What's the point of a HC3?

DJDavey

I was told last summer I could get some help towards the dentist and for Opticians so to apply for a low income form, which I sent back and was then sent a HC3 form which said I could get so much help etc.

I took this to specsavers and was told it was not the paper it was written on, it said I would have to pay the first £40 towards an eye test and they are only £20 anyway so that was no help.

Then it said I would have to pay £88 towards a eye voucher and was told this was also no use as it would not cost that much for the voucher.

I'm going the dentist tomorrow and It says I need to pay the first £123 per vist to they dentist before I get help, so I can't see it being any use tomorrow.

So if it can not get you any help towards any of this can I ask what was the point of them sending it me in the first place?

GlasweJen

The HC3 isn't great for optical costs (average person gets a voucher for £36.20 but HC3 expects the patient to pay the first £90 so doesn't really work unless you have a huge prescription).

But it does get you free prescriptions which is handy for some.

Indie_Kid

GlasweJen wrote: »

The HC3 isn't great for optical costs (average person gets a voucher for £36.20 but HC3 expects the patient to pay the first £90 so doesn't really work unless you have a huge prescription).

But it does get you free prescriptions which is handy for some.

HC3 doesn't give free prescriptions.

nedmundo

To illustrate how much of a joke this system is, I once had a patient with a HC3, stating she had to pay 2p towards an eye exam. The stationary would cost more than that, let alone the administration.

GlasweJen

Lol Ned, glad the scottish system is simple and we don't need to charge 2p for eye tests! (though I did accidentally click an English NHS button on our system the other day and your sight test rates are appallingly low but that's OT).

Sh I could have sworn that HC3 did give free prescriptions! Now that I think of it HC3 isn't an exemption category on the back of the Rx so I stand corrected.

They do seem rather pointless don't they?