Help with NHS Costs - dental - optical etc

ritac1

Can anyone tell me do students get any help with NHS costs?

I have two daughters aged 18 and 19 hoping to go to uni this year. I get Child Tax Credit but assume this wont entitle them to anything once they are at uni, can they get any help with costs in their own right or do they have to pay in full?

Any advice would be helpful.

Thanks

Venny

There is a thing called the HC1 for people on low incomes and there is a specific section for students. However, it is likely that their entitlement to a loan will make their income too high.
See below for more details:

http://www.dh.gov.uk/PolicyAndGuidance/MedicinesPharmacyAndIndustry/Prescriptions/NHSCosts/NHSCostsArticle/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4049391&chk=qoqspx

ritac1

Thankyou, very helpful advice.

dook_2

I get a loan and a bursary and I filled in the form and got free prescriptions, dentist, opticians etc. My 'income' is around £8,000 a year. So your daughters should be eligible as well.

buglawton

The above from dook is exactly what I wanted to know - my son is a student and I was disgusted to find out that he is now expected to pay for NHS prescriptions - it's a scandal that students even have to go thru a means test to get help. We have applied for the form and will be reclaiming previous charges!

Karnam

the HC1 does NOT assume students need to pay for prescriptions.

you need to pick your timing carefully when filling out a HC1, if you do it during term time, you can cite living costs as expenditure, reducing your ability to pay. if you do it during holiday/summer you prob wont get the eligibility.

teeb

You don't mention where they are going to university. If they are studying in Scotland, both regular dental and optical checkups are free on the NHS.

3plus1

teeb wrote:

You don't mention where they are going to university. If they are studying in Scotland, both regular dental and optical checkups are free on the NHS.

If they're studying in Scotland, where are they going to find an NHS dentist?

Optical checkups are going to be free in Scotland for everyone fairly soon anyway.

If your children need any regular medicine, it can often work out much cheaper to get a prepaid card for the year. Off the top of my head, I think it's something like £120 for unlimited drugs.