Prescription charges and exemptions.

Prescription charges (2023-24)

• Single charge per item on the prescription: £9.65
• 3-month Prescription prepayment certificate: £31.25
• 12-month Prescription prepayment certificate: £111.60
• Hormone replacement therapy prepayment certificate: £19.30

It can be worth buying a prepayment certificate as this works out cheaper if you have more than 4 items in a 3 month period or more than 10 items in a 12 month period. See more information and how to buy one here (https://www.gov.uk/get-a-ppc).

Who is exempt from prescription charges?

• Those over age of 60 years or under 18 years in full-time education
• Those with a maternity exmption certificate during pregnancy and for 1 year after giving birth
• Those on certain benefits
• Those eligible under the NHS low income scheme
• Those with certain medical exemption certificate for conditions such as cancer, diabetes, epilepsy, hypothyroidism and others.

More information is available here. (https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/help-nhs-prescription-costs/free-nhs-prescriptions).

If you are exempt for any reason other than age, you are required to complete the exemption category and sign on the back of the prescription when you collect your prescription in pharmacy and the pharmacy is obliged to collect the prescription charge from you. You may be fined if it is discovered that you claimed an exemption incorrectly.