Some people with medical conditions or benefit claimants could qualify for free prescriptions.
Most adults in England have to pay prescription charges. The current prescription charge is £9.35 per item.
But there are five DWP benefits and 10 medical conditions that get you free NHS prescriptions. Whether you get help depends on things like your age, your income, where you live, if you get certain benefits, if you’re pregnant and/or if you have a medical condition.
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Medical conditions:
People with certain medical conditions can get free NHS prescriptions. Medical exemption certificates are credit-card-size cards.
They are issued if you have:
- cancer, including the effects of cancer or the effects of current or previous cancer treatment
- a permanent fistula (for example, a laryngostomy, colostomy, ileostomy or some renal dialysis fistulas) requiring continuous surgical dressing or an appliance
- a form of hypoadrenalism (for example, Addison's disease) for which specific substitution therapy is essential
- diabetes insipidus or other forms of hypopituitarism
- diabetes mellitus, except where treatment is by diet alone
- hypoparathyroidism
- myasthenia gravis
- myxoedema (hypothyroidism requiring thyroid hormone replacement)
- epilepsy requiring continuous anticonvulsive therapy
- a continuing physical disability that means you cannot go out without the help of another person (temporary disabilities do not count, even if they last for several months)
Benefits that qualify for a free prescription
You're also entitled to free prescriptions if you or your partner (including civil partner) receive, or you're under the age of 20 and the dependant of someone receiving:
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
- Universal Credit and meet the criteria
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