Spending too much on prescriptions? Here are six ways to cut your costs
Prescriptions for medication are a necessary but costly expense. That is, if you live in England; currently if you are under the health service in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland prescriptions are free.
For those in England under the NHS, prescriptions cost £9.65 per item. Fine as a one-off, perhaps, but if you are in need of multiple medicines on a regular basis, the expense will soon start to mount up.
Prices also increase each year. On April 1, 2023, the price of a prescription was adjusted for inflation, going up by 3.12pc. As a result, the cost of one order increased by 30p from £9.35 to £9.65.
The price of a prescription has increased by more than 25pc in a decade, up from £7.65 in 2012/13.
But, depending on your age, medical concern or the type of product you’ve been prescribed, there may be a way to reduce what you pay each time you go to the pharmacy. After all, the last thing anyone wants is to be worrying about finances while dealing with a health concern.
Here, Telegraph Money sets out some of the ways you can legitimately reduce your prescription costs.
Pay nothing if you’re exempt
Before paying up for your prescription, it is worth checking if you are entitled to get it free. Firstly, a number of age groups are exempt from the charge. The NHS gives free prescriptions to those aged 60 and over, those under 16 years old, and 16 to 18-year-olds who are in full-time education.
Other exemptions have nothing to do with your age, but are in place for certain medical conditions when you have a valid medical exemption certificate (called MedEx). You can apply for a MedEx if you have conditions including cancer, certain types of diabetes, and hypoparathyroidism. You can find the full list of exempt conditions on the NHS website.
To apply for a MedEx certificate, you’ll need to ask your doctor for an FP92A form, which they – or a member of the practice – will need to sign. The certificate lasts for five years, after which time you’ll need to get it renewed.
Likewise, those with a medical exemption certificate due to a continuing physical disability that prevents them going out without help from another person, get medicines free.
You can also get free prescriptions while you are pregnant, and in the 12 months after giving birth – but you’ll need a valid maternity exemption certificate (MatEx) for the fees to be waived.
To get a certificate, just speak to your midwife, doctor or health visitor who can complete an application for you as soon as they confirm you are pregnant. The certificate will last for 12 months after the expected birth date of your baby.
Some holders of a valid war pension exemption certificate also get an exemption, as do all NHS inpatients so you don’t pay for any drugs in hospital.
If you or your partner receive certain benefits, including Income Support, Pension Credit or Universal Credit, then you are entitled to free prescriptions. This also applies if you are under 20 and dependent on someone receiving benefits.
There is also the NHS Low Income Scheme for those who are eligible for financial help. The calculation as to whether this applies to you takes in your total household income, housing costs and council tax. You may be able to get help with not only prescription costs, but also costs for dental work, eyecare, wigs and fabric supports.
You can apply by requesting an application form to be sent to you, or you can fill out the online application form.
Get a prescription ‘season ticket’
A prescription payment certificate (PPC), described by the NHS as a prescription “season ticket”, can save you a significant amount of money if you know you are going to need several repeat prescriptions.
Instead of paying £9.65 for every item, every time you go to the pharmacy, a PPC covers all of your NHS prescriptions – including dental – no matter how many you need during the timeframe it covers.
There are three options for a PPC. A certificate for three months costs £31.25 and will save you money if you need more than three prescribed items over the period. A year-long PPC costs £111.60, and will save you money if you need more than 11 items.
Finally, a hormone replacement therapy (HRT) PPC costs £19.30. It specifically covers HRT medicines licensed to treat menopause symptoms, but it can be used regardless of why those medicines were prescribed. This option will save you money if you need more than two items.
You can apply online for a certificate or call the designated order line on 0300 330 1341. You can also buy a certificate from some pharmacies.
Apply for a refund for past prescriptions
If you need prescription medication before your exemption certificate or PPC comes through, you could claim a refund for the prescription charge once you’ve had them granted.
However, you need to apply for a refund within three months of the purchase, and make sure you ask for an NHS refund form at the time of buying the prescription – you can’t get one after the event.
Ask your pharmacist for cheaper alternatives
Pharmacists have a wealth of knowledge, and may be able to suggest a cheaper over-the-counter alternative to your prescription – but this is only advisable if you’d been prescribed something generic, and often doctors will suggest cheaper alternatives themselves.
Similarly, just as non-branded paracetamol or ibuprofen are cheaper in the supermarkets than branded versions, this may also be true of your prescription medication.
Research conducted by Which? found that opting for non-branded medicines with the same active ingredient as big names could save you significant amounts of money.
The consumer advice site compared the cheapest and most expensive versions of 20 popular medicines and found you can save £78.29 by opting for the cheapest version. Just make sure the one you choose is an equivalent for your prescription, and don’t be afraid to ask a pharmacist for advice.
Get a bigger prescription
Another way you may be able to reduce your bill is by asking your doctor to write you a bigger prescription – for example, enough tablets to last you two months instead of one. As prescriptions are charged on the number of items, rather than the size of them, you’d effectively halve your prescription costs.
Your doctor may not be able to do this, as some medications require check-ups before they can be re-prescribed, but it is worth asking if you’re likely to need a longer course of drugs.
Check the free NHS tool
The NHS has a free tool online that lets you check your eligibility for support with medical expenses. It covers more than just prescription costs including dental checkups, new glasses, and travel expenses for treatment.
Use the tool here to find out if you are eligible for support.
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