Free or Reduced Cost Prescriptions

• If you are aged 60 or over.
• If you are under 16.
• If you are aged 16, 17 or 18 and in full-time education.
• If you are pregnant, or have had a baby in the previous 12 months, and have an exemption certificate (see below).
• If you have a listed medical condition and have an exemption certificate (see below).
• If you are an NHS in-patient.
• If you (or your partner) gets one of the following:
  • Income Support.
  • Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance.
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance.
  • Pension Credit Guarantee Credit.
• If you are entitled to, or named on, a valid NHS tax credit exemption certificate.
• Some war pensioners - if treatment is connected with the pensionable disability.
• People on a low income who have a certificate HC2 (see below).

If you are entitled to free prescriptions, complete the declaration on the back of the prescription and sign it. You may be asked for proof that you are exempt.

Who can get an exemption certificate?

If you are pregnant or have had a child in the past year

You need to apply for a Maternity Exemption Card using a form (FW8 England and Scotland, and HC11A Northern Ireland). The form is available from doctors, nurses, midwives and health visitors. You are required to complete the form and your doctor, nurse, midwife or health visitor will sign the form to confirm the information given by you is correct.

The card will last until 12 months after the expected date of the birth (you can apply for an extension if the baby is born late). If you have a Maternity Exemption Card all your prescriptions are free, whatever the medication is for.

People who have certain medical conditions

Although there are many conditions requiring regular medication, only the following qualify for an exemption certificate:

• Treatment for cancer (not patients in Scotland).
• A permanent fistula requiring dressing.
• Forms of hypoadrenalism such as Addison's disease.
• Diabetes insipidus and other forms of hypopituitarism.
• Diabetes mellitus except where treatment is by diet alone.
• Hypoparathyroidism.
• Myxoedema (underactive thyroid) or other conditions where thyroid hormone replacement is necessary.
• Myasthenia gravis.
• Epilepsy requiring continuous anti-convulsive medication.
• A continuing physical disability which means you cannot go out without help from another person.

If you have one of the specified conditions ask for an application form (FP92A England, HC11B Northern Ireland and EC92A Scotland - clearly marked 1 January 2009) from your doctor's surgery. You need to fill it in and your doctor (or an authorised member of the practice staff) will sign to confirm the information you've given is correct. You will then be sent a Medical Exemption Certificate.

If you have a Medical Exemption Certificate all your prescriptions are free, whatever the medication is for.

How can people on a low income apply for help?

Some people on a low income may qualify for help with prescription charges. Your entitlement to help is based on your circumstances such as your level of income, savings, etc. You will have to fill in an HC1 form 'Claim for Help with Health Costs' giving various details of your circumstances and then send it off in the pre-paid envelope provided.

If you qualify for help you will be sent an HC2 Certificate for full help, or an HC3 Certificate for partial help, which you will need to produce when paying for your prescription. The certificate will tell you who it covers and how long it lasts. If your circumstances change for the better you can continue using the certificate until it expires. If your circumstances change for the worse during the period of the certificate you should make another claim. If your circumstances will remain unchanged after the time period, then make a new claim before the current certificate expires.

How can I get the HC1 claim form?

You should be able to get the claim form from:

• Your JobCentre Plus office.
• An NHS hospital.
• By phoning the NHS Formsline on 0845 610 1112, textphone: 08700 102 870.
• By phoning the Department of Health Publications Orderline on 0845 610 1112, textphone number 08700 102 870.
• Your dentist or optometrist (optician) may stock them.

Can I claim a refund for a prescription charge I have already paid?

If you are on a low income, but have not yet got your exemption certificate, then get a receipt form from the pharmacist when your prescription is dispensed. Note you cannot get one later. When you get your exemption certificate, send the receipt form to the address on the form to get a refund.

How can regular prescription charges be reduced?

If you do not qualify for exemption you may be able to reduce the cost of your prescriptions by buying a Prescription Prepayment Certificate ('season ticket'). This certificate will cover the cost of all your prescriptions during a particular period.

