How a PPC works
A Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC) is a flat fee that covers all your NHS prescriptions in England for 3 or 12 months, however many you need.
| Each prescription item | £9.90 |
|---|---|
| 3-month PPC | £32.05 |
| 12-month PPC | £114.50, or 10 monthly payments |
The prescription charge has been frozen at £9.90 for a second year. A 12-month PPC pays for itself if you need 12 or more items a year, about one a month.
There’s a separate, cheaper HRT PPC that covers certain menopause medicines for 12 months. You can buy it from the NHS Business Services Authority.
Worked example
Sue takes two regular medicines, so she pays for 2 items each month.
| Paying per item: 24 × £9.90 | £237.60 a year |
|---|---|
| 12-month PPC | £114.50 |
| Sue saves | £123.10 a year |
Questions
Where do I buy a PPC?
Online from the NHS Business Services Authority, by phone, or at many pharmacies. You can pay for a 12-month PPC in 10 monthly instalments.
Who gets free prescriptions in England?
People aged 60 or over, under 16s, 16 to 18 year olds in full-time education, pregnant women and those who’ve had a baby in the last 12 months, people with a medical exemption certificate, and people on certain benefits.