Older people in England who suffer from chronic illnesses and other conditions that require prescriptions may soon be forced to pay for them.
Currently over 60s receive free NHS prescriptions but from this year that is set to change, with expert predicting this will come in April.
On top of this it’s also possible the Government may choose to increase the amount people have to pay for their prescriptions at the same time, making this a double hit.
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The Government announced plans last year to lift the age people in England qualify for free prescriptions from 60 to 66, the same age as the State Pension.
They justified this with the explanation that from 60 to 65 many people are still in employment and will therefore be able to meet the cost.
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Old age charity Age UK has called the plans a “bitter pill to swallow for millions”.
Director Stacey Abrams adding: “We want the Government to realise this will hit those on lower incomes hardest.”
Sarah Coles, a senior personal finance analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said that the early months of 2022 will see a cascade of different tax and price hikes, with income tax, National Insurance, energy prices, council tax and rail fares all rising in cost – and a prescription rise is likely on top of this.
Speaking to the Express, she said: “At the moment there’s no charge for over 60s but that could soon change. If it does, it would drag millions of people into having to pay for essential medicines.”
Currently, under 60s pay £9.35 for their prescriptions, increased from £9.10 last year.
Explained by the Government as a rise in line with inflation, this move was criticised at the time by the Prescription Charges Coalition as a “tax on health”.
At the current rate of increase it’s thought the charge could be as high as £10.15 by 2025.
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