Losing my medical card

black_and_blue

I'm a little over minimum wage and coming out with less than 400euro a week.

I only see a doctor about two or three times a year when I really have to. A doctor's visit with a prescription will now cost me at least 100 euro.

Seriously, how so people manage with paying rent, bills and all the other expenses. Owning a house is a dream.

No doubt the people on the dole will get another handout with the next budget.

Mrs OBumble

You may qualify for a GP only card, sitll. Apply and see.

Possibly shop around for a cheaper GP, a consult shouldn't be more than 60. Script may be expensive, depending on what you need - always ask for a generic if threre is one.

And make sure you're on the council housing list. On a low wage, you aren't expected to buy a house.

AulWan

Check if you are eligible for a GP visit card. At least then all you have to pay for are prescriptions, when needed.

Apply for a Drugs Payment Scheme Card, in case of very expensive prescriptions.

Ken.

Mod-Moved from AH to the state benefits forum. Read the local charter before posting.

Portsalon

And don't forget to claim the 20% PAYE refund on GP visits and prescription charges.

EverythingGood

Portsalon wrote: »

And don't forget to claim the 20% PAYE refund on GP visits and prescription charges.

Don't think you can get tax relief on prescriptions

fin12

EverythingGood wrote: »

Don't think you can get tax relief on prescriptions

Yes u can.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

EverythingGood wrote: »

Don't think you can get tax relief on prescriptions

You certainly can.

EverythingGood

Roselyn Millions Orangutan wrote: »

You certainly can.

Cheers, did not know that. Thought it only applied to actual visits

dartboardio

As someone said above.. Shop around for a cheaper GP.

When I was without my medical card I found a walk in GP in waterford where I live that had a student rate of €40 and a normal rate €50.

Also if you have any outgoings even public transport tickets, you can add them as outgoings for a reassessment.

Obviously rent to family members isn't taken into account but even if you're renting or house sharing, put that down as an outgoing.

Portsalon

EverythingGood wrote: »

Cheers, did not know that. Thought it only applied to actual visits

Just to clarify, by "prescription charges" I mean the cost of the prescribed drugs.

People can't (or shouldn't!) claim tax relief on non-prescription medicines purchased over the counter, like asprins or cough mixture.

antix80

Correct me if I'm wrong.. but may still qualify for a medical card depending on your outgoings - rent and transport to work - if those expenses put you under the threshold.

dartboardio

Exactly, if you add your rent and transport to work whether by car or bus. Put proof in.

Driving to work is calculated at 0.18c per km and comes to a weekly fighre

black_and_blue

Taking rent out from what I earn, I'm only 3euro above the limit for a GP card.

antix80

A year?
Either ask for a paycut or pay more rent

AulWan

black_and_blue wrote: »

Taking rent out from what I earn, I'm only 3euro above the limit for a GP card.

Have you taken out travel to work costs?

dartboardio

Have you actually applied or are you doing your own calculations?

The wages may be calculated at less or more than your net pay each week as they would be calculated by using gross pay minus tax divided by 52.

lulu1

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

You may qualify for a GP only card, sitll. Apply and see.

Possibly shop around for a cheaper GP, a consult shouldn't be more than 60. Script may be expensive, depending on what you need - always ask for a generic if threre is one.

And make sure you're on the council housing list. On a low wage, you aren't expected to buy a house.

Dont think op should ask for generic medication as I take meds regularly and i told the chemist on many occasions that i wont accept generic

fussyonion

lulu1 wrote: »

Dont think op should ask for generic medication as I take meds regularly and i told the chemist on many occasions that i wont accept generic

Why not?

AulWan

lulu1 wrote: »

Dont think op should ask for generic medication as I take meds regularly and i told the chemist on many occasions that i wont accept generic

If you're on a low wage and paying the full cost out of your own pocket then generics can save a lot of money. Shop around too, as some pharmacy chains are complete rip-offs.

