Exclusive: Are you one of 881,000 people who overpaid for NHS prescriptions in 2024/25? Here's how to cut your costs

The number of people missing out has risen slightly compared to 2023/24, when 872,000 patients could've saved with a prescription 'season ticket' – officially called a 'prescription prepayment certificate (PPC)'. This covers all of your prescriptions over a specific period for a set price.

Separately, the new figures show that an estimated 209,000 people could have potentially saved around £28 each on average or £5.8 million collectively by purchasing a 'hormone replacement therapy' (HRT) PPC. This is a decrease from the 286,000 patients identified in 2023/2024 who could have saved around £7.6 million.

Prescriptions remain free of charge for those living in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. See our Cheap and free prescriptions guide for more on how to cut your costs.

Prescription season tickets pricing – and their savings

Currently, prescription and PPC prices are as follows (they've been frozen for 2026/27):

• £9.90 per prescribed item (up from £9.65 in 2023/24).

• £32.05 for a three-month PPC (up from £31.25 in 2023/24).

• £114.50 for a 12-month PPC (up from £111.60 in 2023/24).

• £19.80 for a 12-month HRT PPC (up from £19.30 in 2023/24).

This means a 12-month PPC can currently save you at least £4.30 a year if you pay for 12 or more prescribed items. Alternatively, a three-month PPC can currently save you at least £7.55 if you pay for four or more prescribed items. The more prescriptions you need, the more you can save with a season ticket.

Experimental data modelling conducted by the NHS suggests that an estimated 1.6 million people may have been able to save an average of £17 each with a three-month PPC in 2024/25. But this is assuming you know exactly what items you'll need ahead of time – which the NHS notes "may be very difficult" to predict with shorter-term health problems.

If it's right for you, here's how to buy a prescription season ticket

You can buy a season ticket online, over the phone on 0300 330 1341, or at many pharmacies. If you can't afford the full cost upfront, you can instead pay for a 12-month standard PPC by monthly Direct Debit (this is in 10 payments of £11.45 for standard annual PPCs).

And if you've paid for prescriptions while waiting for your season ticket to arrive, you can use an NHS FP57 refund form (ask the pharmacy or dispensary which dispenses your prescription for one) to get your money back.

In the 2024/25 tax year, 2,191,000 annual certificates, 984,000 three-month certificates and 542,000 HRT certificates were purchased in total.

Before buying a prescription season ticket, check first if you even need to pay for one

Before buying a prescription season ticket, always check first if you qualify for an exemption and can avoid paying for a prescription entirely. The NHS has an online 'Can I get free prescriptions?' tool where you can check your eligibility.

More people qualify for free prescriptions than you might think – not just those on a low income and in receipt of certain benefits. For example, those:

• Aged under 16.

• Aged 16 to 18 and in full-time education.

• Aged 60 and over.

• Who are pregnant or who have had a baby in the past 12 months – provided you have a valid maternity exemption certificate.

See the NHSBSA website for full details. Also be aware that if you're prescribed medication, such as painkillers or dermatology creams that are also available over the counter, often it's cheaper to buy them that way rather than buying them via a prescription.