When all your attention is fixed on managing your money, it’s all too easy to forget about your health. Learn how financial strain and neglecting healthcare needs often correlate and discover the options available to help
Maintaining our everyday health can be expensive. With the cost-of-living crisis squeezing people’s budgets, those of us who are also struggling with debt can find it even more difficult to find the funds to cover the cost of dentist appointments, trips to the opticians, and NHS prescriptions.
According to data from Healthwatch, due to financial pressures, 19% of people in the UK are eating less healthy food, 12% have skipped meals, and 12% have stopped doing things that could improve their health like going to the gym.
Unfortunately, people dealing with financial strain are also often those who need to pay attention to their healthcare needs the most. Studies show that those managing the stress of debt are 59% more likely to have a high risk of ill health. The good news is that support is available to help people with low incomes access free or subsidised healthcare.
Pricey prescriptions
One in 20 people say that they have had to avoid either getting an NHS prescription or buying over-the-counter medication they rely on due to the costs involved. The current price of an NHS prescription is £9.90 per item; a figure which can quickly add up if you need more than one type of medication each month.
However, there are many groups of people who are eligible for free NHS prescriptions. If you qualify, you won’t have to miss out on your meds, even if you’re dealing with problem debt.
You’ll be eligible for a free prescription if:
- You’re aged under 16, aged 16 – 18 and in full-time education, or aged 60 or over
- You’re pregnant or have had a baby in the last 12 months
- You claim income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or Employment and Support Allowance
- You claim Pension Credits
You may also be eligible if you claim Universal Credit, but this doesn’t apply to everyone so it’s worth double-checking with your benefits adviser.
Optical outgoings
While investing in your eyesight is essential for many long and short-sighted people, paying a visit to the opticians can be costly – and that’s without the added costs of glasses and contact lenses, which can be around £120 on average. The Association of Optometrists found that 62% of people who wear glasses or contacts are putting off going to the opticians due to the cost-of-living crisis. This has led to 36% wearing out-of-date prescriptions and 19% wearing glasses that they’ve had to DIY repair themselves.
Having an eye test to check the health of your eyes can also be beyond people’s budgets, especially if you’re struggling with debt. The average cost is £20, and the College of Optometrists found that 22% of people have postponed or cancelled a sight test in the last year due to cost concerns.
If you’re struggling, free NHS sight tests are available to eligible people and the NHS can also issue optical vouchers. These may not cover the full cost of your new eyewear, but they can help make it more affordable to get the new pair of lenses that you need.
Dentistry when in debt
Paying a visit to the dentist can be difficult, especially when you’re trying to save money by booking an appointment with an NHS dentist. Recent reports found that 63% of people in the UK have found it hard to book an NHS dental appointment in the last year and 9 in 10 dental practices aren’t accepting new adult NHS patients.
If you’re forced to go private instead, the NHS check-up charge of £26.80 can increase to an average of £74 for a private dentist consultation. As a result, the Association of Dental Groups have found that one in five Brits are concerned they won’t be able to afford to go to the dentist due to the cost-of-living and 20% haven’t been to the dentist in over a year due to the high price of treatment.
If you can find an NHS dentist taking on new payments, it’s worth keeping in mind that the same eligibility requirements apply as with free prescriptions. So, if you can receive free prescriptions, you may also be entitled to free NHS dental services.
Affording appointments
While visiting your GP or heading to the hospital is usually free in the UK, it’s not free to get there. If you need to take public transport or pay for parking, attending an appointment can be beyond your budget. In fact, 11% of those surveyed in January 2023 said they were avoiding attending an NHS appointment due to the cost of travel.
If you’re in this position, consider the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme. This can offer support for those going for specialist NHS treatment or diagnostics tests if you meet the following three criteria:
- You or your partner must receive a qualifying benefit or allowance or meet the eligibility criteria for the NHS Low Income Scheme
- You must have a referral for specialist care from a healthcare professional
- Your appointment must be on a separate visit to when the referral was made
Navigating health problems and debt? Our team of experts is here to help. Give us a call on 0161 8260 585 or send a message here
