Prescription costs

• The current prescription charge is £7.85
• Since 1 April 2010 a three monthly PPC is £29.10. This saves you money if you need four or more items in three months.
• A 12 month certificate is £104.00 and saves money if 15 or more items are needed in 12 months.

PPCs are available by 10 monthly direct debit instalment payments. The prescription prepayment certificates allow anyone to obtain all the prescriptions they need for £2 per week.

Find out more in the section 'What is the prescription prepayment certificate?' below.

Who is entitled to Free NHS Prescriptions?

• are under 16
• are 16-18 and in full-time education
• are pregnant or have had a baby in the previous 12 months and have a valid maternity exemption certificate (MatEx)
• are 60 or over
• have a specified medical condition and have a valid medical exemption certificate (MedEx)
• have a continuing physical disability that prevents you from going out without help from another person and have a valid MedEx
• hold a valid war pension exemption certificate and the prescription is for your accepted disability

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, or
• Pension Credit Guarantee Credit

What is a pre-payment certificate (PPC)

If you are not entitled to free prescriptions and you think you will have to pay for four or more prescriptions in three months, or 15 or more items in 12 months, you may find it cheaper to buy a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC).

You can only use the PPC for your own NHS prescriptions. The PPC will start from the date of your application or phone call unless you request a different start date. You can request a start date of up to one month earlier or one month later than the date of your application or phone call.

Details of the current prescription charges and prepayment certificate costs are available in leaflet HC12: charges and optical voucher values (PDF, 95 kb).

You can choose to pay for a 12 month PPC in a lump sum or by 10 monthly direct debit instalments. If you pay by direct debit you are entering into a commitment to pay all the instalments.

You can order a PPC online, by phoning 0845 850 0030 or by filling in an FP95 form. An FP95 form is available from some pharmacies and GP surgeries.

Remember to apply for a new PPC in good time. If you don't you will have to pay prescription charges when your old PPC runs out.

If you have to pay a prescription charge while you are waiting for your PPC, you can't get a refund unless you have an NHS receipt. The NHS receipt form is an FP57. The pharmacist or dispensing doctor can only issue an FP57 at the time you pay a prescription charge. They can't give you one later. You can claim for the refund of prescription charges up to three months after paying. The FP57 form tells you what to do.