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Prescriptions and prescribing

Prescription Pre-payment Certificates (PCC)

Last modified date:

12 November 2009

Patients who have to pay for more than 4 prescription items in 3 months or 14 items in 12 months may find it cheaper to buy a pre-payment certificate (PPC).

IMPORTANT - some people can get free prescriptions. You should check leaflet HC11 to see if you could get free prescriptions before buying a PPC.

Buying a PPC

People who have to pay for more than 4 prescriptions items in 3 months, or 14 items in 12 months, could save money by buying a PPC. Details of the current prescription charge and pre-payment certificate costs are available in leaflet HC12 – Charges and optical voucher values.

HC12: Charges and optical voucher values

The Prescription Pricing Division (PPD) at the NHS Business Services Authority is responsible for issuing PPCs to people resident in England only, on behalf of the Department of Health.

You can buy a PPC on line, by post or by phone. Ring 0845 850 0030 to buy one over the phone using your credit or debit card.

A 12 month PPC can now be purchased using a 10 month direct debit instalment payment.

About the PPC

You can only use the PPC for your own NHS prescriptions. The PPC will start from the date of your application or phone call unless you ask for a different start date. The start date can be up to one month earlier or one month later than the date of your application or phone call.

Remember to apply for a new PPC in good time; otherwise, you will have to pay charges when your old PPC runs out.

If you have to pay a prescription charge while you are waiting for your PPC, you cannot get a refund unless you have an NHS receipt. The NHS receipt form is an FP57 (England). The pharmacist or dispensing doctor can only issue an FP57 at the time you pay a prescription charge; they cannot give you one later. You can claim for the refund of prescription charges up to 3 months after paying. The FP57 form tells you what to do.

Refunds of PPC fees

If you wish to claim a refund of your PPC fee, please send the original certificate, proof of entitlement, where possible e.g. the benefit award notice or the death certificate to the PPD and tell them why you want a refund. You should send your letter, proof of entitlement and the certificate to: PPD, P.O. Box 845, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE99 2DE.

A full refund may be claimed for 3 or 12 month PPC fees if, within the first month, you become entitled to free prescriptions or the holder dies.

A proportional refund may be claimed for 3 or 12 month PPC fees if the holder dies after the first month or you become entitled to free prescriptions, or you go into hospital and remain there until the PPC expires.

For full details of the PPC refund arrangements including the time limit for claiming a refund check leaflet HC12.