You qualify for free prescriptions if:
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you are 60 or over
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you are under 16, or under 19 and in full-time education
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you, or a member of your family, receive Income Support, the Guarantee Credit of Pension Credit, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or, in certain cases, Working Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit
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you are pregnant or have had a baby in the last 12 months
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you receive a War Disablement Pension and need prescriptions for your war injury
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you are a hospital inpatient
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your weekly income is low enough (see details of the Low Income Scheme).
Remember that you will need to show your pharmacist proof that you qualify for free prescriptions.
You can also get free prescriptions if you have:
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any long-term physical disability which prevents you from leaving home without the help of another person
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a permanent fistula like a caecostomy, colostomy, laryngostomy or ileostomy, needing continuous dressing or an appliance
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epilepsy that needs continuous anti-convulsive therapy
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diabetes mellitus (except where treatment is by diet only)
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diabetes insipidus or other kinds of hypopituitarism
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myxoedema
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hypoparathyroidism
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forms of hypoadrenalism (including Addison's disease) for which specific substitution therapy is essential
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myasthenia gravis.
How can I apply?
If you have any of the above medical conditions, ask your doctor to fill in form FP92A (EC92A in Scotland and HC11B in Northern Ireland)
Prescriptions are free in Wales.
Prescription Prepayment Certificate
If you do not qualify for free prescriptions, consider buying a Prescription Prepayment Certificate for four months or a year. It will save you money if you need more than four prescriptions in three months or 14 items in one year.
Costs are as follows:
Charge for each prescribed item: £7.10. In Scotland: £5.00.
(For items prescribed in combination/duo packs there is a
prescription charge for each different drug in the pack)
Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC)
Three months: £27.85. In Scotland: £17.00.
Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC)
12 months: £102.50. In Scotland: £48.00.
How can I apply?
Fill in form FP95 (EC95 in Scotland), which you can get from your pharmacist. In Scotland, you can also get the form you need from your doctor or local NHS Board.
In England you can buy the certificate over the phone using a recognised credit or debit card. Phone the Prescription Pricing Authority on 0845 850 0030. You can also buy the certificate over the internet from www.ppa.org.uk
In England only, the annual Prescription Prepayment Certificate can be paid for by direct debit over 10 monthly payments.
Remember that you will need to show your pharmacist your Prescription Prepayment Certificate when you collect your prescription.