Allowable medical expenses?

[llamedos]

I am a bit bemused by the allowable expenses for medical purposes. The maximum allowable monthly expense for medical/prescriptions is £16 for a couple - I have 3 prescriptions a month, all necessary, so there is £22.95 straight away, not giving any leeway for hubby (who occasionally has episodes where he requires multiple prescriptions to control severe migraines) or for any illness!

Our IVA has an allowance of £25 for medical, and I am now concerned that this is to also include dental/optical/etc expenses?

Is there no give for people who require regular prescriptions? It's not my fault that I depend on these meds to basically live!

[menorca]

I would put down exactly what you spend per month for your medical expenses.If you have a problem with the allowance you are given I would contact your IP direct.After all..you do not really have any control over this expenditure

[Leese]

If you're having to pay for 3 prescriptions a month why don't you get a Prescription Prepayment card? It's £104 a year and you can pay by direct debit over 10 months..so £10.40 per month. It covers all prescriptions. I had this added to my I & E in my second year with no problems.

[luluj]

Sounds like th pre-payment card will be a better option for you....speak to your IP

[Karen.mg]

Definitely worth taking out the pre payment card, in total between me and hubby we have about 9/10 prescriptions every 8 weeks and couldn't manage without one x

[Niobe]

I have a prepayment certificate and had no problems getting it included.

[plasticdaft]

Its a bit annoying that your local pharmacist hasnt suggested reducing your costs with the prepayment card!!

You could always come up here to scotland where its all free!!!!

Paul

[Shining]

Pre-payment is the way to go by the sounds of it for the OP, it might be worth looking at that option. x

[kazzafunk]

I wouldn't be without my ppc. Our doctors have notices everywhere advising people to apply for them. I get 7 repeat medicines per month - if I had to pay full whack for them I wouldn't be able to afford to eat!

[Niobe]

I swear by mine - wouldn't be without it.

[dw1983]

I too have a pre payment card included in my iva it certainly saves a lot I have to get 22 items every month

[llamedos]

Ooh, thanks - that sounds like a way to go, and a big saving! Will go have a look into it!

[Niobe]

It is a very big saving - doesn't matter how many tablets you have - they are all covered.

[Purple Butterfly]

Pre-payment certificate is definitely a saving when you have lots of medication, my husband has about 8 items on repeat so we buy a quarterly one for about £29. We stock up for the 3 months while the certificate is valid so we don't need to renew the certificate for another 2 months, so effectively we only renew every 5 months.....

We've had 2 IVA reviews, and each year I have increased the amount for medical expenses, partly because we did not include everything we actually spent at the start, ie. replacement spectacles every 2-3 years; also included dental check ups only (NHS band 1) & did not allow for any treatment (one of us usually require some treatment each year - NHS band 2)

Now I am careful to include everything we actually spend, and the extra costs have never been questioned by our IP

[Niobe]

I do mine for the year - I only pay for ten months so I have two months free.