How to Get an NHS Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC)
Even if you’re not eligible for free NHS prescriptions, you can still save money on your meds with an NHS Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC).
Below, we take you through how to get an NHS prepayment certificate, the different types available, and how to use it with your Chemist4U account.
Three key takeaways
- You can only purchase an NHS Prescription Prepayment Certificate if you live in England.
- Savings start from £4.30, and only increase the more prescription items you need to buy in a given period.
- You can use a prepayment certificate to save money when ordering your repeat NHS prescriptions through Chemist4U.
What is an NHS Prescription Prepayment Certificate?
An NHS Prescription Payment Certificate essentially allows you to receive a bulk discount on your prescriptions if you know you’ll need to pay for multiple medications in the coming months.
When you pay for your prescriptions, you are charged per item prescribed, rather than per prescription. For example, if your prescription contains three different medications, you’ll pay the £9.90 NHS prescription charge for each individual item.
However, with an NHS PPC, you’ll pay a one-off fee to cover your prescriptions over a certain period of time.
This is why NHS PPCs can be a huge help if you want to save money on multiple prescribed medications in a set period. There’s no limit to how many prescriptions you order with an NHS PPC, so the more prescriptions you need to buy, the more money you’ll save.
Before applying for a prepayment certificate, make sure you aren’t eligible for free prescriptions, including free NHS contraception.
How much money can you save with a Prepayment Certificate?
There are three different NHS PPCs available:
| Type of NHS PPC | Cost | When it’ll save you money | Minimum saving | Savings if you need three prescription items a month |
| 3-month PPC | £32.05 | If you need to pay for four or more prescribed items in three months. | £7.55 | £57.05 |
| 12-month PPC | £114.50 | If you need to buy 12 or more prescribed items in the space of a year. | £4.30 | £241.90 |
| Annual hormone replacement therapy (HRT) PPC | £19.80 | If you need to buy 3 or more qualifying prescribed HRT items in a year. Some HRT items are unlimited when using a PPC. | £9.90 | £336.60 |
How to buy a prepayment certificate
You can buy a 3-month or 12-month NHS PPC, and an annual HRT PPC, online. You can also purchase your PPC in-person at some pharmacies.
When buying an annual HRT PPC, you’ll first be asked whether your medication is covered by a prepayment certificate.
You will then need to:
- Submit your personal details, including name, age and address.
- Select the NHS PPC you want. If you want a 12-month PPC, you can either pay upfront or in 10 direct debit payments of £11.45 a month.
- Choose when you want your prepayment certificate to start.
- Choose how you want to receive your PPC. You can either have it emailed to you, or you can print it off at the end of the service.
- Proceed to payment and buy your PPC.
If you pay by direct debit, it may automatically renew at the end of 12 months. You will be contacted ahead of time to give you a chance to cancel.
PPCs and refunds
You can apply for a refund on any prescriptions you have to pay for while you wait for your new PPC. Just make sure you get an NHS receipt when you pick up your prescription.
Similarly, if you become eligible for free NHS prescriptions during the time covered by your PPC, you may be able to get a full or partial refund.
Telling Chemist4U about your prepayment certificate
You can still benefit from the savings that come with using a prepayment certificate if you order your NHS prescriptions through Chemist4U.
All you need to do is let us know by submitting an NHS prescription query, so we can make a note on your account ahead of your next prescription.
FAQs
Is my NHS prepayment certificate still valid?
If you’re unsure whether your prepayment certificate is still valid, you can use the NHS exemption checker online. You can also check if you’re eligible for free prescriptions.
Is an NHS PPC worth it?
If you need to buy four or more prescriptions in the space of three months, then you can save money with a 3-month NHS PPC. Similarly, if you need to buy 12 or more prescriptions in a year, the 12-month NHS PPC is worth it. The HRT PPC, meanwhile, can potentially offer the greatest savings, as long as your HRT medication is eligible.
Who is eligible for an NHS prepayment certificate?
Anyone living in England can buy an NHS prepayment certificate. But always check first that you can’t get your prescriptions for free.
How do you get a copy of your NHS prepayment certificate?
If you’ve misplaced your NHS prepayment certificate, you can contact the NHS helpdesk online, over the phone, and by textphone. You can also use the NHS exemption checker as proof of your certificate.
Is Chemist4U part of the NHS?
Chemist4U is not part of the NHS, but is a registered pharmacy that provides NHS services.
