# Free NHS Prescriptions: Who Qualifies | Pick My Pharmacy URL: https://pickmypharmacy.co.uk/answers/who-gets-free-nhs-prescriptions/ Description: Free NHS prescriptions in England: over 60, under 16, pregnancy, listed medical conditions, low income, certain benefits — free for all elsewhere in UK. --- - [Home](/) - /[Answers](/answers/) - /Who gets free NHS prescriptions? NHS Services & Rules # Who gets free NHS prescriptions? By [Kaiser Khan](/author/kaiser-khan/) · Updated 9 July 2026 In short In England, you get free NHS prescriptions if you are 60 or over, under 16, or 16–18 in full-time education; pregnant or within 12 months of giving birth; have a listed medical condition or a valid exemption certificate; hold an NHS Low Income Scheme HC2 certificate; or receive qualifying benefits. Everyone in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland gets prescriptions free. At a glance - ·Age exemptions: 60+, under 16, and 16–18 in full-time education - ·Pregnancy and 12 months after birth — with a maternity exemption certificate (MatEx) - ·Medical exemption (MedEx) conditions include diabetes needing medication, epilepsy, cancer, and hypothyroidism - ·Qualifying benefits include Income Support, income-based JSA, income-related ESA, Pension Credit Guarantee Credit, and Universal Credit within earnings limits - ·NHS Low Income Scheme: HC2 certificate gives full help with charges - ·Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland: free for everyone, no certificates needed ## Age-based exemptions — automatic, no certificate needed Age exemptions are the simplest: everyone aged 60 or over, everyone under 16, and 16-to-18-year-olds in full-time education pay nothing for NHS prescriptions in England. There is no certificate to apply for — you tick the relevant box on the back of the prescription (or confirm digitally) and may be asked to show proof of age, so it is worth carrying something with your date of birth. Between them, age exemptions cover a large share of all prescriptions dispensed: most regular medication is taken by older people, and children's prescriptions are always free. If you are 59 and paying for several regular medicines, note that a 12-month prepayment certificate might still save money in your final charging year — check the break-even maths before your birthday. ## Medical and maternity exemption certificates If you are pregnant or gave birth in the last 12 months, a maternity exemption certificate (MatEx) — arranged through your midwife, GP, or health visitor — makes all your NHS prescriptions free, not just pregnancy-related ones. A medical exemption certificate (MedEx) does the same for people with listed conditions, including diabetes treated with medication, epilepsy needing continuous treatment, cancer (including treatment for its effects), hypothyroidism requiring thyroid hormone replacement, Addison's disease, myasthenia gravis, hypoparathyroidism, a permanent fistula needing dressings, and continuing physical disability that prevents going out without help. Your GP or clinic confirms the condition and the certificate is issued by the NHS Business Services Authority, typically for five years. The condition list is specific and has not kept pace with every long-term illness — asthma and many heart conditions are notably absent — so many people with genuine long-term conditions still pay unless another exemption applies. ## Low income and benefits Several benefits bring automatic free prescriptions in England: Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Pension Credit Guarantee Credit, and Universal Credit if your earnings in the relevant assessment period were within the qualifying limit. (Tax credits — and the NHS Tax Credit Exemption Certificates that came with them — ended in April 2025 when claimants moved to Universal Credit.) Separately, the NHS Low Income Scheme helps people who don't receive those benefits but have low income and savings: apply with form HC1, and you may receive an HC2 certificate (full help — free prescriptions) or HC5 (partial help). Students, part-time workers, and pensioners just above benefit thresholds are classic HC2 candidates who often don't realise they qualify. If you are unsure which category fits you, our free prescription checker walks through the questions in a minute. ## Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland — and the fine print Prescription charges were abolished in Wales (2007), Northern Ireland (2010), and Scotland (2011), so NHS prescriptions dispensed there are free for everyone, with no exemption boxes to tick. The fine print appears when you cross borders: if you live in Scotland or Wales but have a prescription dispensed at a pharmacy in England, the English charge can apply — patients in this position can use an entitlement card or English exemption where eligible. The reverse is friendlier: an English resident collecting a prescription in Scotland pays nothing. One final caution for England: only claim an exemption you actually hold. Exemption declarations are checked against NHS records, and a wrong claim can bring a penalty charge notice of up to £100. If in doubt, pay and ask for an FP57 refund receipt, then claim back once your exemption is confirmed — and ask the pharmacy team, who deal with these rules all day. Next step ## Compare Pharmacies for What You Need See NHS services, private prices, and reviews side by side — GPhC-checked, free, and no obligation. Pharmacies you don't pick never see your details. [Browse pharmacies](/pharmacies/)[Prescription Cost calculators →](/calculators/) ## People Also Ask Are prescriptions free with asthma in England?+ No — asthma is not on the medical exemption list, so most people with asthma pay unless another exemption applies. If you use several items regularly, a prepayment certificate usually cuts the cost significantly. Do I get free prescriptions on Universal Credit?+ Only if your earnings in the relevant assessment period were within the qualifying limit (higher if your award includes children or limited capability for work). Check your latest statement before ticking the exemption box — getting it wrong can mean a penalty notice. How do I get a medical exemption certificate?+ Ask at your GP practice. They confirm you have a listed condition and the application goes to the NHS Business Services Authority, which issues the MedEx certificate — usually valid for five years. It covers all your NHS prescriptions, not just those for the exempting condition. Are contraceptives free on prescription in England?+ Yes — contraceptives prescribed on the NHS are free for everyone, with no exemption certificate needed. Pharmacies operating the NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service can also supply ongoing oral contraception free without a GP visit. Keep reading - [How much is an NHS prescription in 2026?](/answers/how-much-is-an-nhs-prescription/) - [What is a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC)?](/answers/what-is-a-prescription-prepayment-certificate/) - [Are prescriptions free in Scotland and Wales?](/answers/are-prescriptions-free-in-scotland-and-wales/) - [Can I get the morning-after pill free?](/answers/can-i-get-the-morning-after-pill-free/) - [How do repeat prescriptions work?](/answers/how-do-repeat-prescriptions-work/) - [Free prescription eligibility checker](/calculators/free-prescription-checker/) - [PPC savings calculator](/calculators/ppc-savings-calculator/) - [How to save money on prescriptions](/guides/how-to-save-money-on-prescriptions/) - [NHS prescription services](/services/nhs-prescriptions/) **Affiliate disclosure:**Pick My Pharmacy is free to use. We may earn a fee when you visit a referral partner or send a private-service enquiry. That never changes ratings, match results, or the prices you pay. Outbound partner links userel="sponsored". See[affiliate compliance](/methodology/#affiliate-compliance)and[how we make money](/how-it-works/). This article is general information for UK patients, not medical advice, and NHS rules and charges change — confirm current rules on [nhs.uk](https://www.nhs.uk) or speak to a pharmacist or GP before acting. For urgent medical help call NHS 111, or 999 in an emergency. Price figures are indicative benchmarks from our[methodology](/methodology/).