A warning has been issued to anyone who pays for their NHS prescriptions as many could be overpaying.
Data obtained by the MoneySavingExpert.com team shows that over 1,064,992 people paid for at least 12 prescriptions in the 2021/2022 financial year, with around 16 items purchased on average. Many of these missed out on saving money through what is known as a "season ticket".
For £9.35 for each prescription, rather than a single payment of £108.10 for unlimited prescriptions using the 12-month season ticket, many people overpaid around £40 a year if they had 12 prescriptions. This equates to £43 million in total.
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In his latest MSE newsletter, Martin Lewis, founder of MoneySavingExpert.com, said: "England is the only one of the four UK nations that charges for prescriptions, and so it's frustrating to hear that many people are still paying more than they need to – especially at a time when every penny counts towards bills.
"We need to spread the word to anyone who regularly gets prescriptions – including some with chronic illnesses – to check out prescription prepayment certificates. My simple rule of thumb is if you get more than one prescription a month, on average these 'season tickets' are the cheapest option as they cap what you need to pay. For a one-off payment, you get unlimited prescriptions for either three months or a year.
"So someone getting, say, two prescriptions a month would save over £100 a year. If you think that's you, check it out now in case we see another price hike at the beginning of spring."
According to the MoneySavinExpert.com team, the last financial year was the fourth year in a row that the number of patients losing out has reached over one million. For the 2022/21 financial year, around 1,063,648 people also overpaid for their prescriptions.
Some people are eligible for free prescriptions including those aged over 60, under 16 and those aged 16 to 18 in full-time education. But a season ticket can be bought online, by calling 0300 330 1341 or at your local pharmacy.
More information can be found via the MSE newsletter here.
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