When the State is supplying meds on the GMS scheme at a flat €2 per item, I think generic should be dispensed where they exist. If the patient wants the branded version of a generic instead, they should be offered the option to pay the price difference out of their own pocket.

Rodin

black_and_blue wrote: »

I'm a little over minimum wage and coming out with less than 400euro a week.

I only see a doctor about two or three times a year when I really have to. A doctor's visit with a prescription will now cost me at least 100 euro.

Seriously, how so people manage with paying rent, bills and all the other expenses. Owning a house is a dream.

No doubt the people on the dole will get another handout with the next budget.

400 a week NET ?

adam88

lulu1 wrote: »

Dont think op should ask for generic medication as I take meds regularly and i told the chemist on many occasions that i wont accept generic

That is absolutely crazy talk. Your obviously getting them for free. That attitude boils my blood. They’re all exactly the same

Rodin

adam88 wrote: »

That is absolutely crazy talk. Your obviously getting them for free. That attitude boils my blood. They’re all exactly the same

That isn't true.
The active ingredient may be similar but the chemical composition of the remainder is often different

adam88

Rodin wrote: »

That isn't true.
The active ingredient may be similar but the chemical composition of the remainder is often different

The medication still does exactly what it’s meant to do for the disease it’s prescribed for. Yes there might be a difference in after taste or something but it still does the same thing

Rodin

adam88 wrote: »

The medication still does exactly what it’s meant to do for the disease it’s prescribed for. Yes there might be a difference in after taste or something but it still does the same thing

The other components can cause other side effects

adam88

Rodin wrote: »

That isn't true.
The active ingredient may be similar but the chemical composition of the remainder is often different

The medication still does exactly what it’s meant to do for the disease it’s prescribed for. Yes there might be a difference in after taste or something but it still does the same thing

Rodin

adam88 wrote: »

The medication still does exactly what it’s meant to do for the disease it’s prescribed for. Yes there might be a difference in after taste or something but it still does the same thing

The other components can cause allergic reactions.
Therefore, you're not going to take the generic again.
Doesn't matter if the active ingredient is same in this scenario.

The pills are NOT identical when compared

adam88

Rodin wrote: »

The other components can cause allergic reactions.
Therefore, you're not going to take the generic again.
Doesn't matter if the active ingredient is same in this scenario.

The pills are NOT identical when compared

Those case are very very very rare I’m sure and most people just demand the branded products cause they’re getting them for next to nothing

irishgrover

I've had this conversation with my wife on many occasions. She was a formulations scientist. Specifically she designed the formulations that make up the tablets, liquids whatever that deliver the active drug to the patient. According to her, there is a difference, and it can and does have an impact on the timing and effectiveness of the delivery of the key ingredient. However it tends to be limited, and it does not follow that the generic has worse formulations, often they are better

*Postscript: we always ask for generic

black_and_blue

Rodin wrote: »

400 a week NET ?

Less than 400. It really isn't all that much.

wifey28

adam88 wrote: »

Those case are very very very rare I’m sure and most people just demand the branded products cause they’re getting them for next to nothing

Ive actually had a reaction to generic meds two different times, and a third time I found that the generic wasnt as effective as the actual brand i had been taking.



One med gave me a horrid rash that only cleared when i stpped taking it, another made me horridly sick.
And the one that didnt work was a sedative/ssri, that i had been on for several months so we knew it was working and for the one month i took a generic it didnt work at all, myanxiety was thru the roof and ibarely slept all month, first night back on branded, almsot zero anxiety and i slept.


Even my gp agrees that generics are not the same, and can cause issues for people inthe long term, especially in meds for mental illness as some are jsut simply not as effective

The Hound Gone Wild

Pharmacist here. The molecule of generic drug is 100% the same as the brand, down to the last hydrogen. It fits into the same receptor sites, illicits the same response and adheres to the same EMA standards for bio-availabilty.

