HC2 Medical Fee Examption

TheJay

Could someone please tell me whether it is right that I should pay for my dental treatment when I go and then claim back the money I have paid for treatment (when I already have a HC2 form, which entitles me to free prescriptions and free dental treatment)?

I'm really annoyed that I am supposedly expected to claim this back myself, surely I can reclaim my costs online? There must be an email address! I know that it is possible to ring a number or send a letter, but this is the 21st century and we're all living in it. So who can I email?! The problem with ringing them or sending them a letter is that I still have to fork out good money to claim something I am entitled to in the first place (completely against the primary purpose of the HC2 form in the first place).

alison999

are you a private patient at your dentist or a nhs patient? if youre a nhs patient and you told them you had a hc2 form and took it with you to your appointment theres no reason why your treatment wouldn't have been free on the day.

TheJay

I am an NHS patient. I didn't have my HC2 form with me, but explained that I had one. I asked if they wanted to see it, and they told me that they didn't, as I would be the one who would have to claim every time I had an appointment.

I am very annoyed.

hardpressed

Looking at it from the dentist's point of view, they would need to see the HC2 before you had treatment otherwise some people would claim they had one to get out of paying. To claim the money back surely you'd need to send the recite otherwise there is no proof of what you've paid.

TheJay

Yes, I have a receipt.

Problem is they don't even want to see my HC2 form.

alison999

hardpressed wrote: »

Looking at it from the dentist's point of view, they would need to see the HC2 before you had treatment otherwise some people would claim they had one to get out of paying. To claim the money back surely you'd need to send the recite otherwise there is no proof of what you've paid.

thats not true. as with ANY benefit, you tick the box "evidence unseen". the only benefit (which entitles you to free dental treatment) where we need to see evidence is a HC3 where you pay so much towards your treatment, we only need to see that so that we know how much to charge the patient.

alison999

oimi wrote: »

I am an NHS patient. I didn't have my HC2 form with me, but explained that I had one. I asked if they wanted to see it, and they told me that they didn't, as I would be the one who would have to claim every time I had an appointment.

I am very annoyed.

you shouldnt have to claim it back as you shouldnt of had to pay at your appointment. you need to ring your practice and ask them why they made you pay. ive worked at 3 different dental practices and ive NEVER charged anyone that had a HC2 and told them to claim it back.

TheJay

Alison, thanks for getting back to me! This is quite shocking, I didn't think this was right. I have only just transferred to this new dentist as my previous dentist kept cancelling my appointments (although when I did have my treatment, I wasn't charged and I was 19 at the time).

Unfortunately I get the feeling that I will get the same response I got from my face to face conversation with them.

alison999

oimi wrote: »

Alison, thanks for getting back to me! This is quite shocking, I didn't think this was right. I have only just transferred to this new dentist as my previous dentist kept cancelling my appointments (although when I did have my treatment, I wasn't charged and I was 19 at the time).

Unfortunately I get the feeling that I will get the same response I got from my face to face conversation with them.

ring them again, as i said in the other thread (cant keep replying to two, lol) ring the practice again, ring the people that sent you your hc2 and ring the pct if youre still not happy. if you got tax credits and didnt have your card on you you still wouldnt have to pay. maybe the receptionist was new and didnt really know about HC forms. there are hc2 and hc3's if its a hc3 form then they do need to see it, ask to speak to the practice manager.

TheJay

I don't know the number of the people who sent me the HC2 form? What's the number for the PCT? Ironic really, it was the "head receptionist", I don't think she was new! It's a HC2 form.

LondonDiva

if you have the receipt, all you need to do is send it off to the PPA.

http://www.ppa.org.uk/ppa/low_income.htm

the practice are entiltled, if they are not convinced to ask for proof of entitlement or ask you to reclaim, if you can't show the proof. What they cannot do is refuse if you have the valid proof on you.

If you are so unhappy about the practice's administration, you may want to consider moving practices as you may lose confidence in their administration.