NHS Prescription Charges in England 2026
Costs, prepayment certificates and who gets free prescriptions · Updated 16 October 2026
Figures checked on 16 October 2026 against NHS Business Services Authority and GOV.UK information. Not medical advice — see our medical disclaimer.
In England, an NHS prescription costs £9.90 for each item in 2026/27. If you need regular medicines, a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC) caps what you pay: £32.05 for 3 months or £114.50 for 12 months. Many people pay nothing at all, including everyone under 16 or aged 60 and over. In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, NHS prescriptions are free for people registered with a GP there.
How much is a prescription in 2026?
| Charge (England, 2026/27) | Cost |
|---|---|
| Each prescription item | £9.90 |
| 3-month prescription prepayment certificate (PPC) | £32.05 |
| 12-month PPC, paid in full | £114.50 |
| 12-month PPC, paid by Direct Debit | 10 monthly payments of £11.45 |
| 12-month HRT PPC (listed HRT medicines only) | £19.80 |
The charge has been £9.90 since 2024. The government froze it, and the prepayment certificate prices, for 2026/27, so these figures apply until at least the end of March 2027.
You pay per item, not per prescription
The charge is for each item on the prescription. If your prescription lists three different medicines, you pay £29.70 (3 × £9.90), unless you are exempt or have a PPC. Different strengths of the same medicine count as separate items, so ask the pharmacist if the total looks higher than you expected.
Who gets free prescriptions in England
You don’t pay for NHS prescriptions if, at the time the prescription is dispensed, you:
- are under 16
- are 16, 17 or 18 and in full-time education
- are 60 or over
- are pregnant or have had a baby in the past 12 months, and have a valid maternity exemption certificate
- have a listed medical condition or a continuing physical disability, and a valid medical exemption certificate
- hold a valid HC2 certificate from the NHS Low Income Scheme
- have a war pension exemption certificate (for prescriptions for your accepted disability)
- are an NHS hospital inpatient
- get, or your partner gets, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance or Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
- get Universal Credit and your take-home pay in your last assessment period was £435 or less, or £935 or less if your Universal Credit includes an amount for a child or for limited capability for work
Some benefits do not give free prescriptions on their own, including Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Disability Living Allowance, New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance, New Style Employment and Support Allowance and Pension Credit Savings Credit.
Contraceptives prescribed on the NHS are free for everyone. Medicines supplied through Pharmacy First carry the normal £9.90 charge per item unless you are exempt or have a PPC.
Exemption certificates
Medical exemption certificate (MedEx)
You can get a medical exemption certificate if you have any of these conditions:
- a permanent fistula (for example a colostomy, ileostomy, laryngostomy or caecostomy) that needs continuous surgical dressing or an appliance
- a form of hypoadrenalism, such as Addison’s disease, for which specific substitution therapy is essential
- diabetes insipidus or another form of hypopituitarism
- diabetes mellitus, unless it is treated by diet alone
- hypoparathyroidism
- myasthenia gravis
- myxoedema (hypothyroidism that needs thyroid hormone replacement)
- epilepsy that needs continuous anticonvulsive therapy
- a continuing physical disability that means you cannot go out without the help of another person
- cancer, the effects of cancer, or the effects of cancer treatment, while you are having treatment
Ask your GP or hospital doctor for the application form. Certificates for the listed long-term conditions now usually last 10 years; certificates for cancer treatment last 5 years. If your application was received before 16 July 2026, your certificate will usually last 5 years. If you are 60 or over you don’t need one, because your age already exempts you.
Maternity exemption certificate (MatEx)
If you are pregnant or have had a baby in the last 12 months, ask your midwife, GP or health visitor to complete the application for you. The certificate lasts until 12 months after your due date, or 12 months after the birth if you apply afterwards. Check the expiry date before you tick the exemption box.
HC2 certificate (NHS Low Income Scheme)
If your income is low, you can apply to the NHS Low Income Scheme. An HC2 certificate gives full help, including free prescriptions, and also covers your partner and any dependent children under 19 named on the claim. An HC3 certificate gives partial help with some health costs but does not give free prescriptions.
