Department of Health

Website of the Department of Health

Please note that this website has a UK government access keys system.

NHS costs and exemptions

Entitlement to help with health costs (NHS prescription and dental charges, optical and hospital travel costs) is based on the principle that those who can afford to contribute should do so, while those who are likely to have difficulty in paying should be protected.

Help with NHS costs

Basics about help with NHS charges

Help with NHS prescription and dental charges, optical fees and hospital travel costs, for people on benefits, tax credits or low incomes.

HC12: Charges and optical voucher values

Published: 01/04/2008

This leaflet outlines the charges and optical voucher values effective from 1 April 2008. Information covered includes prescriptions, wigs and fabric support, hospital travel costs, dental treatment, sight tests, glasses or contact lenses, and penalty charges.

HC11 Help with health costs

Prepayment of NHS prescription charges

People who have to pay prescription charges can buy a prepayment certificate, which offers considerable savings to those who need regular prescriptions.

Help with NHS costs - poster

This newly redesigned A3 sized poster is for GPs, dentists, pharmacists, opticians and NHS hospitals to display. The poster informs patients that they may be able to get help with a range of health care costs.

Procedure for dispensers issuing and pharmacies refunding FP57 forms (receipt & prescription charge refunds) in England

New arrangements for paying prescription charge refunds have been agreed with the PSNC and are being introduced in England. Pharmacists will pay prescription charge refunds from 1 April 2005. The Post Office will stop paying refunds from that date. This notice replaces all previous notices/guidance about FP57s.

HC5 refund claim forms

New forms have been created for patients to use to claim refunds of NHS wigs or fabric supports, NHS dental costs, optical costs and travel costs incurred to receive NHS treatment. The forms are replacing the combined HC5 Refund claim form. The old forms will still be valid and supplies can be used up.

The HC5 (W) wigs and fabric supports form should be printed off from the link below by healthcare professionals and provided to patients from 1 April 2008.

The other forms listed below are available from the DH publications orderline 0845 610 1112 or NHS forms ordering website and email address below:

  • HC5 (T) travel form: this form is for the refund of costs incurred if you are referred for treatment under the care of a consultant, or referred by a doctor or dentist, and you travel to receive that treatment you can claim help with the cost of your travel on low income grounds. If you are referred by a doctor or dentist to the same premises but on a different day you can claim for that travel cost.
  • HC5 (O) optical charges claim form
  • HC5 (D) for refunds of NHS dental charges

Point of Dispensing checks  - a guide for pharmacists, dispensing doctors and their staff

Guidance for pharmacists on devolution and prescription charges - don't get caught out

From 1 April 2007 there are different arrangements for prescription charges between Wales and the rest of the UK. In Wales everybody gets free prescriptions. As a pharmacist working in England, you must apply the rules which apply in England. If you get a prescription written in Wales the "English" rules apply.

Guidance on exemption from prescription charges for renal dialysis patients

This clarification of guidance on exemption from prescription charges for renal dialysis patients was issued in the Chief Executive's Bulletin of 1-7 December 2000, Issue 44.

Forms HSA5 and WF1 (hospital outpatients)

Revised hospital out-patient forms HSA5 (supply of drugs or elastic hosiery) and WF1 (supply of wigs or fabric supports): for hospital pharmacies and suppliers of wigs, elastic hosiery or fabric supports.

Prescription charges: exemption certificates

Since 1 October 2002 the Prescription Pricing Authority (PPA) has been responsible for issuing prescription prepayment certificates (PPCs), medical (MedEx) and maternity (MatEx) exemption certificates in England.

Prescription charges for drugs given to outpatients in clinical trials

The document DS21/75 reflects current policy.

FP92/96 statistical returns

Since the transfer of responsibility for exemption certificates to the PPA, the Department of Health is no longer collecting information for the FP92/96 statistical returns.

Additional links

Procedure for dispensers issuing and pharmacies refunding FP57 forms (receipt & prescription charge refunds) in England

New arrangements for paying prescription charge refunds have been agreed with the PSNC and are being introduced in England. Pharmacists will pay prescription charge refunds from 1 April 2005. The Post Office will stop paying refunds from that date. This notice replaces all previous notices/guidance about FP57s

Access keys