Save Money with a Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC)
If you know you'll have to pay for a lot of NHS prescriptions, it may be cheaper to buy a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC) – effectively a prescription "season ticket".
A PPC covers all your NHS prescriptions, including NHS dental prescriptions, no matter how many items you need.
But it does not cover the cost of other health items, such as the provision of wigs and fabric supports, which are only provided through the hospital service.
There are 2 PPC options to choose from:
The 3-month PPC costs £30.25 and will save you money if you need more than 3 prescribed items in 3 months.
The 12-month PPC costs £108.10 and will save you money if you need more than 11 prescribed items in a year.
How much can I save?
If you need:
2 items each month – you can save £116.30 with a 12-month PPC
3 items each month – you can save £228.50 with a 12-month PPC
4 items each month – you can save £340.70 with a 12-month PPC
There are several payment options available. If you choose the 12-month PPC, you can pay for this upfront, or by 10 monthly direct debit instalments.
Check the current costs for NHS prescriptions
How to apply for a PPC
Check if you're entitled to free prescriptions before you apply for a PPC.
It's quickest to buy a PPC online. The PPC will start from the day you submit your application, unless you request a different start date, but the start date must be within 1 month before or after the date of your application.
If you prefer talking to someone, you can call the PPC order line on 0300 330 1341. Your certificate will be valid from the day you make the phone call, unless you request otherwise.
Make sure you have your bank details or credit or debit card details ready.
You can receive your certificate details by email if you provide an email address, print them at the end of your online application, or receive the details by post.
Although a PPC is valid from the day of your application (unless otherwise requested), it may take a couple of days to receive the details of your certificate by post. If you pay prescription charges while you're waiting for the details to arrive, you can get a refund, as long as you get an NHS refund form (FP57) when you pay.
Some pharmacies may be able to sell you a PPC. You will not be able to pay by direct debit if you buy a PPC at a pharmacy.
Either contact your local pharmacy or view the list of registered pharmacies on the NHS Business Services Authority (BSA) website to find which ones sell PPCs.
Great savings on prescriptions, definitely the best way if you take alot of medication
Ive been getting about 3 different pain killers for my back every month.
Last one I paid £9.35 per medicine. Total cost was around £28.
This would have saved me so much money as they will only give me a one month supply.
Thank you for sharing this! I will add this to our Facebook Page and Group to share it with fellow Deal Hunters -- www.facebook.com/LatestDealsHQ and ldeals.uk/ld-group
I have had a pre payment card for years, initially there was only a small difference in cost. But as I have gotten older and need more medications, high blood pressure etc the savings are now are huge! In fact when I was picking up my prescription at the weekend I noticed that it is now £9.95 per item. It would have cost me £49.70 and that was without my asthma medication & I thought I woud be difficult to afford that every month going forward with the cost of living rises
So thank you for taking the time to publicise this 
beccatavender I think it's wonderful that when people, such as yourself, know about this they can make significant savings, the alternative is paying through the nose.
I’ve been buying the yearly pre payment for years now. It has saved me so much money as I get at least 6 different medications per month. I think they should update the list of illnesses that you get free prescriptions for as I’m sure a lot of us would get them free. My doctor said the list is so out of date and needs updating asap, but it probably won’t get done anytime soon unfortunately.
clarebar67 I am delighted to hear that you are able to save money with one of these. I expect that they don't update the list so that they can con more people out of their money 
But I would like to think that the doctors would steer you towards one of these certificates if you were having either frequent or multiple medications.
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