Gluten Free Subsidy Cards and Prescriptions: Changing Support in the UK

Wales Subsidy Card
Gluten free on prescription has been on the decline for a long time now all across the UK but Wales are introducing a new pre-paid subsidy card to Coeliacs across the country to help with the cost of gluten free food products.

This new scheme in a UK first and will be an alternative to gluten free prescriptions, it's not due to roll out until autumn, and only in Wales at the moment. Those eligible will be given the choice of having the pre-paid card or prescriptions. When it does roll out, those that choose this method will get the card topped up every 3 months.

The card has been on trial for the last 6 years in certain parts of Wales and now it has been decided to roll it out to all Coeliacs across the region.

During the pilot, participants received £14 per month on their prepaid card. While that amount might only stretch to around four gluten free loaves, and certainly doesn’t cover the full cost of a gluten free diet, that’s not its purpose. The card is intended as a subsidy, not a full replacement, designed to help bridge the price gap between gluten containing and gluten free alternatives. For example, if a standard Warburtons loaf costs £1.40 and the gluten free version is £3.50, the card helps offset that £2.10 difference, making gluten free living just a little more affordable.

If you are in Wales, then you maybe wondering what the advantages of the card are -

• Can use in any mainstream supermarket over a wide variety of gluten free products, just not the limited range of the prescriptions
• No need to manage a repeat prescription
• Supports the local economy a bit more

Anyone entitled will have the option to choose to have prescriptions instead if you wish. With those you get a set amount of units a month to use generally on gluten free bread or flour, some areas offer other things but the majority that do offer prescriptions it is set to these.

Gluten Free on Prescription
If course if you aren't in Wales, the UK does have gluten free prescriptions, but it is very much a postcode lottery of whether your ICB still offers it.

Here's a bit of info about the gluten free prescriptions.

Diagnosed Coeliac
To claim the prescriptions you have to be medically diagnosed as Coeliac, if you are gluten intolerant, came back negative in testing, refused testing etc, you are not eligible.

Gluten free is prescribed in units
The amount of prescribed units vary but in England it is usually 14 units for females and 18 for males aged 19-59. It is different for kids, pregnant ladies and those 60+

Each unit roughly equals one loaf of bread or 500g of flour mix. However, each different type of product counts as a separate prescription charge.

So, for example:

• If you use 8 units for 8 loaves of bread and 6 units for 6 bags of flour, that’s two different product types – meaning you’d pay for 2 prescriptions.
• If you choose 4 loaves, 4 baguettes (a different product), and 6 flour mixes, that’s three different types – so 3 prescription charges would apply.

Scotland still offer gluten free on prescription everywhere, as do Northern Ireland (to anyone who qualifies) and Wales (though some parts are just on the subsidy card trial at the moment)

In England it can still be found in some areas such as parts of Cumbria, Newcastle and West Sussex but it is very hit and miss, leaning more towards miss.

Cheshire and Merseyside ICB recently decided to end gluten free prescriptions following Hampshire & Isle of Wight, West Yorkshire, and Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland regions who all dropped their gluten free prescriptions within the last 12 months. Kent is the only region to rule to remove prescriptions and then reintroduce them. It is super hit and miss all over the country, it is worth checking with your GP or pharmacy to see if gluten free on prescription is available in your area to help you out with the cost of living.

Will the Subsidy Card Roll Out Further?
Time will tell. There have been many rumours over the years about vouchers or cards for coeliacs within England but so far they have yet to come to fruition. With Wales now rolling it out after a successful trial, I think it is a wait and see what happens.

Something is needed to replace the declining prescriptions, in what form that will be, I don't know, but I am sure we will find out eventually!