Calculate whether a Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC) saves you money in 2025/26. Compare single prescription charges vs 3-month and annual PPC costs.
Input how many prescription items you collect per month on average. Count each separately-charged item — if a prescription form has 3 items, that counts as 3.
The calculator uses 2025/26 rates (£9.90/item, £31.25 for 3-month PPC, £111.60 for annual PPC) to work out your potential savings.
The result shows whether an annual PPC, 3-month PPC, or pay-per-item is the cheapest option for your usage level, with the exact saving shown.
Before buying a PPC, confirm you are not already exempt from prescription charges. If you are, there is no charge and no PPC needed.
Purchase online at nhsbsa.nhs.uk, by phone on 0300 330 1341, or ask at your pharmacy for an FP95 application form. Keep your certificate with you when collecting prescriptions.
A Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC) is an NHS payment card that allows you to pay a fixed amount for unlimited prescription items over a set period (3 months or 12 months). It saves money if you need multiple prescription items and are not exempt from prescription charges.
In 2025/26, the 3-month PPC costs £31.25 and the 12-month PPC costs £111.60. These prices are set by NHS England and typically increase slightly each year in April.
A 3-month PPC saves money if you need 4 or more prescription items in a 3-month period (since 4 × £9.90 = £39.60 > £31.25). An annual PPC saves money if you need 12 or more items per year (12 × £9.90 = £118.80 > £111.60).
You can buy a PPC online at the NHS Business Services Authority website (nhsbsa.nhs.uk), by phone on 0300 330 1341, or by completing an FP95 form available from GP surgeries and pharmacies. You can also pay in monthly direct debit instalments for the annual PPC.
Prescription charges are free for: children under 16; students aged 16-18 in full-time education; people over 60; pregnant women and new mothers (up to 12 months after birth) with a Maternity Exemption Certificate; people with specific medical conditions (diabetes, epilepsy, hypothyroidism etc.) with an MedEx certificate; and people receiving qualifying benefits such as Universal Credit, Income Support, and income-based JSA/ESA.
The annual PPC covers an unlimited number of prescription items for 12 months from the certificate start date. There is no limit on the number or type of items — it covers all NHS prescription items regardless of cost.
No. The Prescription Prepayment Certificate only covers NHS prescription charges at a pharmacy. It does not cover NHS dental charges, optical charges, or any other NHS cost. Separate exemption and prepayment schemes exist for dental treatment.
In 2025/26, each prescription item dispensed by a pharmacy costs £9.90 if you are not exempt. A single prescription form may contain multiple items, each charged separately. Some items (e.g. certain over-the-counter medicines) may be removed from NHS prescription lists and are available to buy cheaply at pharmacies.
Yes. The 12-month PPC can be paid in 10 monthly direct debit instalments, spreading the cost over 10 months. This makes it more affordable while still providing 12 months of unlimited prescription coverage from the start date.
No. Prescription charges were abolished in Wales in 2007, Scotland in 2011, and Northern Ireland in 2010. Only patients in England are required to pay prescription charges (unless exempt). This means the PPC is only relevant for people in England.
You can renew your PPC online at nhsbsa.nhs.uk, by phone, or at a pharmacy. If you have a direct debit set up for a 12-month PPC, it should renew automatically unless you cancel. You will receive a reminder before your certificate expires.
All standard NHS prescription items dispensed at a pharmacy count. This includes medicines, dressings, appliances, and other items prescribed on an FP10 form. Items dispensed as part of a hospital outpatient appointment or supplied directly by a hospital pharmacy on a hospital prescription are not covered by a community PPC.