NHS prescription costs and exemptions

If you live in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, you automatically get free prescriptions. In England, people under 16, people aged 16–18 in full-time education, and people over 60 are entitled to free prescriptions.

You are also eligible for prescription charge exemptions in England if:

• You are pregnant or have had a baby in the last 12 months
• You have certain ongoing medical conditions
• You hold a valid war pension exemption certificate and the prescription is for your accepted disability.

Additionally, if you're on a low income, you may be eligible for free prescriptions. For example, if you or your partner are receiving certain benefits or if you're entitled to or named on a valid NHS certificate for full or partial help with health costs. You may also get free prescriptions if you're entitled to or named on a valid NHS tax credit exemption certificate. If you get Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit with a disability element (or both) and your income falls below the threshold, you may qualify.

You can find out if you need to pay for prescriptions on the NHS website, or by calling their helpline on 0300 330 1349.

In most circumstances, you will need to get an exemption certificate as evidence that you don't need to pay for your prescriptions. For maternity or medical exemptions, you can get a form from your doctor, midwife or health visitor. If you are entitled to free prescriptions because you're unemployed or on a low income, you should check whether you need to apply for a certificate. Exemption certificates are valid for a limited period of time – up to five years for medical exemptions, and one year for maternity exemptions. You can check whether your certificate is still valid on the NHS website.

Contraception is almost always free on the NHS, regardless of your age. However, contraceptives are occasionally prescribed for other purposes, such as managing acne. In these circumstances, you will have to pay for your prescription.

Generally, you only have to pay one charge for each item on your prescription, but there are exceptions. Some products count as two items, even if they come in the same box, so you have to pay twice for them. For example some 'duo' products that contain a cream and a tablet will be charged as two items, and Hormone Replacement Therapy (also known as HRT) is sometimes classed as two medicines, even though it comes as one tablet. This means you will have to pay twice for it. If you're unsure about how much your medicine will cost, speak to your doctor or pharmacist.

If you have a private prescription, the cost will depend on what you have been prescribed. Your pharmacist will be able to advise you how much you will be charged.