Nearly one million people in England overpaid for their prescriptions last year by paying the standard £9.90 charge per item instead of using a money-saving alternative, according to official figures.
While prescriptions are free in Scotland and Wales, patients in England face charges that can quickly mount up for those requiring regular medication.
Financial commentator Martin Lewis has highlighted what he describes as a prescription “season ticket” through his MoneySavingExpert Weekly Money Tips newsletter.
The scheme, formally known as the NHS Prescription Prepayment Certificate, allows patients to pay a fixed fee covering all NHS prescriptions for a set period.
There are two main options available to patients in England.
A three-month certificate costs £32.05 and covers unlimited NHS prescriptions during that period.
An annual certificate costs £114.50 and can be paid upfront or spread across 10 monthly instalments of £11.45.
Once purchased, the certificate covers every NHS prescription issued within the valid timeframe, regardless of the number of items.
Martin Lewis has highlighted what he describes as a prescription “season ticket”
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The savings depend on how many prescriptions a patient collects.
Anyone receiving more than three items over three months, or more than 12 items over a year, will typically pay less overall with a certificate than by paying per prescription.
NHS calculations show that a person collecting two medications each month could save £123 over a year, or more than £27 over three months, by using a certificate.
Those receiving three prescriptions per month could save more than £241 annually, or more than £57 across a three-month period.
Those receiving three prescriptions per month could save more than £241 annually
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For patients collecting four prescriptions per month, the annual saving could exceed £360, while the three-month option would save more than £86.
Certificates can be purchased online for instant email confirmation, obtained at some pharmacies, or applied for by post.
The NHS also allows certificates to be backdated by up to one calendar month, enabling patients to claim refunds for recent prescriptions if they have an FP57 receipt from their pharmacy.
A separate Hormone Replacement Therapy Prescription Prepayment Certificate is available for £19.80, which is equivalent to two single prescription charges and covers unlimited eligible HRT medicines for 12 months.
Not everyone in England is required to pay prescription charges
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This option may be beneficial for patients collecting HRT three or more times a year.
Not everyone in England is required to pay prescription charges.
People under 16 or over 60 are entitled to free prescriptions, as are pregnant women and those who have given birth in the previous 12 months.
Individuals receiving certain benefits and those diagnosed with specific medical conditions may also qualify for free medication.
The NHS provides an online prescription cost calculator to help patients determine whether they are eligible for free prescriptions or whether a prepayment certificate would reduce their costs.