If you regularly take out a prescription you could save money by buying a 'season ticket' that covers all prescriptions for a year.
Research by Money Saving Expert found that more than a million people overpaid for their prescriptions by paying the single prescription charge every time they picked up their medicine when they would be better off paying the unlimited annual charge.
The NHS says: "If you know you'll have to pay for a lot of NHS prescriptions, it may be cheaper to buy a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC) – effectively a prescription "season ticket".
Read more: Martin Lewis urges people to check if they are overpaying for NHS prescriptions
"A PPC covers all your NHS prescriptions, including NHS dental prescriptions, no matter how many items you need."
And with the possibility of prescription charges rising in the spring, MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis suggests considering paying for an annual prescription subscription now if you would benefit from it.
He said: “England is the only one of the four UK nations that charges for prescriptions, and so it’s frustrating to hear that many people are still paying more than they need to – especially at a time when every penny counts towards bills.
“We need to spread the word to anyone who regularly gets prescriptions, including some with chronic illnesses, to check out prescription prepayment certificates.
“My simple rule of thumb is, if you get more than one prescription a month, on average these ‘season tickets’ are the cheapest option, as they cap what you need to pay.
“For a one-off payment, you get unlimited prescriptions for either three months or a year.
“So someone getting, say, two prescriptions a month would save over £100 a year. If you think that’s you, check it out now in case we see another price hikeat the beginning of spring.”
How to buy an unlimited prescription prepayment certificate annual 'season ticket'
If you regularly take out prescriptions, especially if you get more than one a month, you could save money on charges by buying an annual or three-month prescription prepayment certificate.
It costs £30.25 for an unlimited three-month prescription and £108.10 for a 12-month prescription. You can choose to buy for the 12-month option through 10 direct debit instalments of £10.81.
Head to the NHS to buy one . You will be issued a certificate which you show at the pharmacy when picking up your prescriptions.
How much you can save with a prescription prepayment certificate season ticket
People who get two prescriptions a month could save £116.30 a year by switching to a £108.10 annual prescription prepayment certificate instead of paying the £9.35 charge every time they go to the pharmacy to pick up their medicine. Those who take three prescriptions a month would save £228.50 per year, rising to £340.70 for those who take four prescriptions a month.
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