01 April 2023 , 06:00
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The price of an NHS prescription in England has risen by 30p from today, taking the cost from £9.35 to £9.65.
This is an increase of 3.2% overall and is the first rise in two years after the price was frozen last April last year.
The Government introduced the freeze, which was first time in 12 years, due to the cost of living crisis.
Alongside this, the cost of prescription pre-payment certificates (PPCs) - which cover multiple NHS prescriptions for a set price - will also increase.
A three-month PPC is going up from £30.25 to £31.25, and a 12-month PPC will increase from £108.10 to £111.60.
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The cost of wigs and fabric supports will rise as well, while the recently introduced PPC for Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) will cost £19.30.
Those living in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are not charged for prescriptions.
There are several ways you can try to reduce the cost of your medication and you should check to see if any would benefit you before paying.
Check if you get free prescriptions
Certain medical conditions
There are ways you can cut down the cost of your medicine and the first place to start is by checking if you need to pay for prescriptions at all.
Some people in England are entitled to free prescriptions, and includes the following groups:
- 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 valid medical exemption card
- You have a continuing physical disability that prevents you 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
Medical exemption certificates are only given to those who have specific medical conditions or disabilities (Getty Images)Medical exemption certificates are only given to those with a specific health condition that meets the NHS’s qualifying criteria for additional support.
According to the NHS’s Business Service Authority (NHSBSA), to get one you must have one of the following conditions.
These include:
- Cancer
- A permanent fistula which needs continuous surgical dressing or an appliance
- A form of hypoadrenalism which requires specific substitution therapy
- Diabetes insipidus or other forms of hypopituitarism
- Diabetes mellitus, except where treatment is by diet alone
- Hypoparathyroidism
- Myasthenia gravis
- Myxoedema
- Epilepsy requiring continuous anticonvulsive therapy
Claiming certain benefits
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You can also get 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 may also be able to get free prescriptions if you are entitled to an NHS tax credit exemption certificate.
To get one of these, you need to qualify for child tax credits or working tax credits, including a disability or severe disability element, and have an income of less than £15,276 a year.
Save with a Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC)
If you don't qualify for free prescriptions then you may benefit from getting a Prescription Prepayment Certificate.
The PPC is often referred to as a "season ticket" for prescriptions as you pay for a three-month pass or a 12-month, and you can get as many prescriptions as you need in that time.
Even though the price of the PPC's are going up in April, it can work out cheaper if you pay for regular medication.
From April:
- A three month PPC will cost - £31.25
- A 12 month PPC will cost - £111.60
Help towards costs if you're on a low income
If you don't qualify for free prescriptions with any of these schemes, you could still get some help towards costs if you are on a low income.
How much help you get is dependent on your circumstances and income and this includes your outgoings and any savings you have.
If you have a low income, the NHS Low Income Scheme could help you pay for:
- NHS prescription charges
- NHS dental treatment charges
- the cost of sight tests, glasses and contact lenses
- the cost of travelling to receive NHS treatment
- NHS wigs and fabric supports (check with your hospital for their arrangements for supplying NHS wigs)
You can find out more about the NHS low income scheme here, including who qualifies and how to apply.
Save by paying over the counter
If you're prescribed common medication such as painkillers or dermatology creams that are also available over the counter, often it's cheaper to buy them that way rather than pay for a prescription.
If you are doing this, then you should also consider generic medicines rather than big brand versions.
Most of the time it is the medicine's active ingredient that matters, and a lot of the time these are found in a shop's "own brand" medicines.
However, you should always watch out if you have allergies, as ingredients can differ between branded and generic drugs.