Personal finance expert Martin Lewis has said ‘We need to spread the word to anyone in England’
Anyone who regularly collects prescriptions is being advised they could make considerable savings by signing up to an NHS scheme. Martin Lewis’ MSE website has highlighted that nearly 900,000 patients could be missing out, according to recent analysis.
The NHS prescription prepayment scheme was set up as a means of helping patients in England reduce the cost of their prescriptions. An NHS prescription prepayment certificate (PPC) is essentially a prepaid card, which you present to the pharmacist when collecting your prescription medication.
In England, a prescription costs £9.90 per item, and sometimes people find themselves paying for several items simultaneously. Martin Lewis, founder of MoneySavingExpert.com, said: “We need to spread the word to anyone in England who regularly gets prescriptions – including some with chronic illnesses – to check out prepayment certificates.
“And do it sooner rather than later. Doing it now would mean you pay less for longer. My simple rule of thumb is if you get more than one prescription a month on average, a prepayment certificate is the cheapest option as it caps what you pay. They give you unlimited prescriptions for either three months or a year. For someone using an average of two prescriptions a month, it’d be a £120 saving and it’d reduce the worry if you needed more, as you wouldn’t have to shell out more.”
According to the NHS, roughly 872,000 patients could have potentially saved approximately £35 million (averaging £41 per person) in 2023/24 by buying a 12-month PPC. Two prepayment alternatives are available – once purchased, it includes all your prescriptions during that period. Costs remain unchanged for 2026 and are detailed below.
- Three-month prepayment certificate – £32.05
- 12-month prepayment certificate – £114.50
There’s also a PPC specifically for hormone replacement therapy:
12-month HRT prepayment certificate – £19.80
Anyone collecting two prescriptions monthly for 12 months would save over £100, versus paying for separate prescriptions. Check our table below for additional help weighing up expenses.
Apply through the NHS Prescriptions website. Payment can be made by card, or via direct debit if you’d rather spread the expense. Forms are available at selected pharmacies, or ring 0300 330 1341 instead.
Before you apply for your PPC
One thing to make sure of before you apply for your NHS prepayment certificate is that you are not already entitled to free prescriptions.
Prescriptions are free to all residents of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. They are also free to anyone under 16 or over 60 (or between 16 and 18 and in full-time education). Patients with certain medical conditions or disabilities can also benefit from free prescriptions, as can people on a low income or specific benefits.
Applying for a PPC
OnlineThe easiest way to get your NHS prepayment certificate is to apply online, click here to find out more.
By postYou can also apply for your certificate through the post. Download the FP95 form here, or pick one up in a pharmacy or doctor’s surgery. You should fill out the form and send it to:
PPCNHS Business Services Authority152 Pilgrim StreetNewcastle Upon TyneNE1 6SN
You can pay by cheque or postal order, or set up a Direct Debit if you are applying for the 12-month certificate.
On the phoneTo apply for your certificate over the phone, call this number: 0300 330 1341. You’ll need a bank card to hand to arrange payment.
In a pharmacy
If you would rather apply for your certificate in person, you can go into a participating pharmacy with the FP95 application form. If you choose to do this you will have to pay at the till, and will not be able to opt for the 12-month Direct Debit.
