Expired H2C - Prescription Penalty Charges

JW00332

Hi all,

Wondering if anybody has any advice for me, I am a current student and as such have very little income and even littler bank balance. For the past year I have had a H2C form, entitling me to free prescriptions, of which I have maybe 10 items per month consistently. The form expired in January 17, and I received a letter on the 7th May informing me that I have a £42.50 penalty charge, and £82 charge for the prescriptions that I claimed between 1-28th Feb. This totals almost £150 and obviously I cannot afford this.

I have now applied for a new H2C as soon as I saw this letter, however I am worried I'm going to receive similar letters for March, April, and now May. If the same penalties are applied, I'm facing over £500 in charges for making the genuine mistake of not renewing my form (which is never checked at the pharmacy).

I believe this is deeply unfair, the NHS have previously acknowledged that I cannot afford to pay for my prescriptions. I simply cannot afford even this first amount. I was "entitled" at the time that these charges were made, but failing to renew the card has resulted in the potential for multiple hundreds of pounds of fines, which there is no way I can afford.

Has anyone had similar experience and suggestions for how to go about this? I am happy to pay some sort of penalty, I realise that it is my fault that the H2C expired, but I feel that the penalty amount is grossly unfair for someone in my situation.

Thanks

[Deleted User]

"They" don't know what your current situation is, with respect I would suggest you tele them.

Londonsu

Pharmacies are supposed to check with the patient but in reality its very difficult, Pharmacists have a duty of care towards patients (much like a GP) so they will not refuse to dispense medication even if the patient cant provide proof, but they also have a duty of care towards their staff and I have seen people kick off big time when asked to show proof, so they do their job they dispense the medication and tick the evidence not seen box on the back and let the NHSBSA investigate.


You would have ticked the box saying you are named on a current HC2 charges certificate not just a HC2 charges certificate and you would have signed the declaration on the back confirming that the information you have given is correct and that you understand that if its not 'appropriate action' may be taken so really it is up to you the patient to check that your exemption is up to date not the pharmacy.


And sorry it really is not a matter of the NHS having previously acknowledged that you cannot afford to pay for your prescriptions and therefore should automatically assume you still are, you are claiming an income related benefit which is only valid for the life of the certificate which is why it has an expiry date so you can get a new one once you have proved you are still entitled to it and your income has not increased


You can try appealing

NYM

10 items a month! :eek:

That's going to be one hefty bill

nannytone_2

its a HUGE learning curve, but if you want to receive something for nothing, it is your responsibility to ensure that you are abiding by the rules ( making sure your HC2 is current)
bet you won't make the same mistake again

jobbingmusician

It seems fair to me to charge you a small penalty charge for forgetting to renew. And £42.50 is a small charge. So far so good.

What does seem a little unfair to me is charging you the full amount for all the many prescriptions you have to buy each month. Have you tried asking nicely - apologising for forgetting to renew your H2C, explaining any mitigating circumstances, if any. Explain that 10 items per month is a truly unaffordable cost for a student, and ask if there is any way a new H2C could be backdated to the date of expiry of the old one?

I assume you have checked that the condition/none of the conditions for which you receive these multiple prescriptions is eligible for free prescriptions?

If all this fails, you'll just have to suck it up, I'm afraid. The only thing you are actually being FINED is £42.50, which does seem a reasonable fine. Apart from that you are just being asked to pay for your prescriptions. Fingers crossed that you will be allowed to backdate your new certificate - you will simply have to find the means to pay for this, and you must have realised that it would need to be renewed sometime!