HRT Prepayment Certificate Explained

If you have a regular NHS prescription, the cost can really add up, especially when you’re not eligible for free prescriptions. But that doesn’t mean that there aren’t options available to help you save some money.

To help reduce the cost of NHS-prescribed hormone replacement therapy (HRT) medicines in the UK, a new type of prepayment certificate (PPC) that is available both physically and digitally was introduced.

In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about an HRT PPC, including its cost, coverage, and availability.

Three key takeaways

• HRT prepayment certificates are valid for 12 months, so you will save money if you need to pay for more than two prescription charges within a year.
• HRT PPCs will only cover medicines licensed to treat menopausal symptoms. You may need a full PPC if you are prescribed other medication.
• You can use your HRT PPC at Chemist4U to have your medication delivered directly to your door with no prescription cost or delivery cost.

How much does an HRT prepayment certificate cost?

An HRT prepayment certificate costs £19.80 for 12 months, equivalent to two prescription charges per year.

How much money can you save with an HRT PPC?

If you were prescribed a monthly HRT treatment, this would cost you £9.90 a month.

Over the course of 12 months, this would add up to £118.80.

If you instead purchase an HRT PPC, the one-off payment of £19.80 would save you £99 across the year.

Better yet, the HRT PPC is unlimited, meaning you can get as many eligible treatments across that 12-month period as you need, without it costing you any more money.

What about other prescribed medications?

If you have other prescriptions that are not for HRT medicines, you may actually save more money with a three- or 12-month standard prepayment certificate instead.

A three-month PPC costs £32.05, while the 12-month certificate costs £114.50.

A standard PPC will save you more than an HRT PPC if you get:

• four or more items in a three-month period, and at least two are not for eligible HRT medication
• 12 or more items in 12 months, and at least 10 are not for eligible HRT medication

Which menopause treatments are covered by the HRT PPC?

HRT PPCs will only cover HRT medicines that are also licensed to treat menopause.

Currently, there are at least 40 different HRT treatments covered by the HRT PPC, with a complete list available on the NHS website.

If the medicine you need is not listed here, check with your GP or pharmacist before purchasing an HRT PPC.

How do you buy an HRT prepayment prescription certificate?

Both a standard prepayment certificate and an HRT prepayment certificate are available on the NHS website.

We cover this in more detail in our guide on how to get a prepayment certificate.

How Chemist4U can help you with your NHS prescriptions

You can register your HRT PPC with Chemist4U and get your prescriptions delivered to your door for free.

And that’s not the only benefit to using an online pharmacy to manage your NHS prescriptions.

If you have decided that you want to make the swap, then we’ve also detailed exactly how to change your nominated pharmacy to make the process as smooth as possible for you.

Frequently asked questions about HRT PPCs

Who is a good candidate for an HRT PPC?

A good candidate for an HRT PPC is someone requiring medication to treat the symptoms of menopause, while not having any other repeat prescriptions.

You should consider a full prepayment certificate if you are prescribed other medication, as this will cover all of your NHS prescriptions, including your HRT medicines.

Do HRT PPCs cover testosterone?

No, an HRT PPC does not cover testosterone products. This is because the HRT PPC only covers HRT medication licensed for the treatment of menopausal symptoms, of which testosterone is not licensed for.

How do I add an HRT PPC in my account?

When adding an HRT PPC to your Chemist4U account, it is important to ensure that you do not select the ‘prepayment’ option.

These are very different things and could mean that you are liable to a fine from the NHSBSA if you have received free prescriptions from which you do not have a valid exemption.

When will an HRT PPC not be applicable?

If there are items on your prescription that are not HRT items, for example, you have omeprazole and HRT on the same prescription, the exemption could not be applied to any items.