Pre-paid prescriptions

[Bern2]

Hallo all,

I was just reading through some of the posts and noted that Lupus patients do not qualify for free presciptions, as the disease is not on the list.

Another money saving option which you may find useful is pre-paid prescriptions.

Try this site for information

http://www.ppa.org.uk/ppa/ppc_intro.htm


I used the service for years without a problem. Now I am 60 I get my medication free of charge.

Regards

Bern

[Clare.T]

Free prescriptions and the Freedom Pass are almost worth being 60+ for style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif well, almost ...........

Clare

[lin]

<span style="color:#FF0000"><span style="font-family:Tahoma">lol Clare, ............yes i do the 12months one as my Dr told me to, saves money hey!!
shame it cant been free precriptions when you have to have them though !!

Lin xxx

style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif </span></span>

[Bern2]

Hi Clare,

There are some benefits for OAPs!

Is there action to get Lupus on 'the list'?

Do you know what has to be done to get Lupus 'listed'?

Maybe we as a group could contribute?

Regards

Bern

[iris.phillips1]

hi bern i get free precription because ive been classed disabiled i know not everyone gets free precription but most do thanks for the imfo bye

[Bern2]

Hi Iris

I am interested how you get free presciptions? Would you let me know what happened in your case to qualify?

I have had Lupus for many years, and until I reached 60 I paid through the pre-paid system. Did I miss out on free prescriptions?

Regards

Bern

[dollface]

Hi everyone,

I also get a Prepayment certificate on an annual basis, infact my new one just arrived this morning.
It does save you a lot moneywise, but I would also like to know how you can qualify for FREE prescriptions, it would help tremendously.

Abi xx

[hazel595]

Hi Abi

I used to get free prescriptions when I was diagnosed with MS then they stopped the free prescriptions when I was correctly re-diagnosed with CNS Lupus, APS, Sjogrens and Transverse Myelitis as none of those illness are on the "list". I then had to buy a yearly prepayment certificate which was a bummer considering that I still had 'atypical MS symptoms' but not MS. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/hissy1.gif

When I was at a St Thomas' Hospital appointment in London I picked up a January 2003 Thames Valley Lupus Group newsletter called Butterfly and after reading an article by one of the members I applied to my GP for free prescriptions as soon as I returned home to Wales.

Lupus Patients Exempt from Prescition Charges "Quoted from Butterfly newsletter"

During 1968 a list of specified medical conditions were drawn up as a means of exempting chronically sick patients from prescription charges, LUPUS, unfortunately, was not included on this list. Letters have been written to both the DSS and government ministers by Regional LUPUS group chairmen and LUPUS UK Trustees, stressing the importance of steroid dependance by a large number of LUPUS sufferers, and it has now been excepted that LUPUS effects sufferers differently and therefore, it was decided that a patients own doctor should determine as to whether the individual patient suffers from Hypoadrenalism, or not, as a result of steroid medication and so therefore be entitled to free medication.

Patients need to have been on steroids for a long time and still be taking it, also they need to be, or have been on a relatively high dose, not forgetting that the body makes between 4/5 ~ 8/10 mg normally, but chooses to be lazy when it has been given synthetic steroids and stops producing it, but when reducing your steroids with a view to stopping the synthetic drg (i.e. prednisolone) the body will adjust and in most cases, re-instate the bodies own production of steroid!

To see if your andrenal glands have been supressed, throught steroid use, you will need to see your consultant and asked to be tested. The test you will have to complete is called 'Short Synacthen Test', this involves patients on a steroid dose above 5-10mg to stop taking this medication for about 2 weeks and then to have a blood test followed by an injection of ACTH, then a further injection. (Please note this may require an admission to hospital).

If successful your doctor will be happy to sign the Free Prescription Form FP92A (EC92A in Scotland). In some cases, if your Consultant/GP are already sure that, after having long term steroid therapy that your andrenal glands have been prevented from working as they should, they may agree to sign the Free Prescription Form FP92A (EC92A) without it being necessary for you to complete the 'Short Synacthen Test'.

IT MUST BE STRESSED THAT UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES MUST YOU STOP TAKING YOUR STEROIDS, WITHOUT FIRST CONSULTING YOUR CONSULTANT /GP!

My Consultant/GP did not deem it necessary for me to have the 'Short Synacthen Test' and I get my free precriptions and the excempt certificate is valid for 5 years

I hope this helps answer some of the questions you had and that you are able to get free presciptions.......it will be interesting to see how everyone gets on. It is not something your Consultant/GP will think of telling you about, as I expect they think other agencies or support groups will let you know about it, but you are entitled to it if you are steroid dependant.

xxxxhazel

[dollface]

Hi Hazel,

thanks for the reply. I'll see what the doctor says when I go in next week. I'll let you know how I get on.


Take care

Abi

[Debbie28]

Hi all

I also use prepayment certificate, otherwise it would cost a fortune for the prescriptions. !!



thanks

debbie style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/crying.gif