Time for a reminder on this one for anyone (only about 40% of people) in England unlucky enough to have to pay for their own prescriptions - particularly as prescription charges will be increasing on 1 April. Buy the £104 12 month PPC now to avoid the increase, or a three month one for £29.10. A yearly PPC will cost just £10.40 a month (for 10 months only) with a direct debit.
IF YOU'RE BUYING JUST 2 ITEMS A MONTH THIS WILL SAVE YOU MONEY - AT LEAST £92 A YEAR WITH 2 ITEMS A MONTH, AND ANOTHER £98.40 FOR EACH ADDITIONAL MONTHLY PRESCRIPTION
APART FROM THE PPC ITSELF, THERE ARE TWO KEY POINTS TO REMEMBER:
1 CERTAIN MEDICAL CONDITIONS WILL GIVE YOU A COMPLETELY FREE MEDICAL EXEMPTION CERTIFICATE (SEE BELOW*)
AND
2 YOU CAN CLAIM BACK PREVIOUS PRESCRIPTION COSTS FOR UP TO 3 MONTHS AFTER BUYING THE PPC SO LONG AS YOU ASK THE CHEMIST FOR AND RETAIN THE RECEIPT FORMS FP57
Did you know you can save money with a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC)?
If you know you’ll have to pay for a lot of NHS prescriptions it may be cheaper to buy a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC) – effectively a prescription 'season ticket'. A PPC covers you for all of your own NHS prescriptions, including dental prescriptions, no matter how many items you need. However, this does not include other health costs, for example the provision of wigs and fabric supports which are only provided through the hospital service.There are two PPC options to choose from:
A three month PPC costs £29.10 and could save you money if you need more than three prescribed items in three months
A 12 month PPC costs £104.00 and could save you money if you need more than 12 prescribed items in a year
How much can I save?
If you need two items each month you can save over £90 with a 12 month PPC
If you need three items each month you can save over £190 with a 12 month PPC
If you need four items each month you can save over £285 with a 12 month PPC
There are several payment options available. If you choose the 12 month PPC, you can pay for this by 10 monthly direct debit instalments.
How to apply for a PPC
Please check if you are entitled to free prescriptions before you apply for your PPC.
It's quickest to buy your PPC online. The PPC will start from the day you submit your application, unless you request a different start date. However, the start date must be within one month before or after the date of your application.
If you prefer talking to someone, you can call the PPC order line on 0300 330 1341. Again, your certificate is valid from the day you make the phone call unless you request otherwise.
Ensure you have your bank details or credit/debit card details ready.
Tip - Although the PPC is valid from the day of your application it may take a couple of days to receive your certificate. This means, until your PPC arrives you may have to pay for your prescription in advance and ask for a refund afterwards.
You can apply by post as well. Complete and sign your application form and send it with a cheque, postal order or credit/debit card details to:
NHS Help with Health Costs
PPC Issue Office
PO Box 854
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE99 2DE
Some pharmacies may be able to sell you a prescription prepayment certificate. However, you won’t be able to pay via direct debit if you purchase from a pharmacist. Please either contact your local pharmacy or view the list of registered pharmacies on the NHSBSA website to find out who is selling PPCs.
Useful tips:
Remember to apply for a new PPC in good time, otherwise you will have to pay full prescription charges if your PPC runs out.
If you have to pay for prescriptions while you are waiting for a new PPC and need to apply for a refund, ask the pharmacist for a refund and receipt form (FP57) in order to claim back the costs. You can claim for the refund of prescription charges up to three months after paying. The refund and receipt form (FP57) explains what to do.
If you buy a 12 month PPC by direct debit you are entering a commitment to pay all the instalments. If you use the PPC after failing to pay an instalment you may incur a penalty charge.
Top comments
Sebules to warriorsq
24 Jan 1535#29
Typical that the lazy Thyroid entitles you to benefits but a hard working one wouldn't :wink:
1on4
24 Jan 1528#44
That's the biggest load of crud I've read on HUKD for a while.
Baldieman64
24 Jan 1523#45
Everybody should pay for prescriptions - even if it's only £2 per item.
I'm sick of having to wait four days to see a doctor only to get an appointment and find that the surgery is chock full of people with very little wrong with them who are there because they are not prepared to pay 40p for paracetamol and want it on a "free" prescription.
This is literally bankrupting the NHS and denying treatment to people who desperately need it.
Besford to misterboumsong
24 Jan 1513#35
Nothing's 'free' - us English are paying for yours!
All comments (193)
d84rk_knight
24 Jan 15#1
Thanks for the reminder.
macc1980
24 Jan 152#2
10% of people! Surely not... Looks like I'm one of the 10%
scott_w_1981
24 Jan 15#3
And me :smiley:
Annasteven
24 Jan 15#4
So only one in ten people are not on benefits, a child or pregnant? Seems incredibly unlikely. However, have some heat for a timely reminder.
Dyslexic_Dog to Annasteven
24 Jan 152#6
I wonder if they meant to put only 10% of people DO NOT have to pay?
satan666wayne to Annasteven
24 Jan 153#7
Or over 60.
Annasteven
24 Jan 152#5
Apparently it's 73% of people who pay, many of whom have long term conditions. So the PPC will be useful.
1on4 to Annasteven
24 Jan 151#11
That figure is almost certainly wrong. Approx 25%? of the population are over 60, then you have to consider everyone on a low income (not just unemployed and on benefits), those who are pregnant or who had a baby in the last 12 months or anyone under 18 (20% of population).
