Prescriptions Charges and Exemptions

Extensive exemption and remission arrangements protect those likely to have difficulty in paying charges (NHS prescription and dental charges, optical and hospital travel costs). 

The NHS prescription charge is a flat-rate amount which successive Governments have thought it reasonable to charge for those who can afford to pay for their medicines.  Prescription prepayment certificates (PPCs) offer real savings for people who need extensive medication. Most adults in England have to pay prescription charges.

Some items are always free, including contraceptives and medicines prescribed for hospital inpatients.

NHS PRESCRIPTION CHARGES

If you know you'll have to pay for a lot of NHS prescriptions, it may be cheaper to buy a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC) – effectively a prescription "season ticket". You can do this online and at some pharmacies.

PRESCRIPTION PAYMENT CERTIFICATE (PPC)

If you need to access the services below, the medicines you're prescribed are free:

• medicines administered at a hospital or an NHS walk-in centre
• prescribed contraceptives
• medicines personally administered by a GP or provided via a patient group direction (PGD)
• medicines supplied at a hospital or clinical commissioning group (CCG) clinic for the treatment of a sexually transmitted infection, tuberculosis, or a mental disorder for those subject to a supervised community treatment order 

There is further information about prescription exemptions and fees on the NHS website