Prescription charges

Prescription Charges

Prescription charges apply in England unless your are exempt.

You may be exempt if you:

• Are over 60
• Are under 16 (or 16-18 in full-time education)
• Receive certain benefits
• Have a valid medical exemption certificate

You can check current charges and exemptions on the NHS website.

Prescription Pre-Payment Certificate (PPC)

A prescription pre-payment certificate (PPC) can help you save money on NHS prescriptions if you need them regularly. Instead of paying for each item, you pay a single fixed fee that covers all of your NHS prescriptions for a set period, usually 3 or 12 months. This can significantly reduce costs if you receive more than one prescription a month, or need medication long-term. PPCs are easy to manage, can be paid for upfront or by monthly instalments, and provide peach of mind by helping you budget your healthcare costs while ensuring uninterrupted access to essential medication.

You can only get a PPC if you live in England.

Page Created: 25th November 2015

Page Updated: 22nd January 2026