1on4
24 Jan 15#8
I think what the OP meant was that 10% of prescriptions are paid for, not 10% of people have to pay.
satan666wayne
24 Jan 154#9
In our pharmacy this week we dispenced 2534 items 18 of these are paid for. This is about the same every week.
thepharmacist to satan666wayne
24 Jan 151#13
Busy place!!!
Shard to satan666wayne
24 Jan 151#41
I guess that if you are ill enough to be off work you may need lots of prescriptions each week, if you are well enough to work chances are you virtually never need a prescription, can't remember the last time I had one but it would have been many years ago
hogheadtoo to satan666wayne
24 Jan 15#50
bobon to satan666wayne
24 Jan 151#67
I've suspected this for a long time.Every time I put my hand in my pocket to pay the staff behind the counter always look surprised.I'm one of the 18 :disappointed:
Askrulous to satan666wayne
24 Jan 15#140
Lol, and there I was thinking it was the ageing population that was knackering our nhs!!!
Bu5ter
24 Jan 15#10
I work 60+ hours every week just to put food on the table and pay over £400 in tax and national insurance a month, So yeah I'm one of the UNLUCKY one's to still be paying full whack for prescriptions.
Country's a joke!
Heat added though as it could save those who need regular prescriptions a bit of money
mdsreddy to Bu5ter
24 Jan 15#56
I agree, totally unfair charges for hard working people. And it's free for everyone in Scotland and Wales. I have signed a lot of petitions against this. FYI I am a doctor and always have patients complaining about prescription charges. Let's hope it becomes free for everyone in the future....
taffyevans to Bu5ter
25 Jan 15#156
move to Wales, Scotland or France then. Free meds for all is long overdue. my cancer wasn't serious enough to qualify for the free scripts.
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Opening post
IF YOU'RE BUYING JUST 2 ITEMS A MONTH THIS WILL SAVE YOU MONEY - AT LEAST £92 A YEAR WITH 2 ITEMS A MONTH, AND ANOTHER £98.40 FOR EACH ADDITIONAL MONTHLY PRESCRIPTION
APART FROM THE PPC ITSELF, THERE ARE TWO KEY POINTS TO REMEMBER:
1 CERTAIN MEDICAL CONDITIONS WILL GIVE YOU A COMPLETELY FREE MEDICAL EXEMPTION CERTIFICATE (SEE BELOW*)
AND
2 YOU CAN CLAIM BACK PREVIOUS PRESCRIPTION COSTS FOR UP TO 3 MONTHS AFTER BUYING THE PPC SO LONG AS YOU ASK THE CHEMIST FOR AND RETAIN THE RECEIPT FORMS FP57
************************************************************************************
Did you know you can save money with a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC)?
If you know you’ll have to pay for a lot of NHS prescriptions it may be cheaper to buy a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC) – effectively a prescription 'season ticket'. A PPC covers you for all of your own NHS prescriptions, including dental prescriptions, no matter how many items you need. However, this does not include other health costs, for example the provision of wigs and fabric supports which are only provided through the hospital service.There are two PPC options to choose from:
A three month PPC costs £29.10 and could save you money if you need more than three prescribed items in three months
A 12 month PPC costs £104.00 and could save you money if you need more than 12 prescribed items in a year
How much can I save?
If you need two items each month you can save over £90 with a 12 month PPC
If you need three items each month you can save over £190 with a 12 month PPC
If you need four items each month you can save over £285 with a 12 month PPC
There are several payment options available. If you choose the 12 month PPC, you can pay for this by 10 monthly direct debit instalments.
How to apply for a PPC
Please check if you are entitled to free prescriptions before you apply for your PPC.
It's quickest to buy your PPC online. The PPC will start from the day you submit your application, unless you request a different start date. However, the start date must be within one month before or after the date of your application.
If you prefer talking to someone, you can call the PPC order line on 0300 330 1341. Again, your certificate is valid from the day you make the phone call unless you request otherwise.
Ensure you have your bank details or credit/debit card details ready.
Tip - Although the PPC is valid from the day of your application it may take a couple of days to receive your certificate. This means, until your PPC arrives you may have to pay for your prescription in advance and ask for a refund afterwards.
You can apply by post as well. Complete and sign your application form and send it with a cheque, postal order or credit/debit card details to:
NHS Help with Health Costs
PPC Issue Office
PO Box 854
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE99 2DE
Some pharmacies may be able to sell you a prescription prepayment certificate. However, you won’t be able to pay via direct debit if you purchase from a pharmacist. Please either contact your local pharmacy or view the list of registered pharmacies on the NHSBSA website to find out who is selling PPCs.
Useful tips:
Remember to apply for a new PPC in good time, otherwise you will have to pay full prescription charges if your PPC runs out.
If you have to pay for prescriptions while you are waiting for a new PPC and need to apply for a refund, ask the pharmacist for a refund and receipt form (FP57) in order to claim back the costs. You can claim for the refund of prescription charges up to three months after paying. The refund and receipt form (FP57) explains what to do.
If you buy a 12 month PPC by direct debit you are entering a commitment to pay all the instalments. If you use the PPC after failing to pay an instalment you may incur a penalty charge.
Top comments
I'm sick of having to wait four days to see a doctor only to get an appointment and find that the surgery is chock full of people with very little wrong with them who are there because they are not prepared to pay 40p for paracetamol and want it on a "free" prescription.
This is literally bankrupting the NHS and denying treatment to people who desperately need it.
All comments (193)
Country's a joke!
Heat added though as it could save those who need regular prescriptions a bit of money