It seems to be that the thing about the national health service is that it is free health care so long as you are not ill! as soon as you require medication you have to fork out £6.65 for each item on your prescription. this being the case it is important to understand the system and ensure you are getting the medication as cheaply as you can.

Free prescriptions

A charge is made for each item on an NHS prescription currently £6.65. But some people don’t have to pay the charge because of their age, income or medical condition. Patients on regular medication may apply to the health authority for a ‘season ticket’ (pre-payment certificate) for longer periods.

People who do not have to pay prescription charges include:

people aged 60 and over

people under age 16 and full-time students under age 19

pregnant women or those who have a baby under 12 months old

those who receive a War or Ministry of Defence Disablement Pension who need prescriptions for their disability. (Check categories with the pharmacist.)

most people on income support, income-based jobseeker’s allowance, family credit or disability working allowance, or their partner.

people with one or more of the following medical conditions:
- a permanent fistula
- forms of hypoadrenolism
- diabetes insipidus or other forms of hypopituitarism
- diabetes mellitus
- hypoparathyroidism
- myasthenia gravis
- myoxedema
- epilepsy requiring continuous anti-convulsive therapy
- continuing disability resulting in being home-bound

prescriptions for contraceptives are also free of charge.

To find out if you qualify for free prescriptions, ask the pharmacist, your GP, health visitor or the health authority. To get free prescriptions, you will need to fill out form P11 which the GP, pharmacist or Department of Social Security (DSS) offices can give you. Anyone can get a season ticket from the pharmacist

if you are entitled to free prescriptions but have paid for one, you can make an application for a refund as long as you have a receipt and make the application within three months.

Pre-pay

it is possible to buy a ‘season ticket’ for your prescriptions. you can pay in advance for a 4 or 12 month period. this is a set fee and entitles you to as many prescriptions within that period as you require, even if the cost of those exceeds the sum you paid for your ppc (pre-pay certificate). the certificates cost £33.40 for 4 months and £91.80 for 12 months. Ask at your pharmacy for a form to apply for a FP92 certificate.

Download a form to pay by cheque or postal order.

For further information about pre-payment certificates ring 0845 8500030

Drug3k
Prescription drug/medication information for consumers.
http://www.drug3k.com/

OVER THE COUNTER

One of the topics surrounding NHS prescription charges is that in some cases the drug prescribed, for which you are paying £6.40, can be purchased over the counter without prescription for less.

Pharmacists may point this out when appropriate, however, they run the risk of being reported for so doing

It is important to get to grips with the system to ensure that you are not paying unnecessarily and, when payment is required, to ensure that you are expending the least possible money in the circumstances.