The Government has confirmed that prescription charges will not rise at the start of April. However, plans are being made that could see more people have to pay.
The cost of prescriptions often rises at the start of April. In 2021 it went up by 20p to £9.35. Health minister Edward Argar has now confirmed that there are no plans to change the price when April begins on Friday.
It's a small boost for those who have to pay at a time when many prices are rising. However, there are plans that would raise the age of free prescriptions to 66, alongside the increasing State Pension age. At the moment anybody aged over 60 can get medicines without paying, reports ChronicleLive.
If the changes went ahead, it could see as many as 2.4million people in Britain lose out on free prescriptions. There are two different proposals being looked at.
One would mean the change comes into immediate effect for everyone so that those aged 60 to 65 have to start paying for medication, the other would mean anyone in the 60-65 age bracket who already gets free prescriptions would still be exempt from payment until they reach 66, so they would not suddenly face charges.
Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, said: "We are regularly contacted by older people asking what is happening with the changes as they are so worried about having to pay for their prescriptions with little warning."
A petition to keep free prescriptions for the over-60s has been signed by more than 46,000 people and the Department of Health and Social Care responded to it with a full statement explaining its position.
The statement said: "At this time, no decision has yet been taken on the consultation. 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.
"The Government would like to stress its commitment to keeping the NHS sustainable whilst protecting the most vulnerable. Approximately 89 per cent of prescription items are dispensed free of charge, and extensive arrangements are in place to help those most in need.
"It is estimated that 34 per cent of those in the age range 60-65 would be exempt from prescription charges if the upper age limit for free prescriptions was raised in line with the State Pension age. Prescription charges generate revenue for the NHS of approximately £600m per year, which goes towards essential running costs for frontline services.
"Currently, people receive free prescriptions when they turn 60 in England. This has not changed since 1974 for women, and 1995 for men. The State Pension age in England is currently 66 and is planned to increase further for men and women to 68 in future years. In 2019/20, around 60 per cent of people in the 60-65 age group were still economically active and potentially able to meet the cost of their prescriptions.
"As increasing numbers of people live longer, there are more people claiming free prescriptions. It is projected that by 2066, there will be a further 8.6 million projected UK residents aged 65 years and over, which will be 26 per cent of the total population."
