How to save money when buying prescriptions

Advice and Information - 5 January 2023

You can save money with your prescriptions with a prepayment certificate.
pharmacy

MoneySavingExpert.com has obtained data via Freedom of Information requests from the NHS Business Services Authority, which shows 1,064,992 people paid for at least 12 individual prescriptions in 2021-22 instead of paying for a pre-payment certificate (PPC). Because this group paid on average for 16 prescriptions each, costing £9.35 (£149.60 in total), they paid out around £40 more than if they had paid for a 12 month PPC at a cost of £108.80 for an unlimited amount of prescriptions.

Martin Lewis, founder of MoneySavingExpert.com, 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." He urged people to get a PPC before any prescription increases, which usually go up each April.

People can buy a three month or 12 month PPC and the cost of the latter can be spread over 10 months via direct debit  

 

NHS Prescription Prepayment Certificates (PPCs) | NHSBSA

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We are proud to be able to give the opportunity for seldom heard voices to be heard by providers and wider organisations in their own words, this report has been researched and written by a T-Level student at New College Swindon.

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