Help with Prescription Costs
Help with NHS prescription costs
In England, most working-age adults have to pay for their prescriptions. Certain groups are entitled to free NHS prescriptions..
Use the eligibility checker to see if you are entitled to free NHS prescriptions and other help with health costs.
The NHS prescription charge is currently £9.90 for each prescribed item. There is a charge for each different medicine or medical appliance on your prescription. Support stockings are charged per stocking. Some prescribed items are always free, such as contraceptives and medication for hospital inpatients.
Prescription Prepayment Certificates (PPCs)
If you regularly pay prescription charges or get prescribed hormone replacement therapy (HRT) medicines, a PPC could save you money. There are two types of PPC available:
- the 3 or 12 month NHS Prescription Prepayment certificate (PPC) which covers all your NHS prescriptions
- the NHS Hormone Replacement Therapy Prescription Prepayment Certificate (HRT PPC) which covers certain NHS prescribed HRT medicines
Refunds
If you pay NHS prescription charges then find out that you’re entitled to free prescriptions or backdate a PPC, you can only get a refund if you were given an FP57 refund receipt when you paid. You cannot get one later.
Take your FP57 refund receipt to any community pharmacy, with evidence that you were entitled to free NHS prescriptions when you paid. You must do this within three months of the date that you paid. The pharmacy will refund you.
Page created: 24 February 2026
