NHS prescription cost calculator
If you pay for prescriptions and take more than a few items per year, a Prepayment Certificate (PPC) saves money. This tool tells you the break-even, and what you'd save with 2026 NHS rates.
Are you already exempt?
- Aged under 16.
- Aged 16-18 in full-time education.
- Aged 60 or over.
- Pregnant, or had a baby in the last 12 months (with a valid maternity exemption certificate).
- Holding a valid medical exemption certificate (Medex) for one of the listed conditions (cancer, diabetes treated with medicine, hypothyroidism on levothyroxine, several others).
- Receiving certain benefits: Income Support, Income-based JSA, Income-related ESA, Pension Credit Guarantee, Universal Credit (subject to earnings).
- Holding an HC2 certificate (NHS Low Income Scheme — full help).
If any of these apply you don't need a PPC — and you may be entitled to back-claim charges. See NHSBSA's check tool.
How a PPC works
- 3-month PPC: £33.30 — pays for itself after 4 items in 3 months.
- 12-month PPC: £118.85 — pays for itself after about 13 items in a year. Can be paid as 10 monthly direct debits of £11.89.
- Buy directly from NHSBSA — never via a third-party reseller.
- Tell the pharmacy when you have one. Bring the PPC reference; we'll record it so each script is charge-free.