Pre-Existing Conditions & NHS

Also, I don't believe students pay for prescription charges.

Yes, they do.  I have two student children -one with chronic asthma and they start being charged for precriptions the minute they finish school/turn 19.

Yes, they do.  I have two student children -one with chronic asthma and they start being charged for precriptions the minute they finish school/turn 19.

Thanks for correcting me, although I am surprised.  I would have thought that the category of student would have been one of those tick-boxes on the back of the form you hand into the chemist.   Mind you, I live in Wales - where no one gets charged for prescriptions any more.

Thanks for correcting me, although I am surprised.  I would have thought that the category of student would have been one of those tick-boxes on the back of the form you hand into the chemist.

Only if you are under 19, so many first-year undergraduate students will get free prescriptions if they are still 18 (I didn't turn 19 until the end of my first year of university, so I got free prescriptions until then). The tick-box says: patient is aged 16, 17 or 18 and in full-time education. There is also an HC1 form that students can fill in to find out if they can get help with paying prescription/eye test/glasses/dental costs too.

Sorry haven't read all the thread but the only time a pre-existing condition wont be treated unless you have had no treatment for 2 ish years is private health care in the UK or holiday insurance  cover on occassion.

Only if you are under 19, so many first-year undergraduate students will get free prescriptions if they are still 18 (I didn't turn 19 until the end of my first year of university, so I got free prescriptions until then). The tick-box says: patient is aged 16, 17 or 18 and in full-time education. There is also an HC1 form that students can fill in to find out if they can get help with paying prescription/eye test/glasses/dental costs too.

A lot of surgeries/dentists/chemists are much stricter with this and if you're in higher education instead of further education they will not exempt you.

A lot of surguries/dentists/chemists are much stricter with this and if you're in higher education instead of further education they will not exempt you.

My experiences are from 2001/02 and as I understood it then, anyone under 19 and in full-time education (no matter what type of education) got free prescriptions, but maybe they are being more strict with it now. Doesn't seem fair though if they are making under-19s in higher education pay, since this NHS HC11 file on Help with Health Costs states:

CHILDREN UNDER 16 AND YOUNG PEOPLE AGED 16, 17 AND 18 IN FULL-TIME EDUCATION

Qualifying full-time education means you must be receiving full-time instruction at a recognised educational establishment or by other means accepted as comparable by the Secretary of State to a school, college or university. You will be covered between years or when changing schools if a letter is provided from the school/college to be attended in September. If it is not a recognised establishment, you still may be able to claim for help with health costs under the NHS Low Income Scheme – read pages 24-27.

You are generally not considered to be receiving full-time education once you have finished A Level (or equivalent) as you will have come off a school or college register. If however you do intend to continue in full-time education and have a letter offering you a higher education place for the term following your further education, you may be eligible during the vacation.

If however you do intend to continue in full-time education and have a letter offering you a higher education place for the term following your further education, you may be eligible during the vacation.[/i]

It's obvious that they're sticking to the letter of the law now.  I totally agree that students should be exempt.  Especially as I now have the bimonthly inhaler to pay for.

It's obvious that they're sticking to the letter of the law now.  I totally agree that students should be exempt.  Especially as I now have the bimonthly inhaler to pay for.

Would a prescription pre-payment certificate be worth it? I guess if it's bimonthly probably not, but it maybe an option for others with chronic conditions that require one or more prescriptions a month

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/Medicinespharmacyandindustry/Prescriptions/NHSCosts/DH_4049383