Prescription prepayment certificates, also known as PPCs, offer a little-known salvation for people with multiple prescriptions who may be struggling under the cost of their much-needed medications. The PPC is available to anyone who lives in England and pays for their prescriptions.
However, it’s only advised for people with more than one monthly prescription. Otherwise the certificate may only save a few pounds or potentially even cost you some extra cash.
Additionally, people receiving prescribed hormone replacement therapy have a different PPC. This comes at a different price and has a different way to apply for it.
There are two options of normal certificates, a three-month certificate for £32.05 and a 12-month certificate for £114.50. In comparison, a single prescription item on the NHS currently costs £9.90.
A PPC covers a doesn’t have a limit on the amount of prescription items you can get during its valid time period but the prescriptions must be your own and support tights are excluded. You can pay for a year-long certificate over 10-monthly installments to also lessen the upfront costs.
Getting just one prescription a month will cost £29.70 over three months and £118.80 a year, making it not all that worthwhile for people with just one prescription. However, two prescription items a month costs £237.60 a year, meaning it would save you £123 a year or £27 over three months.
People receiving four prescription items every month can have a staggering saving of £360 a year or £86 over three months. You can buy PPCs online through the NHS site or over the phone on 0300 330 1341.
For people on eligible prescription hormone replacement therapy, or HRT, a specialised PPC is available for £19.80 for 12 months. This will cover all of your eligible prescriptions during that time regardless of how many different medications you need and will save money if you require more than two per month.
However, if your medication isn’t eligible under the HRT PPC it may be better to get a standard PPC which may cover the prescriptions. You can buy HRT PPCs online or through the phone on 0300 330 2089.