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Prescriptions

The cost of cancer can seem never-ending when you have to keep buying things relating to your illness. Depending on your situation and where you live in the UK, you could receive help with paying your prescription charges.

Information on prescription charges in:

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Questions about cancer and financial issues? Call our confidential helpline.

Find out more about Macmillan's campaign for free prescriptions across the UK.

 

Prescriptions in England

People with cancer in England have been eligible for free prescriptions from 1 April 2009. All people undergoing treatment for cancer, and the effects of cancer treatment, can apply for an exemption certificate by collecting a form FP92A from their GP surgery or oncology clinic.

 

You also qualify for free prescriptions if:

  • you are 60 or over
  • you are under 16, or under 19 and in full-time education
  • you, or a member of your family, receive Income Support, the guarantee credit of Pension Credit, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or, in certain cases, Working Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit
  • you are pregnant or have had a baby in the last 12 months
  • you receive a War Disablement Pension and need prescriptions for your war injury
  • you are a hospital inpatient
  • your weekly income is low enough (see details of the Low Income Scheme)

Remember that you will need to show your pharmacist proof that you qualify for free prescriptions.

 

You can also get free prescriptions if you have:

  • any long-term physical disability which prevents you from leaving home without the help of another person
  • a permanent fistula like a caecostomy, colostomy, laryngostomy or ileostomy, needing continuous dressing or an appliance
  • epilepsy that needs continuous anti-convulsive therapy
  • diabetes mellitus (except where treatment is by diet only)
  • diabetes insipidus or other kinds of hypopituitarism
  • myxoedema
  • hypopara
  • thyroidism
  • forms of hypoadrenalism (including Addison's disease) for which specific substitution therapy is essential
  • myasthenia gravis

 

If you have any of the above medical conditions, ask your doctor to fill in form FP92A.

 

If you don't qualify for free prescriptions

If you do not qualify for free prescriptions, you should consider buying a Prescription Prepayment Certificate for three months or a year. It will save you money if you need more than four prescriptions in three months or 15 items in one year.

 

Costs are as follows:

Charge for each prescribed item (for items prescribed in combination/duo packs there is a prescription charge for each different drug in the pack)

£7.20

Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC) 3 monthly

£28.25

Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC) 12 monthly

£104



How can I apply?

  • Fill in form FP95, which you can get from your pharmacist.
  • You can buy the certificate over the phone using a recognised credit or debit card from the Prescription Pricing Authority on 0845 850 0030, or buy it online at www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk.
  • You can pay for the certificate by direct debit over 10 months.
  • You will need to show your pharmacist your Prescription Prepayment Certificate when you collect your prescription.

 

Prescriptions in Scotland

Prescription charges in Scotland are now £4. From April 2010 they will be £3, and from April 2011 they will be free.

 

You also qualify for free prescriptions if:

  • you are 60 or over
  • you are under 16, or under 19 and in full-time education
  • you, or a member of your family, receive Income Support, the guarantee credit of Pension Credit, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or, in certain cases, Working Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit
  • you are pregnant or have had a baby in the last 12 months
  • you receive a War Disablement Pension and need prescriptions for your war injury
  • you are a hospital inpatient
  • your weekly income is low enough (see details of the Low Income Scheme)

Remember that you will need to show your pharmacist proof that you qualify for free prescriptions.

 

You can also get free prescriptions if you have:

  • any long-term physical disability which prevents you from leaving home without the help of another person
  • a permanent fistula like a caecostomy, colostomy, laryngostomy or ileostomy, needing continuous dressing or an appliance
  • epilepsy that needs continuous anti-convulsive therapy
  • diabetes mellitus (except where treatment is by diet only)
  • diabetes insipidus or other kinds of hypopituitarism
  • myxoedema
  • hypopara
  • thyroidism
  • forms of hypoadrenalism (including Addison's disease) for which specific substitution therapy is essential
  • myasthenia gravis


If you have any of the above medical conditions, ask your doctor to fill in form EC92A.

 

If you don't qualify for free prescriptions

If you do not qualify for free prescriptions, you should consider buying a Prescription Prepayment Certificate for three months or a year. It will save you money if you need more than four prescriptions in three months or 15 items in one year.

 

Costs are as follows:

Charge for each prescribed item (for items prescribed in combination/duo packs there is a prescription charge for each different drug in the pack) £4
Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC) 3 monthly £13
Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC) 12 monthly £38



How can I apply?

  • Fill in form EC95, which you can get from your pharmacist. You can also get the form from your doctor or local NHS Board.
  • You will need to show your pharmacist your Prescription Prepayment Certificate when you collect your prescription.

 

Prescriptions in Wales

All prescriptions are free in Wales.

 

Prescriptions in Northern Ireland

Prescriptions will be free from April 2010 in Northern Ireland.
 

Currently you will qualify for free prescriptions if:

  • you are 60 or over
  • you are under 16, or under 19 and in full-time education (non-advanced)
  • you, or a member of your family, receive Income Support, the guarantee credit of Pension Credit, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or, in certain cases, Working Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit
  • you are pregnant or have had a baby in the last 12 months
  • you receive a War Disablement Pension and need prescriptions for your war injury
  • you are a hospital inpatient
  • your weekly income is low enough (see details of the Low Income Scheme)

Remember that you will need to show your pharmacist proof that you qualify for free prescriptions.

 

You can also get free prescriptions if you have:

  • any long-term physical disability which prevents you from leaving home without the help of another person
  • a permanent fistula like a caecostomy, colostomy, laryngostomy or ileostomy, needing continuous dressing or an appliance
  • epilepsy that needs continuous anti-convulsive therapy
  • diabetes mellitus (except where treatment is by diet only)
  • diabetes insipidus or other kinds of hypopituitarism
  • myxoedema
  • hypoparathyroidism
  • forms of hypoadrenalism (including Addison's disease) for which specific substitution therapy is essential
  • myasthenia gravis
     

If you have any of the above medical conditions, ask your doctor to fill in form HCIIB.

 

If you don't qualify for free prescriptions

If you do not qualify for free prescriptions, you should consider buying a Prescription Prepayment Certificate for three months or a year. It will save you money if you need more than four prescriptions in three months or 15 items in one year.

 

Costs are as follows:

Charge for each prescribed item (for items prescribed in combination/duo packs there is a prescription charge for each different drug in the pack) £3
Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC) Three months £9
Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC) 12 months £25


How can I apply?

  • Fill in a Prepayment Certificate which you can get from your pharmacist.
  • Remember that you will need to show your pharmacist your Prescription Prepayment Certificate when you collect your prescription.