NHS Costs in England (2026/27 (from 1 April 2026))
NHS prescription, dental and optical charges in England are the fixed amounts patients pay towards NHS treatment — set nationally by the Department of Health and Social Care, not by the actual cost of the medicine or treatment. This page lists the verified 2026/27 (from 1 April 2026) charges, explains who is exempt, and includes a free Prescription Prepayment Certificate break-even calculator. These are England charges only — NHS prescriptions are free in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
How much does an NHS prescription cost in England, and is a prepayment certificate worth it?
The NHS prescription charge in England is £9.90 per dispensed item for 2026/27 (from 1 April 2026), frozen for a second year. A 3-month Prepayment Certificate (£32.05) saves money above 3 items in 3 months; a 12-month PPC (£114.50) above 11 items a year. Source: NHSBSA, OGL v3.0. England only.
| Charge | Cost | When it saves money |
|---|---|---|
| Single prescription item | £9.90 | Charged per dispensed item, whatever the medicine costs |
| 3-month Prepayment Certificate (PPC) | £32.05 | Saves money above 3 items in 3 months |
| 12-month Prepayment Certificate (PPC) | £114.50 | Saves money above 11 items a year (10 instalments) |
Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC) calculator
Enter how many NHS prescription items you expect each month to see whether a PPC saves you money — and which one.
At 2 items a month, a 12-month PPC (£114.50) is cheapest — saving about £123.10 a year.
Break-even: a 3-month PPC saves money above 3 items in 3 months; a 12-month PPC saves money above 11 items a year. All figures are England charges for 2026/27 (NHSBSA, OGL v3.0).
Want the detail? Full Prescription Prepayment Certificate calculator and break-even guide.
NHS dental charges in England
NHS dental treatment is charged in three bands. You pay only the single highest band that applies to a course of treatment — never two bands added together. Urgent or emergency treatment is charged at the Band 1 rate.
| Band | Cost | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Band 1 | £27.90 | Check-up, X-rays, scale & polish, advice |
| Band 2 | £76.60 | Band 1 + fillings, extractions, root canal |
| Band 3 | £332.10 | Bands 1+2 + crowns, dentures, bridges, braces |
| Urgent / emergency | £27.90 | Charged at the Band 1 rate |
NHS optical: sight tests and voucher values
An NHS-funded sight test is free to eligible patients in England — the patient pays nothing and the optician is reimbursed the General Ophthalmic Services sight-test fee (£24.13 in 2025/26). If you are eligible and need glasses or contact lenses, an optical voucher worth between £42.40 and £233.56 helps with the cost; the value depends on the strength of your prescription.
| Voucher | Face value | Covers |
|---|---|---|
| A | £42.40 | Single vision, low/basic prescription |
| B | £64.26 | Single vision, moderate prescription |
| C | £94.14 | Single vision, stronger prescription |
| D | £212.40 | Single vision, high power / high astigmatism |
| E | £73.10 | Bifocal / varifocal, low/basic prescription |
| F | £92.72 | Bifocal / varifocal, moderate prescription |
| G | £120.48 | Bifocal / varifocal, stronger prescription |
| H | £233.56 | Bifocal / varifocal, high power / prism-controlled |
| I | £217.58 | Hospital Eye Service — glasses outside categories A–H |
| J | £61.77 | Contact lenses |
Who pays and who is exempt
Many people in England do not pay NHS prescription, dental or optical charges. The main exemption routes are below — each lists which charges it covers.
Age
Under 16; 16, 17 or 18 and in full-time education; or aged 60 or over.
Covers: Free prescriptions (under 16, 16–18 in full-time education, 60+); free dental (under 18, or 18 in full-time education); free NHS sight tests (under 16, 16–18 in full-time education, 60+).
Income-based (qualifying benefits)
Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Pension Credit Guarantee Credit, or Universal Credit (meeting the earnings criteria) — including named dependants.
Covers: Free prescriptions, NHS dental treatment, NHS sight tests and optical vouchers.
NHS Tax Credit Exemption Certificate
Entitled to, and named on, a valid NHS Tax Credit Exemption Certificate (certain Tax Credit recipients).
