How much is a UK prescription? How can you pre-pay for your medication and how can you be exempt from the charges?
IF you're not feeling your best, you may need to drop by your local doctors surgery and get them to prescribe you a bit of medicine.
But how much will that medication cost and can you make savings? Here's all you need to know...
How much is a UK prescription?
Prescriptions in the UK currently cost £8.60 per item, but from April 1, this will rise to £8.80 for NHS patients in England.
The website also specifies that it is £17.20 per pair of elastic hosiery - not the first thing that springs to mind in prescription based chat, but they must have their reasons.
But not everyone has to shell this amount out for their medicine.
There are a number of exemptions and ways to save on your prescriptions, even after the increased charges are introduced.
How can you pre-pay for medicines?
In the UK you can use a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC) and this may save you money.
The PPC is not being affected by the upcoming increase in prescription charges, with the Government announcing their price will be frozen.
You can pay £29.10 for a three month subscription.
This will save you money if you need three or more items over the course of three months.
If that's not long enough for you, you can also go fora 12 month PPC, which will cost £104.00.
This is save you money if you need more than 12 items during that year.
If you would like a year long PPC but can't afford it, you can also pay in 10 instalments over the year.
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How can you be exempt from prescription charges?
There are plenty of people who are entitled to free NHS prescriptions. These are:
- Those over 60
- Anyone under 16
- Students aged 16-18
- Pregnant women or those who gave birth in the next 12 months
- People with a medical condition and a medical exemption certificate (MedEx)
- Anyone with a physical disbility that means you can't leave the house without help and a MedEx
- Those who have a war pension
- NHS inpatients