Check GOV.UK
Prescription charge per item
Was £9.90 per item for 2024/25. Verify the current charge at GOV.UK — charges change each April: gov.uk/get-a-paye-refund
60 or over
Automatic free prescriptions
No form, no application needed. If you are aged 60 or over, your prescriptions are free.
Check GOV.UK
3-month Prepayment Certificate
Covers unlimited prescriptions for 3 months. Verify current price at gov.uk/get-a-paye-refund
Pregnant
Free prescriptions during and after pregnancy
Free during pregnancy and for 12 months after the birth. A Maternity Exemption Certificate is needed.
How prescription charges work
In England, most adults pay a charge for each item on their NHS prescription. The charge is per item, not per prescription. If your prescription has three items on it and you are not exempt, you pay three charges.
The charge changes each April. Verify the current amount at GOV.UK: https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/prescriptions-and-pharmacies/nhs-prescription-charges/
Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland do not charge for prescriptions. The charge described here applies to England only.
Who gets free prescriptions
A large proportion of prescriptions in England are dispensed free of charge. Check this list carefully before you pay.
Age-based exemptions:
- Under 16
- Under 19 and in full-time education
- 60 or over
Pregnancy and new mothers:
- Currently pregnant — you need a Maternity Exemption Certificate (MatEx). Your GP or midwife can issue this. It covers you during pregnancy and for 12 months after the birth.
- Had a baby in the last 12 months — the MatEx covers you for 12 months from the birth date.
Medical conditions: people with certain long-term medical conditions qualify for free prescriptions via a Medical Exemption Certificate. The conditions include diabetes (not controlled by diet alone), epilepsy requiring anticonvulsants, permanent fistula, hypoparathyroidism, myasthenia gravis, myxoedema and other conditions requiring thyroid hormone replacement, Addison's disease and other forms of hypoadrenalism, cancer receiving treatment, and continuing physical disability preventing leaving home without help. The full list can change — verify at GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/prescription-costs/medical-exemption
Benefits: you are exempt if you or your partner receive one of these benefits and the prescription is for you:
- Universal Credit with no earnings or with earnings below the relevant threshold — verify the current UC earnings conditionality at GOV.UK
- Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Income Support
- Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit)
- War Pension
NHS Low Income Scheme: if you are on a low income but not receiving one of the benefits above, you can apply for a HC2 certificate through the NHS Low Income Scheme (apply using an HC1 form). A full HC2 covers free prescriptions. A partial HC2 covers a reduced charge. Apply at nhs.uk or ask at your GP surgery or pharmacy.
Aged 60 or over? Your prescriptions are free
No form. No application. No certificate required. If you are 60 or over, you tick the age exemption box on the prescription form and pay nothing. This applies to all NHS prescriptions regardless of your income. Some pharmacists will confirm this automatically — others may not, so it is worth knowing.
The Prepayment Certificate — most people who pay regularly do not know about it
If you are not exempt and you need more than a few prescription items a year, a Prepayment Certificate (PPC) will almost certainly save you money.
A PPC covers unlimited prescription items for a fixed fee. You pay one amount and then collect as many prescriptions as you need during the covered period.
The break-even point: if you need more than roughly 2 items in a 3-month period, or more than 14 items in a year, a PPC saves you money compared to paying per item. For anyone with a chronic condition requiring repeat prescriptions — thyroid medication, blood pressure, diabetes supplies — the annual PPC is almost always worth it.
Verify the current PPC prices and apply online at: https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/ppc. You can also buy one at a pharmacy or by calling the NHS PPC helpline.
The PPC covers you from the date it is activated — you can start saving from the day you buy it.
Getting a Maternity Exemption Certificate
If you are pregnant, ask your GP or midwife for an MATEX form as soon as possible. They complete their part and you complete yours. The certificate arrives by post. It covers your prescriptions for free from the start of your pregnancy through to 12 months after your baby's due date.
If you do not have your certificate yet and need a prescription now, some pharmacies will allow you to claim the exemption and pay later once the certificate arrives. Others will ask you to pay and claim a refund. Keep any receipts.
Paid by mistake? How to claim a refund
If you paid for a prescription when you were actually exempt, you can claim a refund using form FP57. Your pharmacist should give you this form at the time — ask for it if they do not. You have 3 months from the date of payment to claim.
If your pharmacist has already thrown away the form, contact the NHS Business Services Authority: https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/
Plain guides to NHS costs and what you are actually entitled to — one email, no noise.
Common questions about NHS prescription charges
What if I am on Universal Credit but I have some earnings?▾
The UC prescription exemption depends on whether you have any earnings in your UC assessment period. Verify the current UC earnings rules for prescription exemption at GOV.UK — the specific rules can change. If you are unsure whether you currently qualify, ask at your pharmacy or contact NHS Helpline on 0300 330 1341.
How do I get a Maternity Exemption Certificate?▾
Ask your GP or midwife for an MATEX form. They complete a section confirming your pregnancy or recent birth, you complete your details, and the certificate arrives by post. Ask for it as early as possible in your pregnancy so it is in place before you need it.
Can I use the Prepayment Certificate from the first day I buy it?▾
Yes. The PPC is valid from the activation date, which is the date you buy or activate it. You do not need to wait. Buy it before you pick up your next prescription and it will cover that prescription.
What happens if I tick the wrong exemption box by mistake?▾
The NHS carries out prescription fraud checks and issues penalty charge notices (PCNs) to people who claim an exemption they are not entitled to. The penalty is significantly more than the prescription charge. If you realise you ticked the wrong box, you can make a voluntary payment to the NHS Business Services Authority before a PCN is issued.
Is the Prepayment Certificate worth it if I only have one regular prescription?▾
Probably not for a 3-month PPC, unless the item costs exactly the prescription charge. But check the annual PPC: if you collect 12 items in a year, you are already past the break-even point for the annual certificate. If your repeat prescription is for a condition you manage long-term, the annual PPC almost certainly saves money.
Do private prescriptions cost the same as NHS prescriptions?▾
No. Private prescriptions are not subject to the NHS charge. You pay whatever the pharmacy charges, which reflects the cost of the medicine plus a dispensing fee. Private prescriptions are usually more expensive than the NHS charge for common generic medicines, but can be cheaper for branded medicines that attract a high NHS charge (this is rare).
Are dental prescriptions the same charge as standard prescriptions?▾
Prescriptions from an NHS dentist are charged differently. NHS dental prescriptions are free. If you have an NHS dental prescription for something like antibiotics or painkillers related to dental treatment, you do not pay the standard prescription charge.
What is the Medical Exemption Certificate and how do I get one?▾
A Medical Exemption Certificate (MedEx) covers free prescriptions for people with specific long-term conditions. Your GP applies on your behalf using a form, and the certificate is issued by the NHS Business Services Authority. It lasts for 5 years and then needs to be renewed. The conditions that qualify are listed at GOV.UK — your GP will know whether you are eligible.
Explore related pages
- →NHS overviewBack to the NHS overview — what is free, what is charged, which service to use
- →Register with a GPNot yet registered with a GP? Here is how.
- →Pension CreditPension Credit unlocks free prescriptions — and it is widely underclaimed by people who qualify
- →Universal CreditUC can qualify you for free prescriptions — the earnings rules are worth understanding