ONE million people are losing out on a £40 yearly saving on their NHS prescriptions, MoneySavingExpert has revealed.
Martin Lewis‘ website found 1,064,992 people in England lost out on the money in the 12 months to April 2022 because they bought their prescriptions individually.
You can save money by buying a NHS prescription “season ticket”
You can buy prescription prepayment certificates (PPC), which entitle you to unlimited NHS prescriptions for 12 months for £108.10.
But figures obtained by MoneySavingExpert from the NHS Business Services Authority via a Freedom of Information request revealed patients are missing out because they’re not buying PPCs and instead are paying each time they pick up.
The figures showed that of those buying 12 or more prescriptions, an average of 16 items were bought – worth £149.60.
But with a PPC costing £108.10, that works out as over £40 more expensive across 12 months.
The last financial year is the fourth in a row that the number of patients losing out has reached over one million.
Martin Lewis said: “England is the only one of the four UK nations that charges for prescriptions, and so it’s frustrating to hear that many people are still paying more than they need to – especially at a time when every penny counts towards bills.
“We need to spread the word to anyone who regularly gets prescriptions – including some with chronic illnesses – to check out prescription prepayment certificates.
“My simple rule of thumb is if you get more than one prescription a month, on average these ‘season tickets’ are the cheapest option as they cap what you need to pay.”
He added: “Someone getting, say, two prescriptions a month would save over £100 a year.
“If you think that’s you, check it out now in case we see another price hike at the beginning of spring.”
How does a prescription prepayment certificate work?
Prices for PPC and prescriptions usually rise in April, but for the 2021/22 and 2022/23 financial years, they’ve been frozen at £108.10 and £9.35 respectively.
If you buy 12 prescriptions a year, you’re saving £4.10 every 12 months by getting a PPC.
And any extra prescription purchases over this amount will obviously see you make a bigger saving.
For example, if you bought 20 prescriptions a year individually, that would cost you £187.
If you bought the PPC, you’d be making an almost £80 saving.
How else can I save money on a prescription?
Some people in England are entitled to free prescriptions so don’t even need to bother buying a PPC.
This includes if:
- You’re aged 60 or over
- You’re aged under 16 or are 17 or 18 and in full-time education
- You’re pregnant or had a baby in the previous 12 months and have a valid maternity exemption certificate
- You have a specific medical condition and have a valid medical exemption card
- You have a continuing physical disability that prevents you from going out without help from another person and have a valid medical exemption certificate (MedEx)
- You hold a valid war pension exemption certificate and the prescription is for your accepted disability
- You are an NHS inpatient
Specific medical conditions which entitle you to a medical exemption card include cancer and epilepsy.
To find out more about the conditions covered by the card, you can go to the NHS website.
You’ll find more information about how to get a maternity exemption card there too.
You’ll also be eligible for free prescriptions if you or your partner are claiming certain benefits, or if you’re aged under 20 and dependent on someone claiming certain benefits, including:
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
- Universal Credit and meet the criteria
You can also get free prescriptions if you are entitled to an NHS tax credit exemption certificate.
You have to qualify for certain benefits to get one of these, including child tax credits or working tax credits (including a disability or severe disability element).
You also must have an income of less than £15,276 a year.
You can check if you’re eligible for a free prescription by using the government’s eligibility checker on its website.
This same checker can also tell you if you’re entitled to other free health-related support, like free glasses and sight tests or dental treatment.
Help if you’re on a low income
You can also get help with prescriptions if you’re on a low income through the NHS Low Income Scheme.
What you’re entitled to will depend on your income and circumstances though.
If you’ve already had to pay for a prescription or other treatment costs and qualify through the Low Income Scheme, you might be able to apply for a refund.
If you think you’re eligible you can head to the NHS website.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected]
