What is an NHS prepayment certificate?
An NHS prescription prepayment certificate (PPC) covers all of your NHS prescriptions, including NHS dental prescriptions. Instead of paying for each prescription and item you receive, you can buy a 3 month or 12 month PPC to cover all NHS prescription charges during that period.
For people who are not entitled to free prescriptions in England, a PPC may be a cheaper alternative. It can save you money compared to buying each prescription item separately.
When you collect your prescription medicine from the pharmacy, you should show them your PPC so they know you have already paid for your prescriptions.
How much is an NHS prepayment certificate?
The NHS prepayment certificate cost is different depending on whether you buy the 3-month or the 12-month PPC:
- A 3 month PPC costs £29.65 (this will increase to £30.25 from 01/04/2021)
- A 12 month PPC costs £105.90 (this will increase to £108.10 from 01/04/2021)
If you buy a 12 month PPC you can pay in 10 monthly instalments if you prefer.
The savings can add up with a PPC. For example, below are the savings you can make with a 12 month PPC:
- For 2 prescribed medicines per month, you will save £113.70 over a year
- For 3 prescribed medicines per month, you will save £223.50 over a year
- For 4 prescribed medicines per month, you will save £333.30 over a year
How do I get an NHS prepayment certificate?
There are several ways to buy a PPC. You can buy a PPC from the NHS online. With this option, you can have your certificate emailed to your email address or you can print your certificate yourself. When buying it online, the PPC will start from the day you submit the application – unless you specify a different date.
If you prefer, you can buy a PPC by calling the NHS number 0300 330 1341. The certificate starts from the date of the phone call unless you specify a different date.
You can also buy a PPC in person at specific pharmacies registered to sell PPCs. However, with this option, you will not be able to pay in monthly instalments.
The NHS prescription prepayment card is not sent out anymore. The plastic NHS prepayment card has been stopped because it is costly to the NHS and the environment, and can take time to reach you.
How do I renew my prepayment certificate?
You may be wondering ‘is my NHS prepayment still valid?’. You should use the NHS website to check if your certificate is still valid and see when it expires. To reapply or renew your certificate you should buy a new certificate online, by phone, or at specific pharmacies.
NHS Repeat Prescriptions
At Simple Online Pharmacy, we can process and deliver your NHS repeat prescriptions for free. You can sign up via our website, or download our app to make reordering your NHS prescriptions simple and hassle-free.
Content Reviewed: 23/03/2021
