AmerLisa

You said you were a dualie - or have you changed to suit your whim? And I'm assuming your main residence is here in the States.....?

Kali-forniarrr

I have one in each.

Ash UK/US

Going by memory, everytime I got a prescription in the UK I had to sign the prescrip form... wouldn't it be illegal to claim free prescriptions without the exemption?

bevinva

According to you someone just like your daughter should not take them for free. Now you're saying a person would be silly not to and say her circumstances have changed. Did they change after your first post about her thyroid condition, there you said she was able bodied enough to work and pay for her meds.

AmerLisa

Well that's convenient for you then. Do you maintain doctors over here? Or do you fly back when you're ill? It must be nice to come and go whenever you please.

AmerLisa

I don't believe that an able bodied person should get something for free. However, if you're paying tax over there, you are in essence paying for it anyway. She is paying tax, so she does pay for her medicine - just not directly. I'm not saying someone is silly not to accept it - I'm saying that if someone offers you something that's "free" who wouldn't take it?

AmerLisa

I'm sure it would....do you think that people might commit fraud?

Ash UK/US

It would seem very obvious!

bevinva

If I could afford it now but had to claim the exemption to protect me in the future I would give something to a charity to offset it. So in that sense I'm the type of person who wouldn't take what I didn't need if I can use that to help others.

Ash UK/US

AmerLisa

If all I had to do was click a few boxes and presto I received a free medication - regardless if I was entitled to it - guess it wouldn't be too hard to do. Thankfully I have more morals than that.....

AmerLisa

Making a point isn't always easy with the written word.....but I am glad you got some enjoyment out of it.

Out of pocket expense should be judged on your ability to pay - not whether you have a certain condition. If you worked full time and were still able to make a huge wage - and were very well off - should you not be responsible for paying for some out of pocket expense for your health care? And before we go around again - my daughter is not well off - she works a very short amount of hours and not due to her condition either. The "free" medical isn't bad for people who genuinely deserve it, but if you can work and can pay something towards the cost (besides the ever present tax) wouldn't it make the NHS a bit more effective?

Tracym

So what.

My husband's experience is just as valid as yours.

However I formed an opinion, I still have a right to it. And I have never misrepresented myself.

So I find this somewhat pointless.

Actually, once you've been out of the country for 3 months, I believe you are not entitled to it. Unless you've returned for permanent residence.

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/E...able/DH_074386

"If you choose to go and live permanently (or for more than 3 months each year) in a country with which the UK does not have a bilateral health agreement, then you will not normally be eligible for free NHS hospital treatment during a visit to the UK, no matter how long you may have lived here in the past"

Unless you fit some sort of exemption, you are misusing the system, it appears.

Ash UK/US

Re-read what I said.

Ash UK/US

So how did you get meds when you were preggers and didn't have a card?