Knowing whether you need to pay for your prescription can sometimes be a little confusing. In most cases customers with life-long conditions are exempt from prescription charges but it’s important to check. We’ve summarised some information below, supplied by the NHS, but you can find out more here.
You will receive free prescriptions if you meet any of the criteria below:
- are 60 or over
- are under 16
- are 16-18 and in full-time education
- are pregnant or have had a baby in the previous 12 months and have a valid maternity exemption certificate (MatEx)
- have a specified medical condition and have a valid medical exemption certificate (MedEx)
- have a continuing physical disability that prevents you from going out without help from another person and have a valid MedEx
- hold a valid war pension exemption certificate and the prescription is for your accepted disability
- Also, you are entitled to free prescriptions if you or your partner – including civil partner – receive, or you're under the age of 20 and the dependant of someone receiving:
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, or
- Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
- Universal Credit and meet the criteria
Prescription charges vary depending on where you live in the UK and where your chosen product is dispensed from.
If you pay for your prescriptions, here are the current charges as set out by the Department of Health. Different rules apply for England, Ireland, Scotland & Wales, you’ll need to check with your GP for more information.
If you know you'll have to pay frequently for NHS prescriptions, it may be cheaper to buy a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC) – effectively a prescription "season ticket". A PPC covers all of your NHS prescriptions no matter how many items you need.
You can find out more here.
Certain Medical conditions may also qualify you for free prescriptions. Please check through the list below. If you meet any of the criteria you will need to speak to your GP to get a Medical Exception application form.
- a permanent fistula (for example caecostomy, colostomy, laryngostomy or ileostomy, urostomy) requiring continuous surgical dressing or requiring an appliance
- a form of hypoadrenalism (for example Addison's disease) for which specific substitution therapy is essential
- diabetes insipidus or other forms of hypopituitarism
- diabetes mellitus, except where treatment is by diet alone
- hypoparathyroidism
- myasthenia gravis
- myxoedema (that is, hypothyroidism requiring thyroid hormone replacement)
- epilepsy requiring continuous anticonvulsive therapy
- a continuing physical disability which means the person cannot go out without the help of another person
- cancer and are undergoing treatment for either:
- cancer, the effects of cancer or the effects of cancer treatment
For more information on Medical Exemption Certificates you can call the NHS on 0300 3301341 or visit the NHS website.
Applying for your Medical Exemption Certificate
To apply for a medical exemption certificate, ask your doctor for an FP92A form. Once accepted you should expect to receive your certificate within 10 working days from application.
If you get an exemption certificate, this applies for all prescription charges not just for your regular stoma/urology products.
Once you receive your certificate you MUST let us know so we can update your records and process your orders accurately. You can do this in any one of the following ways:
- By phone- call 0800 88 50 50
- By post - send a copy of your certificate to:
Amcare Group
Progressive House,
The Heath Business & Technical Park,
Runcorn, Cheshire
WA7 4QX
- Online- submit your medical exemption certificate number using the form below