Many people fear visiting the doctor as they worry that it might result in them having to pay for prescription medication.
It is understandable that people have concerns over this expenditure as it costs £8.60 each time, but equally, putting off going to the doctor can be incredibly dangerous.
Putting off the doctor does not address your problem and this could result in you living uncomfortably and also running the risk of your ailment getting worse. This could lead to a host of other problems and this is why people are always encouraged to go to the doctor as soon as possible.
If you have concerns about the cost of prescriptions, here are a few tips for saving money:
1. Check if You’re Entitled to Free Prescriptions
In the UK, you are entitled to free prescriptions if you are under 16, over 60, in full-time education between 16 and 18, pregnant or had a baby in the last year.
You are also entitled if you receive income support, you have a war patient exemption certificate, you are an NHS inpatient or you have a valid Medical Exemption Certificate.
2. Prepay
Those that require regular prescriptions should take advantage of the prepay certificates (a bit like a season ticket). A prescription costs £8.60 each time, but a prepay certificate could see you make big savings and especially if you use more than one prescription each month.
3. Ask for a Larger Prescription
If the medicine is not dangerous if overused, ask your GP for a large prescription so that you do not have to come back and pay for another one. They may not be allowed to, but it is always worth asking.
4. Use an Online Prescription Service
You can make savings through online prescription service where you can get your NHS prescription sent through the post. In addition to savings, this is also a quick and easy way to get your medication (particularly helpful for those that do not live near their pharmacist). Always make sure that the pharmacy is above board and the website features the European common logo on each page.
5. Go Over the Counter
If your doctors prescribes a common medication that you could also buy over the counter, such as dermatology creams, it is worth looking to see if it is cheaper at a high street pharmacist. You may well find that it is cheaper than £8.60. Supermarkets can also be a very cheap place to find common medications.
You should never put off going to the doctor, but it is understandable that people have concerns over paying £8.60 for a prescription. However, the above advice could help to make big savings.