Not everyone is aware that you can get an NHS Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC) which is a major money saver for anyone that has to pay for more than four items on prescription per 3 month period or more than 14 items in 12 months.

So What Is A PPC

A PPC is an NHS certificate that you can buy either over the telephone or online and once paid for, which you can do immediately with a debit or credit card, you will be issued with a number straightaway that you can then use to get all your prescription items without further payment for the next 3 months or 12 months which ever period you opted to pay for, just tick the option on the back of the prescription that says I have a PPC and write the number at the side. A few days later you will be issued with card of similar size to a credit or store card with your name, the certificate number and valid from and expiry dates printed on. Near the expiry date you will be issued with a reminder letter from the NHS to renew your PPC should you wish to do so.

How Much Does It Cost

For a 3 month PPC the current cost is £28.25 and for a 12 month one £104.00. You can pay for the annual one by direct debit over 10 monthly installments if you wish. Bearing in mind that each item on your prescription is going to cost £7.20 an item if you need a lot of items then the saving is considerable.

I buy the 3 month one and have 15 items on repeat prescription every 3 months so that would cost £108.00 saving me nearly £80.00 per quarter and that is a considerable saving, and that is without including any extra items the doctor prescribes that are not on repeat prescription. Last month I needed 3 extra prescription items following a chest infection so that was another £21.60 saved.

Who Can Get a PPC

Anyone who is resident in England that has to pay for their prescriptions can buy a PPC, regardless of their earnings, it is available to anyone.

What does a PPC Cover

A PPC covers you for all your own NHS prescriptions no matter how many items you need until the expiry date.

I have never seen this service advertised anywhere and was only made aware that there was such a thing when my Chemist pointed it out to me when she realized how much I was spending on prescriptions.

For full details, telephone number and how to buy online visit www.directgov.co.uk type PPC in the search engine there and follow the links.