War pension exemption certificate
If you get a war pension, this certificate covers prescriptions for your accepted disability. You apply through Veterans UK.
Prescription prepayment certificates (PPC)
A PPC covers all your NHS prescription items for a fixed price. It works at any pharmacy in England, including online pharmacies. You can buy one online or by phone from the NHS Business Services Authority, and some pharmacies sell them. The Direct Debit option (10 monthly payments) is only available for the 12-month PPC and isn’t available at pharmacies.
Is a PPC worth it?
With the charge at £9.90, the break-even points are simple: a 3-month PPC saves money if you need 4 or more items in 3 months, and a 12-month PPC saves money if you need 12 or more items in a year — roughly one a month.
| Items you need | Paying £9.90 each | With a PPC | You save |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 items in 3 months | £29.70 | £32.05 (3-month) | Nothing — pay per item |
| 4 items in 3 months | £39.60 | £32.05 (3-month) | £7.55 |
| 6 items in 3 months | £59.40 | £32.05 (3-month) | £27.35 |
| 11 items in 12 months | £108.90 | £114.50 (12-month) | Nothing — pay per item |
| 12 items in 12 months | £118.80 | £114.50 (12-month) | £4.30 |
| 24 items in 12 months (2 a month) | £237.60 | £114.50 (12-month) | £123.10 |
| 36 items in 12 months (3 a month) | £356.40 | £114.50 (12-month) | £241.90 |
HRT prepayment certificate
The HRT PPC costs £19.80 and covers a listed set of hormone replacement therapy medicines for 12 months. It does not cover other medicines, so if you also take other regular prescriptions, compare it with a standard PPC.
Paid when you didn’t need to? Getting a refund
If you pay for a prescription while you are waiting for an exemption certificate or a PPC, ask the pharmacy for an FP57 refund receipt when you pay. You can then claim the money back, usually within 3 months of paying. You can’t get an FP57 later, so ask for it at the time.
Penalty charges
When you collect a prescription, you tick a box to say whether you pay or why you don’t. The NHS checks these claims. If you claim free prescriptions without being entitled — for example with an expired certificate — you can be asked to pay what you owe plus a penalty charge of 5 times that amount, up to £100. A further surcharge may be added if you don’t pay in time. If you are unsure, pay and ask for an FP57 receipt.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
NHS prescriptions are free in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland for people registered with a GP there. The charges on this page apply to NHS prescriptions dispensed in England. If you live near a border and your GP or pharmacy is in a different nation, ask the pharmacy which rules apply to you.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a prescription in England in 2026?
£9.90 per item. The charge is frozen at that level for 2026/27.
Are prescriptions free at 60?
Yes. In England, everyone aged 60 or over gets free NHS prescriptions. You don’t need a certificate; you just tick the age box when you collect.
Do I get free prescriptions if I get PIP?
Not on its own. Personal Independence Payment does not give free prescriptions. You may still qualify another way, for example through a medical exemption certificate, your age, or a qualifying benefit.
Does a prepayment certificate work at any pharmacy?
Yes. A PPC covers NHS prescriptions at any pharmacy in England, including online pharmacies that deliver.
Is Pharmacy First free?
The consultation is free. If the pharmacist supplies a prescription-only medicine, you pay the normal £9.90 charge per item unless you are exempt or have a PPC.
Can I get a refund if my certificate arrives late?
Yes, if you asked for an FP57 refund receipt when you paid. Claim within 3 months of paying.
Find a pharmacy
Every pharmacy page on Pharmacy Compare shows opening hours, services and a phone number, so you can check before you go. Search by postcode or town, or compare up to three pharmacies side by side.
Sources: NHS Business Services Authority (prescription prepayment certificates, medical exemption certificates, free NHS prescriptions, penalty charges); GOV.UK, “Chancellor freezes charges to keep prescriptions under a tenner” (21 November 2025); Community Pharmacy England, patient charges. Checked 16 October 2026.