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Get help with your NHS prescription costs if you’re prescribed regular medication
An NHS prescription prepayment certificate (PPC) is an initiative to support patients with the cost of NHS prescriptions.
Sometimes referred to as a season ticket or prepaid card or certificate, it’s available to buy for a 3-month or 12-month period and can save you money if you’re prescribed 2 or more medicines on a repeat basis.
Think of it as your ‘season ticket’ for your prescriptions. Eligible NHS prescription items will be covered for the duration of your certificate.
Add your PPC to your account now and enjoy free delivery on your repeat prescriptions.
Types of prescription prepayment certificate (PPC)
A standard prescription prepayment certificate covers all items prescribed through the NHS and the costs are as follows.
A 3-month PPC certificate costs £32.05*
A 12-month PPC certificate costs £114.50*
The Department of Health and Social Care introduced an HRT-only prescription prepayment certificate to help with the cost of hormone replacement therapies on the NHS. These are often prescribed to support women experiencing symptoms of menopause.
A 12-month HRT-only PPC certificate costs £19.80* and lasts 12 months, so it’ll save you money if you’re prescribed more than 2 hormone replacement medicines in a year.
Who can benefit from an NHS prescription certificate?
Patients who pay for their NHS prescriptions could save money with an NHS prepayment prescription certificate, depending on how many items they need every month. You can find out whether you need to pay for your prescriptions or are eligible for free NHS prescriptions with this NHS survey.
If you pay for your NHS prescriptions and need more than 3 prescribed items in 3 months or more than 11 prescribed items in a year, you will save money with a 3-month or 12-month PPC respectively.
The NHS prepayment prescription certificate also benefits HRT patients, with a 12-month HRT-only PPC saving you money if you’re prescribed more than 2 hormone replacement medicines in a year.
How much could I save with an NHS prepayment prescription certificate?
Here’s a summary of what you could save each year with a prepay prescription certificate depending on the number of prescriptions you need each month.
2 items per month save £123.10
3 items per month save £241.90
4 items per month save £360.70
This saving is over 12 months using a PPC compared to paying for each item individually.
Pharmacy2U supports NHS prescription prepayment certificates
We’ve made it simple to add your prescription prepayment certificate to your account. You can do it by following these easy steps:
Log in to your account
Select ‘Exemption’ from your ‘My Personal Details’ area and choose ‘Edit’
Select option F for a general PPC or option W for a HRT-only PPC
Enter the end date of your PPC
Save changes
How to buy a prescription prepayment certificate
The easiest way to purchase an NHS prescription prepayment certificate is online. It's valid straight away or can even be backdated by one month, allowing you to reclaim the cost of any NHS prescriptions that have already been paid for in that time.
The NHS can send details of your certificate to you by email rather than sending a physical certificate (although these are also available). This keeps the process speedy and helps the environment.
NHS prescription prepayment certificates can also be bought or renewed over the phone by calling 0300 330 1341.
In addition, some UK high street pharmacies are registered to sell the 3-month PPC and HRT PPC.
Before buying an NHS prescription prepayment certificate, you should make sure you're not already entitled to free prescriptions. There are many reasons why you may be exempt from paying for NHS prescriptions. If you want to learn more, visit our exemptions page to check your eligibility.
HRT-specific prescription prepayment certificates (HRT PPC)
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) prescription prepayment certificates cover HRT patients for certain HRT medicines for 12 months. The HRT PPC costs £19.80 and one prescription NHS item usually costs £9.90, which means that if you need more than 2 prescription items per year, the HRT PPC will save you money.
The HRT PPC covers an unlimited number of certain medicines within the 12-month timeframe. However, there are limitations on which medicines are covered by the HRT PPC, and your GP may prescribe you something not included on the eligible medicines list.
You can find a full list of the eligible medicines, including both product/brand name and generic ingredient name here.
You can read more about the HRT PPC here.