There can be differences in bulking agents, anti-caking agents and manufacturing process but these are chemically inert. Usually the drug is formulated even in the same salt-form as the brand.

Any perceived differences are all in the mind.

To the person who's GP said generics aren't the same, doctors study 0 pharmaceutics (drug design & delivery), nothing. They're lucky to cover basic pharmacology. Completely the wrong person to ask.

The only differences in generics comes from biological drugs. They're very slight but still different.

splinter65

The Hound Gone Wild wrote: »

Pharmacist here. The molecule of generic drug is 100% the same as the brand, down to the last hydrogen. It fits into the same receptor sites, illicits the same response and adheres to the same EMA standards for bio-availabilty.

There can be differences in bulking agents, anti-caking agents and manufacturing process but these are chemically inert. Usually the drug is formulated even in the same salt-form as the brand.

Any perceived differences are all in the mind.

To the person who's GP said generics aren't the same, doctors study 0 pharmaceutics (drug design & delivery), nothing. They're lucky to cover basic pharmacology. Completely the wrong person to ask.

The only differences in generics comes from biological drugs. They're very slight but still different.

Anyone who believes that their GP/pharmacist would prescribe/dispense a medication that would be unfavorable in comparison to another medication Is just stupid in my opinion.
The named brands thrive on this stupidity.

AulWan

I've just looking in my medicine cabinet and on first glance I have generic versions of panadol (paracetemol), nurofen (buplex), piriton (chlorphenamine), clarityn (loratadine), diflucan (fluconazole), canesten (clotrimazole), immodium (loperamide) and probably a few others.

I genuinely have never had a problem using any generics, and they have saved me lots of money over the years.

lulu1

fussyonion wrote: »

Why not?

when I first went on medication for my condition all went well. After a few months i got the generic version which I tried and they set my condition back big time . That is just my experience

lulu1

adam88 wrote: »

That is absolutely crazy talk. Your obviously getting them for free. That attitude boils my blood. They’re all exactly the same

Believe me they are far from the same in my case anyway.

If you say i'm getting them for free who am I to argue

What makes you so sure they are all the same have you any scientific evidence or have you tried both versions of the same medication

lulu1

adam88 wrote: »

Those case are very very very rare I’m sure and most people just demand the branded products cause they’re getting them for next to nothing

These cases are not as rare as you think I know plenty of people with the same condition as myself who have tried the generic version and have had to go back to the original because they just were not working for them

lulu1

splinter65 wrote: »

Anyone who believes that their GP/pharmacist would prescribe/dispense a medication that would be unfavorable in comparison to another medication Is just stupid in my opinion.
The named brands thrive on this stupidity.

Splinter65 i really admire your input into the welfare forum.

I am not saying that the gp/ chemist would dispense meds that were were not the same as the patient's regular meds

I am saying for me that the generic version of my medication did not do the job of the other version. My pharmacist has seen me whilst on the generic version and agreed not to give me the generic version again

adam88

lulu1 wrote: »

Splinter65 i really admire your input into the welfare forum.

I am not saying that the gp/ chemist would dispense meds that were were not the same as the patient's regular meds

I am saying for me that the generic version of my medication did not do the job of the other version. My pharmacist has seen me whilst on the generic version and agreed not to give me the generic version again

Of course cause he’s getting more money for it

lulu1

adam88 wrote: »

Of course cause he’s getting more money for it

No it was because he saw my symptoms were worse while i was taking the generic version

lulu1

lulu1 wrote: »

when I first went on medication for my condition all went well. After a few months i got the generic version which I tried and they set my condition back big time . That is just my experience

You are certainly not alone and many pharmacists back this up, ever so discreetly, and make every effort to avoid those generics that clearly do not function as they should and whose customers have pointed this out both to GPs and pharmacists. If there were a pill to cure arrogance and ignorance, some on this site might benefit from it.