Money saving for People with Diabetes (NOT health advice)

MrsStepford

If you have medication for your diabetes (Type 1 or 2) make sure you ask at your GP surgery for a form to get an NHS Medical Exemption card. This means that your diabetes medication and any other medication prescribed to you, will be free. For Type 2s who low carb and come off meds, you will have to hand it back if you are officially recognised as having reversed your diabetes. 

Diabetes is recognised by the govt as a chronic sickness at  the moment and the govt acknowleges that many people with diabetes develop other conditions also. That means any adaptations to your home eg ripping out bath and replacing with shower, will be VAT free. There are other items also, such as bed jacket, long reach grabbers, some toenail clippers, swivel car cushion, which are also VAT free. You have to make a declaration to the shopand if you do so fraudulently, that's a criminal offence. 

If you use a blood glucose meter and have to buy a new one, ask for a form from the chemist, so that you can reclaim the VAT. 

If you do the best you can, but still end up with amputations and mobility problems, DO ask for disability benefits, Blue Badge etc. Don't suffer financial hardship as well as the disease. 

Bradden

Thanks for posting that.. you suggest making a declaration to the retalier. I'm not sure  shops will have the option not to charge VAT on their sales software - the only ones I've used do not give till staff the option to take off the VAT? I thought the normal process was to pay the VAT and then claim it back? If this is the case then do you need to tell the retailer at the time of sale?

Auntycaz

MrsStepford said:

If you have medication for your diabetes (Type 1 or 2) make sure you ask at your GP surgery for a form to get an NHS Medical Exemption card. This means that your diabetes medication and any other medication prescribed to you, will be free. For Type 2s who low carb and come off meds, you will have to hand it back if you are officially recognised as having reversed your diabetes. 

Diabetes is recognised by the govt as a chronic sickness at  the moment and the govt acknowleges that many people with diabetes develop other conditions also. That means any adaptations to your home eg ripping out bath and replacing with shower, will be VAT free. There are other items also, such as bed jacket, long reach grabbers, some toenail clippers, swivel car cushion, which are also VAT free. You have to make a declaration to the shopand if you do so fraudulently, that's a criminal offence. 

If you use a blood glucose meter and have to buy a new one, ask for a form from the chemist, so that you can reclaim the VAT. 

If you do the best you can, but still end up with amputations and mobility problems, DO ask for disability benefits, Blue Badge etc. Don't suffer financial hardship as well as the disease. 

The medical exemption forms are also available in pharmacies. It's surprising how many people came into the pharmacy where I worked who didn't know about this. I would give them the forms to fill in and tell them to hand it in at their doctors as the GP needs to sign it. I think they last about 5 years before you need to renew it.

MrsStepford

Thanks Auntycaz, I didn't know that pharmacies have the exemption forms too. So many people have no idea about the exemption card and the VAT exemption too, I don't think people are told routinely when diagnosed.