Prescriptions: Fees and Charges

(asked on 23rd July 2018) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that the prescription charge is affordable for people on low incomes who pay those charges.


Answered by
Steve Brine Portrait
Steve Brine
This question was answered on 10th September 2018

Arrangements are in place to ensure that prescriptions are affordable for everyone. There are exemptions from the prescription charge for people with low income, including through receipt of specific benefits and through application to the NHS Low Income Scheme. The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) have developed an online tool to help patients find out what help with health costs they may be able to get and where to apply for it. For those who do not qualify for exemption, prescription prepayment certificates are also available, which allow people to claim as many prescriptions as they need for a set cost. To support those with high levels of need, the cost of the 12-month and 3-month certificates have been frozen since 2009 and 2011, respectively.

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