Covers: Free prescriptions, dental, sight tests and optical vouchers.
Medical Exemption Certificate (MedEx)
Have a specified long-term medical condition (e.g. diabetes treated with medication, epilepsy needing continuous anticonvulsants, cancer, permanent fistula, certain hormone disorders) and hold a valid medical exemption certificate.
Covers: Free NHS prescriptions only.
Maternity Exemption Certificate (MatEx)
Pregnant, or have given birth in the last 12 months, and hold a valid maternity exemption certificate.
Covers: Free NHS prescriptions and NHS dental treatment.
NHS Low Income Scheme — HC2 (full help) / HC3 (partial help)
Low income and savings below the threshold: apply via form HC1. An HC2 certificate gives full help; an HC3 certificate gives partial help up to a stated amount.
Covers: HC2: free prescriptions, dental, sight tests, optical vouchers and travel costs. HC3: partial help with the same costs up to the amount shown on the certificate.
Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC)
Not exempt but need many items: a PPC caps prescription costs regardless of how many items are dispensed (3-month or 12-month; plus a separate HRT PPC for qualifying HRT items).
Covers: Caps NHS prescription costs in England.
If you are unsure whether you qualify, check NHSBSA Help with health costs. Paying a charge you were exempt from? You can claim a refund within three months using NHS form FP57 (given at the pharmacy).
Related NHS data on GeraClinic
NHS costs in England: frequently asked questions
- How much is an NHS prescription in England in 2026?
- The NHS prescription charge in England is £9.90 per dispensed item for 2026/27 (from 1 April 2026). The charge was frozen for the second year running. You pay the same amount per item regardless of the medicine's actual cost. NHS prescriptions are free in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland — this charge applies only in England.
- Is a Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC) worth it?
- A PPC caps what you pay for NHS prescriptions in England no matter how many items you need. The 3-month PPC costs £32.05 and saves money once you need more than 3 items in 3 months. The 12-month PPC costs £114.50 (payable in 10 monthly instalments) and saves money once you need more than 11 items in a year.
- How much does NHS dental treatment cost in England?
- NHS dental treatment in England is charged in three bands: Band 1 (£27.90) covers a check-up, X-rays, scale and polish; Band 2 (£76.60) adds fillings, extractions and root canal; Band 3 (£332.10) adds crowns, dentures and bridges. Urgent treatment is charged at the Band 1 rate of £27.90. You pay only the single highest band that applies to a course of treatment.
- Do I have to pay for an NHS eye test?
- An NHS-funded sight test is free to eligible patients in England (for example, under-16s, those aged 60 or over, and people on qualifying benefits). The patient pays nothing; the optician is reimbursed the General Ophthalmic Services sight-test fee (£24.13 in 2025/26). If you need glasses or contact lenses, an optical voucher worth between £42.40 and £233.56 helps with the cost.
- Who gets free NHS prescriptions in England?
- Free NHS prescriptions in England apply to under-16s, 16–18-year-olds in full-time education, people aged 60 or over, those on qualifying income-based benefits, holders of a valid maternity or medical exemption certificate, NHS Low Income Scheme HC2 certificate holders, and people with an NHS Tax Credit Exemption Certificate. If you are not exempt but need many items, a Prescription Prepayment Certificate caps the cost.
- Do these NHS charges apply in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?
- No. Every figure on this page is the England charge. NHS prescriptions are free in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and NHS dental and optical charging differs in the devolved nations. Do not apply the England prescription, dental band or optical figures to patients elsewhere in the UK.
Need a prescription or a sick note without the wait?
While NHS prescriptions in England cost £9.90 per item, getting one can mean a wait for a GP appointment. GeraClinic's UK-registered clinicians can assess your symptoms online and, where clinically appropriate, issue a private prescription or sick note the same day.
Contains public sector information published by NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) and licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: NHS — Save money with a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC) (England, 2026/27 (from 1 April 2026), published 1 April 2026).
Informational/educational only — not a substitute for professional medical advice; a clinician interprets results.
NHS charges (England) are reviewed annually and may change. Figures show the published rate as at the date stated on each page; always confirm the current amount on nhs.uk before relying on it.