Martin Lewis says people can use a "secret" nine-digit code to save cash on medicines.
His advice comes as the cost of NHS prescriptions are set to rise in England from April 1. While prescriptions are free in the rest of the UK, they cost £9.35 per item in England and this is set to rise to £9.65 from April.
Speaking on his ITV programme, The Martin Lewis Money Show, the consumer expert shared a simple trick to help cut costs. He urged people to keep an eye out for nine numbers on the side of medicine boxes.
He explained that the nine-character code was printed on every box and that you can use this to guide you to a much cheaper off-brand alternative to a big name product noting that in many cases you are "paying for the packaging" with big name brands, reports the Liverpool Echo.
The Money Saving Expert showed viewers an example of this using two packets of period painkillers they had bought the same day. Martin said: "I have in front of me two packets that were bought today. They are both for period pains - painkillers.
"This one cost £5.29, this is £3.45. But if you look on the side of these boxes, the PL Code, the Product Licence code. 12063/0071. And 12063/0071.
"That doesn't mean same active ingredient. That means these are exactly the same tablets. Exactly the same tablets. Same product licence, same tablets, totally different price. Just for the packaging."
When buying medicines over the counter, the MoneySavingExpert founder told viewers to check if the different medicines have the same Product Licence code. He added: "They could well be substantially cheaper and it's not the same active ingredient, it's the same tablets."
He added: "If you're buying Nurofen the active ingredient in it is ibuprofen and you can buy generic ibuprofen for far less than Nurofen, it does the same thing. The only thing you have to watch for is whether it's coated, or what the ingredients are if you've got an allergy or something like that and maybe the speed of operation. But the active underlying ingredient is the same."
As for getting prescribed medication cheaper, Martin explained how you could be entitled to free prescriptions if you're under 16 or over 60, in full-time education and 16-18 years old, you're pregnant or gave birth in the last 12 months, and have a valid maternity exemption certificate. In addition, you can get a valid medical exemption certificate, known as a MedEx, for a range of illnesses such as epilepsy, or cancer, or severe disability.
You may also be exempt from paying for NHS prescriptions if you or your partner receive income support, pension credit guarantee credit, you're receiving universal credit and your earnings for the most recent assessment period were £435 or less, you're under 20 and are the dependant of someone who receives income support.
If you're not entitled to free prescriptions then you can still cut costs with a prepayment certificate. There are two options, either a three-month prepayment certificate or a 12-month one. Someone who gets two prescriptions each month for 12 months would save more than £100, compared with paying for individual prescriptions.
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