When does a child stop getting free prescriptions/dentistry?

Jaynee123

My son is awaiting his A2 level results before deciding whether to go to Uni or stay on at school to resit his exams but their appears to be a Grey area as to when he has to start paying for prescriptions / dentist. He will be 19 in September. The dentist is insisting that he is no longer entitled to free dentistry, yet to me he should be entitled until he is 19 (he still hasn't received his results yet!). I spoke to the PCT and they don't seem to know.

I don't mind paying for his dentist check-up after he's 19 but since the work involved is removal of a baby tooth which the dentist admits should have been done before, I don't see why I should! He want to charge me £50 for a tooth that should have been removed years ago!

Can anyone confirm legally when free dentistry stops!

Thanks

J:(

MrsManda

If the treatment starts before his 19th birthday he will be able to get it free.

You get free:

• NHS prescriptions
• NHS dental treatment for any course of treatment that starts before your 18th birthday or, if you are in full-time education, your 19th birthday
• NHS sight tests
• NHS wigs and fabric supports

http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/HealthCosts/1546.aspx

Jaynee123

Problem is the dentist is saying that the schools closed for the summer so he isn't officially in full-time education! Pedantic or what!

J:(

Toothsmith

The dentist will get the same amount of money whether you have to pay or not - so the reason for doing the tooth now is not that the dentist will get more if you pay the £42 (I assume it is £42 and you were just rounding up to £50? If it is £50, then you're being charged privately).

But - if you should have paid the NHS fee, and don't, then the patient charge that should have been paid, will still be knocked off his monthly contract cheque once it's processed. So he'll lose out.

You have checked with the PCT, and they seem clueless too!

If it turns out he IS still exempt, then you can claim back the money paid. If the dentist doesn't charge you, and then has the fee deducted - he will have to chase you for it, or chase you to get the exemption proved. Far simpler just to charge the fee, and let you sort it out.

Legally, as your son is NOT registered with any educational establishment at the moment, he is NOT in full time education.

MrsManda

Jaynee123 wrote: »

Problem is the dentist is saying that the schools closed for the summer so he isn't officially in full-time education! Pedantic or what!
J:(

I know you've said your son hasn't decided whether he's going to university or not in September as it depends on his grades but has he applied and accepted an offer via UCAS?
According to the HC11 leaflet he may be entitled to free dentistry if he is expecting to continue in education and has an offer letter:

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.

http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/HealthCosts/Documents/HealthCosts/HC11.pdf

Jaynee123

I actually told them that I was still receiving child benefit but they said it wasn't relevant. The PCT just quoted that a child under 19 who was still in full-time education was entitled to free dentistry but they were unable to say exactly when officially full-time education ended! That's why it seems to be a Grey area! My point is that until he receives his results surely he is still in full-time education !

Anyway they removed his tooth this morning and didn't charge for the removal but he is due to see the orthodontist next Tuesday so we will have to see what they say! I certainly won't be able to pay for my son to have braces on the NHS! Especially since if he goes to Uni I will no doubt be subsidizing him as I did his brother and sister!

He's tried everywhere to get a job and apart from some freelance internet design work has found nothing - maybe I should have made him sign on for JSA then he would automatically be entitled to free dentistry!!!!

J:D

Jaynee123

Thanks - Yes he has accepted a provisional offer (subject to grades)

J

adouglasmhor

When he goes to Uni tell him to apply for free or subsidised treatment, when I was an undergraduate I did this and got limited help, which meant the most I had to pay at the dentists was £2 and not the full NHS charge at the time.
http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/your_family/health/help_with_health_costs.htm#helpwithhealthcostsifyouareonalowincome

plenty of smartãrses on my course said you were not entitled and never applied and got to pay the lot or left dental problems untreated..

Jaynee123

I've just checked with NHS phone helpline (should have done that first silly me!). As far as the government is concerned he is still in full-time education up until his 19th birthday if he hasn't got a full-time job ! Great that means if he has to have braces I won't have to pay and my dear dentist can whistle!! Thanks for all the help!

J

brook2jack

The dentist may have a restricted child only contract that restricts NHS treatment to under 18s only.So he may still not offer NHS treatment to your son.

Also be warned in England and Wales orthodontics is generally not available to over 18s unless severe problems.

Jaynee123

No our dentist is accepting all NHS patients children & adults. Son has an appointment with orthodontist next week so we will have to wait and see whats offered if anything! I am not 100% with our dental practice as for 2 previous visits we were told that we didn't need our teeth descaling (or what ever the term!) and yet the lady dentist that we saw last week said our teeth were in a terrible state with plaque and we need to return in 6 months to try and get it under control! The previous dentist wanted us to pay £40+ to visit his hygienist, whereas this one did it as part of the check-up!

So what does your £17 get you? Anyone know?

J:D