Free prescription age: Woman, 64, worries about potential alignment with state pension | Personal Finance | Finance
The proposal has suggested the free prescription age could be raised to align with state pension age – currently 66. The matter is yet to be decided, but even the prospect of a change has some individuals worried.
Express.co.uk spoke exclusively to Sharon Rodgers, a 64-year-old from Nottingham.
She expressed her worry about the proposal which would potentially see the free prescription age change from 60 to 66.
Mrs Rodgers explained: “The prescription debacle is just another thing older people have to worry about.
“If there’s an age change, it is another issue we will have to confront.
READ MORE: Woman calls for free prescription eligibility to be extended on NHS
“But even being able to find the money for that when you are absolutely broke would be really tough.
“This is especially the case because of this cost of living crisis, which is affecting most people.
“Energy bills are up, council tax is up, what else is going to rise? It’s certainly having an effect on my life.
“If the free prescription age changes, it really is just adding another cost many of us simply can’t afford.”
Mrs Rodgers explained how she tries to keep her entertainment and social life free, by partaking in activities which do not require costs.
She is hoping to be able to manage the cost of living crisis in this way.
However, she is still hopeful the free prescription age will remain the same.
Mrs Rodgers concluded: “I just see it as taking people’s money by stealth, all these changes that we weren’t aware of.
“Really, I just think things like this are totally wrong.”
A Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) spokesperson told Express.co.uk: “We recognise the pressures people are facing with the rising cost of living and we are taking action to support households, including freezing prescription charges for the first time in 12 years.
“Thanks to our extensive arrangements to help people afford NHS prescription charges, almost 89 percent of prescription items in England are already provided free of charge.”
