Free prescriptions
The cost of a prescription in England is £9.35 (April 2021). Prescriptions are free if you live in Wales or Northern Ireland.
In England, you qualify for free prescriptions if:
1Regs 3-6 NHS(CDA) Regs; regs 4 and 5 NHS(TERC) Regs; NHS(FP&CDA)(W) Regs•you are in one of the exempt groups listed on
here;
or •you are aged under 16, or under 19 and in full-time education (see
here);
or •you are aged 60 or over; or
•you are pregnant or have given birth within the last 12 months; or
•you are undergoing treatment for cancer, the effects of cancer or the effects of cancer treatment;
•you have one or more of the following specific medical conditions:
◦a continuing physical disability which prevents you from leaving home except with the help of another person;
◦epilepsy requiring continuous anticonvulsive therapy;
◦a permanent fistula, including caecostomy, ileostomy, laryngostomy or colostomy, needing continuous surgical dressing or an appliance;
◦one of the following conditions: diabetes mellitus (except where treatment is by diet alone), myxoedema, hypoparathyroidism, diabetes insipidus and other forms of hypopituitarism, forms of hypoadrenalism (including Addison’s disease) for which specific substitution therapy is essential, or myasthenia gravis;
◦a sexually transmitted disease; or
•your income is low enough (see
here).
Full-time education
’Full-time education’ is full-time instruction at a recognised educational establishment – eg, a school, college or university. If you are studying elsewhere, or you have finished your A levels and are waiting to start college or university, check whether you are exempt because you are on a low income.