took nothing out for 38 years. I worked with fibromyalgia for over 25 years, many people would've given up & gone on benefits (while they

    were available--they're not so much these days).

    I was only off work for only 11 weeks for having 1 child. I was hardly ever off sick & I never claimed sick pay. Most of the years I was self employed anyhow & I employed 40 staff at 1 time--adding to the economy.

    Anything I'm getting now I have well & truly paid for it.

    I saved my money instead of getting a private pension & I'm not at retirement age yet. I might have a long time to live--if I'm lucky.

    You should be concentrating your efforts on people who really do bleed the system. Watch Jeremy Kyle on day time tv & write into the show.

    So--you're not paying for my medications out of your 13 grand. It's well & truly paid for out of my hard graft for 38 years & my Husbands for 45. He's as fit as a lop & has also hardly ever been sick.

  9. To repeat; I DO NOT begrudge you medication for you thyroid problem nor associated illnesses.

    Congratulations on having a relatively normal working life and contributing to society.

    However, I object to the fact that YOU get free medication for other things not related to your condition while other people in the same position as you have to pay for it. They have paid taxes but don't get any free medication. Surely if someone worked 38yrs and paid taxes etc ... and didn't have a lifetime condition, they should also get free meds as they have contributed to society?

    Your argument now seems to be that you deserve all meds free (i already said i don't begrudge the ones for your condition) because you worked a long time and paid taxes. - That's a different issue.

    I'm saying... if there are two people who have worked, paid taxes etc... have a toenail infection (for example) and one has an (unrelated) lifetime condition why should one person have to pay for medication while the other doesn't? It makes no sense.

    While it would be lovely for everyone to get free medication the state cannot afford it - whether you like it or not that is a fact.

  10. Also I expect you did take out of the system in 38 years - fire service, roads, NHS, police etc...

    And yes... there are worse leeches on the system. This particular problem only just came to my attention.

  11. I thank you for understanding where I'm coming from & I agree to a point about someone being able to get stuff they can buy over the counter, from their Doc because it''s free.

    However--Doctors are responsible for some of this. Before I started with thyroid probs. My Doc often used to ask me if I got free prescriptions & would tailor his prescription because I didn't.

    So I think Docs are guilty of adding trivial meds to patients prescriptions.

    I'm just grateful that this system exists for me in my situation. I don't bother my GP for stuff I can

    buy over the counter. I only see my GP yearly unless my asthma is bad. The rest I manage

    myself by keep taking the tablets.

    Like I said before--the Jezza Kyle brigade is a bigger drain on the country than the people with chronic health issues.

    If you only knew the hardship people with chronic illness & disability now have to go through, you'd understand. When I 1st went off sick, the Disability Officer of the DWP apologised to me for what I was about to go through. He also blamed 2nd & 3rd generation sick claimants for the changes to benefits.

    I had no idea what he was talking about, but believe me--belonging to a disability forum, there are many who are now struggling to live.

    I consider myself very lucky to be in the situation I'm in. Have a good evening.

  12. Excuse me--I have always paid for the police, fire service etc through my council tax. I also drive, so I pay my road tax for the roads I use.

    I think I covered my NHS costs too-------more than!

  13. You said you'd paid into the system for 38years and taken nothing out. I was pointing our that you have.

  14. Ellie I don't think you understand the system. I don't take anything out by having access to the

    police, fire service,bins, street lighting etc. I pay for the service with my taxes, just like I pay for my food, electric & gas.

    My Husband still pays income tax on his pension & as we have both paid years more natiional

    insurance contributions than we needed--I think I can safely say I've paid for any health costs I

    have or have had in my life.

    If we'd ever had housing benefit, then you could say we'd had something out of that system.

    Although I've enjoyed this discussion I have nothing more to say on the matter-- biggrin

  15. I do understand . You paid into the system.... and took out through fire services etc....

    You may well have paid more in than you have used/taken out.

    My point was you cannot say that you haven't taken anything from the system in 38years... you paid in with your taxes and they provided services. It's not like you paid in and got nothing at all back. - That was my point.

    You may well have paid enough in to cover everything you've had out. That wasn't my point. You implied you have used/taken/received nothing at all. Which is untrue if you've lived here. I'm not saying the state paid for anything for you. I hope you can understand my point as I don't know how else to say it.

    Although I wonder if you appreciate the real cost of things.

    Quite churlish to end the conversation without letting me reply especially after your continued misunderstanding of my point and downright patronising comments.

    I might be younger than you it does not make me stupid.

    I've found this discussion frustrating and I do not wish to hear from you again.

  16. I've been patronising? Where? I never said you were stupid anywhere either.

    Your discussion has sparked off something in me actually. Thinking about how much we've paid into the system--a collective 83 years & my Father before me (who worked from 14 to 77) has made me think differently. He had it right--he was a high earner, but poor saver--spending almost everything he had.

    I think I'm going to follow his footsteps--saying adios to anything I've saved before the government,

    local authority get their grubby mitts on it. I'm going to stop being daft & not asking for things on my prescription. I pay a lot for skin medication, bathing & otherwise due to the steroids. I'll ask for them next time I go & get them put on repeat.

    You never said if your partner accepts more than the prescribed medication for the thyroxine? If not now--I bet it will happen if either of you loses an income.

    There are worse issues than the chronically sick being able to get a few things free on the NHS.

