Full list of medical conditions and benefits that get you free NHS prescriptions revealed
PRESCRIPTION costs have been rising for years and millions could soon lose out on their free medicines.
There is still a long list of people who are eligible for free NHS prescriptions in England, including those with some medical conditions.
Brits have been hit with rising prescription costs every April in recent years.
But this year the charge of £9.35 is set to stay the same, a Government minister confirmed.
Last week Edward Argar, a health minister, said: “Prescription charges will not be uplifted on 1 April 2022. There is currently no planned announcement on any future increase.”
Patients in England are currently given free prescriptions when they turn 60, while medicines are free to everyone in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Read more on the NHS
But people between 60 and 66 years old are face losing their free prescriptions.
Officials are consulting on whether the free prescription age should be moved to 66 to be aligned with the state pension age.
Among those aged between 60 and 65, 3.54 million rely on NHS prescriptions.
Of these, roughly half do not have to pay either because they have a medical exemption or they are on a low income or benefits.
Most read in Health
These patients would continue to get free prescriptions if the proposal goes ahead.
Who can get free prescriptions
Check if you can get free prescriptions by using this .
You can get free NHS prescriptions if, at the time the prescription is dispensed, you:
- Are 60 or over
- Are under 16
- Are 16 to 18 and in full-time education
- Are an NHS inpatient
- Hold a valid war pension exemption certificate and the prescription is for your accepted disability
As long as you have a valid maternal exemption certificate, you can get free prescriptions while pregnant or if you’ve had a baby in the past 12 months.
You are also eligible - with a valid medical exemption certificate (MedEx) - if you have a physical disability that stops you leaving the house independently, or have a specified medical condition.
A MedEx gives you free prescriptions, but not dental care.
It is valid for five years, or until your 60th birthday, whichever is first.
Read more on how to get one here.
The medical conditions that warrant a MedEx are:
- A permanent fistula (for example, caecostomy, colostomy, laryngostomy or ileostomy) which needs continuous surgical dressing or an appliance
- A form of hypoadrenalism (for example, Addison’s Disease) for which specific substitution therapy is essential
- Diabetes insipidus and other forms of hypopituitarism
- Diabetes mellitus, except where treatment is by diet alone
- Hypoparathyroidism
- Myasthenia gravis
- Myxoedema (that is, hypothyroidism which needs thyroid hormone replacement)
- Epilepsy which needs continuous anticonvulsive therapy
- A continuing physical disability which means you cannot go out without the help of another person
- Cancer (including treatment for the effects of the disease)
Some people facing financial hardship can also get free NHS prescriptions.
You are entitled to free prescriptions if you or your partner (including civil partner) receive, or you're under the age of 20 and the dependant of someone receiving:
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
- and meet the criteria
Read More on The Sun
If you're entitled to or named on:
READ MORE SUN STORIES
- A valid NHS tax credit exemption certificate – if you do not have a certificate, you can show your award notice. You qualify if you get Child Tax Credits, Working Tax Credits with a disability element (or both), and have income for tax credit purposes of £15,276 or less
- A valid NHS certificate for full help with health costs (HC2)
If you have a low income, you may be eligible to receive financial help through the NHS Low Income Scheme. Read .