Prescriptions

Everyone aged 60 and over automatically qualifies for free prescriptions. (In Wales everyone gets free prescriptions regardless of age.) Simply tick the relevant box on the back of the prescription and complete and sign the declaration before handing it over the counter at the chemist. Usually the prescription will have your date of birth printed on it, but if it doesn’t you will have to show proof that you are over 60. You can do this by showing an official document with your name and date of birth on, such as your NHS medical card, driving licence or passport.

If you have already paid prescription costs and now realise that you are entitled to free prescriptions, you can apply for a refund. Ask your pharmacist for form FP57 in England (PS7 in Northern Ireland). Fill it in and return it to your pharmacist within three months of the date of your receipt. In Scotland, ask your pharmacist for form HCS(R); your pharmacist should also give you a pre-paid envelope to post the form. To find out more about prescription refunds in Scotland, contact:

Practitioner Services (Pharmacy Repayments)
Gyle Square, 1 South Gyle Crescent
Edinburgh EH12 9EB
Tel: 0131 275 6076

Prescription prepayment certificates

Even if you do not qualify for help with the cost of prescriptions you may be able to save money by buying a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC). This is worth doing if you need more than 14 items a year or four items every three months.

The costs are as follows:

England: Yearly PPC is £102.50; three monthly PPC is £27.85

Northern Ireland: Yearly PPC is £98.70; four monthly PPC is £35.85

Scotland: Yearly PPC is £48; four monthly PPC is £17
(Single items prescriptions cost £7.10 in England; £6.85 in Northern Ireland; and £5 in Scotland. Prescriptions are free for everyone in Wales.)


In England you can apply for a PPC on the internet at www.ppa.org.uk/ppc; by post using form FP95 available from your local pharmacy; from a pharmacy registered to sell PPCs; or by phoning 0845 850 0030 – remember to have your credit or debit card details to hand. In Scotland you can buy a PPC from most pharmacies and some doctors’ surgeries or you can get a copy of the form EC95 from pharmacies. In Northern Ireland you can buy a PPC from most pharmacies.


You may be able to get a full or partial refund for the cost of your prepayment certificate if you become entitled to free prescriptions, for example, when you become 60. Call the NHS Business Services Authority, Patient Services on 0845 601 8076 for more information.

Medical exemption certificates

People with specified medical conditions can get free NHS prescriptions if they hold a valid medical exemption certificate. Forms to obtain a medical exemption certificate are available from doctors’ surgeries. People over 60 and everyone in Wales will not need an exemption certificate as they are automatically entitled to free prescriptions.

Dental treatment

Dental treatment is not free for everyone. If you are not entitled to free treatment or some help towards health charges, you will be charged one of three treatment charges. The amount you will be charged will depend on the treatment you need. The treatment charges are listed in the table below.

Dental treatment

Dental treatment
Treatment	England	Wales
Examination, diagnosis and preventative advice. If necessary, this will include X-rays, scale and polish, and planning for further treatment.	£16.20	£12.00
Examination, diagnosis and preventative advice plus added treatment such as fillings, root canal treatment or extractions.	£44.60	39.00
Examination, diagnosis and preventative advice with one or more fillings and one or more crowns plus more complex procedures such as crowns, dentures or bridges.	£198.00	£177.00
Urgent and out-of-hours treatment	£16.20	£12.00

You should ask your dentist how much your individual treatment plan will cost before you start.

In Wales you are automatically entitled to free dental examinations if you are over 60. In Scotland, basic and extensive clinical examinations are free for everyone. Everyone gets free treatment to stop bleeding and for repairs to dentures.

If you are automatically entitled to health benefits, or if you have certificate HC2, you should not have to pay anything for either a check-up or treatment. If you have certificate HC3, you will not have to pay any more than the maximum amount on your certificate.

If a hospital dentist gives you dental treatment while you are staying in hospital you should not have to pay anything. If you are a patient of the Community Dental Service you will have to pay for dental treatment unless you are entitled to free treatment. You may also have to pay a charge for dentures and bridges.

To claim:

In order to claim, tell the dentist’s receptionist before you have the treatment that you qualify for free or reduced-cost treatment. Then you will simply have to tick a box on a form provided by the dentist. You will need to ensure that your dentist treats patients under the NHS as private dental treatment is not covered by the health benefits system. Remember to take documents with you to show that you are entitled to free or reduced-cost treatment, for example, your benefit award letter or your HC2 or HC3 certificate.

Refunds:

If you have already paid dental costs and now realise that you are entitled to free treatment or help with part of the cost, you can apply for a refund. Fill in form HC5; you can get a copy from your local benefits office. You can also fill in a claim form online at www.ppa.org.uk and send it off with your receipt of payment within three months of the date on your receipt. You can also call NHS Business Services Authority, Patient Services on 0845 850 1166. If you think you may be entitled to help because your income is low, but you don’t yet have certificate HC2 or HC3, then you will have to apply for one of these certificates at the same time. Fill in form HC1 and send it off with form HC5.

Always make sure that your dentist is treating you as an NHS patient. You cannot claim for help with the cost of private treatment.