    Oooo--I bet you don't know people with any form of mental illness get a reduction in council tax? They still use the fire service, police, street lighting, bins etc.

  17. Patronising "Ellie I don't think you understand the system." - when you actually had failed to understand what I was saying.

    I already acknowledged that you have paid more into the system than taken back. - I don't know why you feel the need to bang on about it. You are obviously very bitter about being asked to contribute to society and helping those less fortunate, but it's a different issue than the one I raised here.

    My partner is a student so would get free meds anyway.

    I have no issues with people who have a problem getting meds for their problem. My mother has mental health issues but chooses not to exercise her right to get a reduction in council tax as she can afford not to take it.

    Yes there are worse issues but I only just learnt about this one.

    You go ahead and take more from the system - but stop complaining that the government can't give money to others. There is a limited pot to go around - whether people like it or not it's a fact. You can't complain that there are disabled people who can't afford to live then take take take on your free prescription card.

    Very 'middle england'

    If you're not going to bother reading what I write it's a pretty pointless discussion.

  18. PS - see how annoying it is when someone else closes the discussion before you can reply wink

  19. Should this topic be open to discussion and debate, yes,, is this how one goes about it, no smile

  20. When one makes a comment like the one made, then one must accept someone will disagree, that's what debate & discussion is all about.

    I'm not angry--I rarely get angry about anything. I could have got annoyed at the comment about your salary of 13 grand a year was perhaps paying for me!!! However--I did not get angry. I have paid for my entitlements--you are paying for yours in the future & that's 1 of the things I meant you didn't understand.

    As far as council tax, road tax is concerned--it's like purchasing gas & electric really. All necessary for people to live in todays world, so I am getting what I pay for--not something out of anything. That's what I meant.

    Middle England eh? Hmmmm--me thinks not! I'm just a woman from a working class background, who had to start at the very bottom in life & work really hard. My Father was a high earner, but he worked in an engineering factory, working long long, dirty hours. He believed I, like him, had to earn for myself & I did, from a very early age.

    I lived in a prefabricated house, belonging to the place my Father worked. I went to the local comp & left with basic qualifications as my Father wouldn't support any of us in further education. He left school & found his way--he expected his children should do the same. I got a job in an office, lived, learned & fought upwards until I had enough knowledge to branch out on my own. I did so by cashing in a pension I started in my 20's. Just 250 quid!

    I wasn't lucky. I worked long, long hours--much longer than my Father to make a better life for myself & my family. I brought up my child & 2 others I took on, educated them to & beyond degree level.

    I'm still supporting my own grown up child, who is still a student--aged 26.

    You & I have 1 thing in common--we're very opinionated. You should go into politics--you'd do very well.

    House--mwah!

    :D

  21. House - I couldn't agree more.

    I became frustrated as you didn't seem to be understanding what I was saying but instead reacted to what you thought I said from a very defensive position. I'm not sure why me stating that someone on a lower wage, who is contributing to a system, would be annoyed that *extra* (not to do with their condition) medicines of people far wealthier than themselves are free - would upset you... ? From what you have said about your background I would think you could empathise with such a sentiment.

    You may be from a working class background but given that you said you ran a company and employed 40 people I would suggest you have reached Middle England. - congratulations - it seems you have indeed worked very hard. I find it curious you feel the need to cling to a working class status when you have clearly worked your arse off to get beyond that: as you say "I worked long, long hours--much longer than my Father to make a better life for myself"..... . Are you ashamed of having worked hard, been successful and become middle-class?

    That is however a different topic entirely. If your child is 26 and still a student the must be at a level of education to have studied a certain amount of philosophical theory and/or social theory. You might find a chat with them about class and how we define it interesting - there are of course no rights and wrongs in that debate.

    I think we both agree you are paying into the system and getting something out of it - and most likely paying in more than it costs to supply what you have used. We're just phrasing it differently.

    My original point was in response to you saying that you take nothing out of the system.

    That's clearly not true but what you take out you are paying for through your contributions. - I never denied that which is why it's so frustrating you keep having a go at me about it! Particularly as it is some distance from the topic I wanted to discuss.

    But it has brought us back to that topic with your statement that " I'm going to stop being daft & not asking for things on my prescription. I pay a lot for skin medication, bathing & otherwise due to the steroids. I'll ask for them next time I go & get them put on repeat".

    Given the background you have outlined and your current position - (of being wealthy enough to at least able to support an adult child - although there are numerous funding opportunities for further education - but that's yet another topic) - it baffles me that you feel you should take more from the system. YES you have paid a lot in but surely your upbringing should help you realise that there are those that need help from the system more.

    We both agree (i think) that the 'leeches' are a major problem. But, at the end of the day there is a limited pot of money. Ok - you have paid a lot in but the more you take out the less there is for others. No they may not have paid in as much as you but (assuming their need is genuine) does that mean they shouldn't be helped?

    Clearly if you were to fall into a category whereby you couldn't afford any medication then it should be there for you. But I would hope that we do not live in a society where everyone claims back what they put in and leaves everyone else to cope. If that were the case those paying 40% tax would be entitled to most of everything.

    Perhaps that's the way it is but that's not how I think it should be.

    If people have a lifetime condition then yes, their medication should be provided for that and any associated illnesses. However, if they can afford it, I do not think they should get non-associated medications free. If they are in a state where they cannot afford it then they would have an exemption certificate anyway.

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