If you pay for NHS prescriptions for items other than HRT medicines, you may financially benefit more from a generic prescription prepayment certificate rather than the HRT PPC. You will save more using a standard PPC than an HRT PPC if:
You order 4 or more items in 3 months, including at least 2 non-HRT items
You order 12 or more items in 12 months, including at least 10 non-HRT items
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Frequently asked questions
Anyone who is issued NHS prescriptions on a regular basis can benefit from an NHS prescription prepayment certificate.
There are specific eligibility requirements for certain types of NHS PPCs, including the Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) PPC and the Tax Credit Exemption certificate.
You can check if you have a valid NHS prescription prepayment certificate (PPC) by using the NHS Business Services Authority’s (NHSBSA) online exemption checker.
You will need to enter your personal details and exemption certificate details. The checker will then tell you the validity of your NHS PPC, its expiry date, and if you’re entitled to free NHS prescriptions or dental treatment.
You can also receive email reminders for your digital PPC one month before it's due to expire.
A PPC is valid from the day you apply for it, or it can be can even be backdated by one month, but it may take a couple of days to receive the details by post.
The main benefit of an NHS prescription prepayment certificate is that it helps you save money on your prescriptions if you are prescribed two or more medicines on a repeat basis.
There are two types of NHS PPC so you can purchase one that’s more suitable for your budget - a 3-month PPC certificate costs £32.05 and 12-month PPC certificate costs £114.50 (prices correct as of May 2024).
It covers all your NHS prescriptions, including NHS dental prescriptions, no matter how many items you need.
You will not be able to get a refund on your NHS PPC if you stop needing the medications you’ve been prescribed in the past. However, you may be able to claim a full or partial refund on your NHS prescription prepayment certificate if you become entitled to free NHS prescriptions, or if you go into hospital.
The amount of refund will depend on how long your PPC is valid for and when and how your circumstances change. You need to apply for a refund within 3 months from when you became entitled to free NHS prescriptions. Visit the NHS SBA PPC terms and conditions page for more info.
No. You don't need to buy an NHS prescription payment certificate (PPC) if you are exempt from paying for your prescriptions. If you become exempt while you have a PPC, you may be able to claim a refund for the remaining duration of your PPC from the point you became eligible for free prescriptions.
If your certificate is damaged or lost, contact the NHS BSA. If you’d rather, you can switch to a digital certificate at this point and receive your PPC by email. If not, you should receive your replacement paper certificate within 10 working days.
Yes, if you wish to buy a 12-month prescription payment certificate (PPC), you can pay for it in 10 monthly instalments by Direct Debit. This option is available online or by phone only, not at pharmacies or any other dispensers.
To renew your NHS prescription prepayment certificate, you simply need to purchase a new PPC for whichever duration works for you – either 3 or 12 months – by whatever method works best for you. You can delay the start date of your PPC so that it lines up with the next time you need to order an NHS prescription to get the most out of your prescription prepayment certificate.
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This service has taken all the worry out of ordering repeat perscriptions. They remind you when perscriptions are due & they are posted & within a couple of days they are there on your door mat. Exemplary service. Thank you.
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Great service. With good liaison with my GP. And order always efficiently delivered. So much easier than queueing at the local chemist. I started using Pharmacy2U during the pandemic and no turning back.
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I order my medication online from the drs it goes straight through to Pharmacy2U they confirm they have received it and it is sent out for delivery. With emails keeping me informed of its status all along the way.Neil Etheridge
I get reminders when I need to order
I get reminders when I need to order. It is easy to order and I get updates to let me know how my order is progressing. Within a very short time it is put out for delivery. It is then up to Royal Mail to post it through my letterbox.
Janet Tittensor
Losing the monthly stress
Being able to request my prescription from the doctors and knowing that the items I require will be delivered to my door without delay. Originally I would go to the pharmacy after a 5 day wait to find that my prescription was not ready, so thank you for making my life easier.
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Excellent service. Timely as ever. Prompted by P2U to re-order. From sending order to receipt was 7 days. Excellent as it includes GP’s approval sign off.
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