For example, if you pay for more than 14 items in 12 months, you could save money by buying a Prescription Prepayment Certificate. From 1 April 2009 , the charge for a single prescription item is:

• England - £7.20
• Scotland - £4.00
• Northern Ireland - £3.00

A Prescription Prepayment Certificate costs:

• England - £28.25 for 3 months and £104.00 for 12 months
• Scotland - £13.00 for 4 months and £38.00 for 12 months
• Northern Ireland - £9.00 for 4 months.

You can apply for a Prescription Prepayment Certificate:

• England:
  • by completing form FP95 which you can get from pharmacies and doctors surgeries OR
  • online at www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/1127.aspx OR
  • by telephone - 0845 850 0030 - have ready a credit or debit card.
• Scotland:
  • by completing a PPC application form which can be obtained fro pharmacies and NHS practitioner services OR
  • by downloading and printing the PCC application form from www.psd.scot.nhs.uk/doctors/documents/EC95template04-2009.pdf
• Northern Ireland:
  • over the counter from any pharmacy

If you pay a prescription charge whilst waiting for a Prescription Prepayment Certificate to be issued, you can get a refund. To do this you must get a receipt form from the pharmacist (FP57 England, PS7 Northern Ireland and HCS(R) Scotland). You must get the receipt form when you pay for your prescription, you cannot get one later. Fill the receipt form in and send it off to claim the refund. You have to apply for a refund within three months of paying the prescription charge.

How can I find out more about help with prescription charges?

This leaflet only gives a brief summary of how to obtain free or reduced cost prescriptions and is for guidance only. It does not cover all situations nor is it a full statement of the law. The official information booklet 'Help with health costs' (HC11 in England and Northern Ireland, and HSC1 in Scotland) provides more details for people on a low income. Your local Jobcentre Plus office, NHS hospital, pharmacist, doctor, dentist or optician may have a leaflet on help with health costs and relevant claim forms. The booklet is available as a download from:
Web: www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/HealthCosts/1558.aspx (England and Scotland) and
Web: www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/hc11_help_with_health_costs.pdf (Northern Ireland).

Directgov

Web: www.direct.gov.uk
Directgov brings together the widest range of public service information and services online.
Produced by the Central Office of Information, Directgov provides information from across UK government departments on topics ranging from travel safety and parental leave, to special educational needs, local NHS services, and benefits. The site also brings together an increasing number of online government services - including being able to download and/or complete certain benefit claim forms online. See the Health costs section of the website.

Department of Health

Web: www.dh.gov.uk
The official website of the Department of Health, see the Basics about help with NHS charges section of the website.

NHS Business Services Authority - Help with Health Costs

Web: www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/HelpWithHealthCosts.aspx
Help with Health Costs provides exemption certificates to those entitled and sells Prescription Pre-payment Certificates. They have phone lines that deal with various types of query:

• NHS Low Income Scheme
  Tel: 0845 850 1166
• Prescription Pre-payment, Medical and Maternity Exemption Certificates
  For general queries before you apply: Tel: 0845 850 0030
  For specific queries after you've applied: Tel: 0845 601 8076
• NHS Tax Credit Exemption Certificates
  Tel: 0845 609 9299

Benefit Enquiry Line - BEL

England, Wales and Scotland - Tel: 0800 88 22 00 Textphone: 0800 24 33 55
Northern Ireland - Tel: 0800 220 674 Textphone: 0800 243 787
For people with disabilities, their carers and representatives. It is part of the Department for Work and Pensions. BEL offers confidential advice and information on benefits and how to claim them. In addition they can also send out an extensive range of leaflets and claim packs, and help you to complete a claim form over the phone.

Citizens Advice Bureau

Provides independent advice on many issues including benefits. Listed in the phone book under 'Citizens Advice Bureaux'. Also, see their excellent website:
Web: www.citizensadvice.org.uk