Prescription Charges: A blog by Miriam, Student Money Assistant

Prescription charges are payable by adults in England under the age of 60 for medicines and some medical appliances. These charges apply to each item in a prescription. For instance, if your prescription includes three different medications, you will pay the prescription charge for these three items. The current prescription charge is £9.90 per item. It's important to note that some items, such as contraception, are always free.

If you are paying a lot for NHS prescriptions, a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC) is worth considering. A PPC covers all your NHS prescriptions, including NHS dental prescriptions, regardless of the number of items. This can lead to significant savings, especially if you require multiple items. However, it's important to note that a PPC does not cover the cost of other health items, such as wigs and fabric support.

There are three PPC options:

A 3-month PPC: This costs £32.05 and will save you money if you need more than 3 prescribed items in 3 months

A 12-month PPC: This costs £114.50 and will save you money if you need more than 11 prescribed items in a year

A hormone replacement therapy (HRT) PPC costs £19.80. It will save you money if you need more than 2 prescribed qualifying HRT items in a year.

Before applying for any of these, you must ensure you can't get your prescription for free. Check what help you could get to pay for NHS costs. Once you have confirmed you can't get them for free, you can buy an NHS prescription prepayment certificate online. The PPC will start from the day you submit your application unless you ask for a different start date. You can also apply using the PPC order line on 0300 330 1341. Your PPC will be valid from the day you make the phone call. Some pharmacies may be able to sell you a 3-month PPC or the HRT PPC, which will be valid from the day you purchase it; after successfully applying, you can choose to receive your PPC details by email, post or by printing the PPC details at the end of your online application.

We have a new recipe on our Student Cookbook this week. This White Fish in Chickpea Curry recipe is a one-pot dish that is perfect for lazy days when you don’t want to take out the chopping board or wash a pile of dishes!

For further money-related support, contact Student Funding Support by email (studentfunding@warwick.ac.ukLink opens in a new window), phone (024 7615 0096), or come to the Wellbeing Reception in Senate House (10 am-3 pm Monday-Friday).