NHS Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC) Calculator
A Prescription Prepayment Certificate — sometimes called a “prescription season ticket” — is a fixed-price certificate that covers all your NHS prescriptions in England for its duration, however many items you need. Enter how many items you are dispensed each month to see whether a PPC saves you money. These are England charges only — NHS prescriptions are free in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Is an NHS Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC) worth it, and what is the break-even?
In England each NHS prescription item costs £9.90 (2026/27 (from 1 April 2026)). A 3-month PPC costs £32.05 and saves money once you need more than 3 items in 3 months; a 12-month PPC costs £114.50 (10 instalments) and saves money above 11 items a year. Source: NHSBSA, OGL v3.0. England only.
PPC break-even calculator
Enter your expected NHS prescription items per month to see the cheapest route and your annual saving.
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).
| Option | Cost | Break-even |
|---|---|---|
| Single prescription item | £9.90 | Charged per dispensed item |
| 3-month PPC | £32.05 | Worth it above 3 items in 3 months |
| 12-month PPC | £114.50 | Worth it above 11 items a year (10 instalments) |
How the break-even is calculated
Because each NHS prescription item in England costs £9.90, a PPC saves money as soon as its price is less than the cost of paying per item. The £32.05 3-month PPC equals 3 single items, so it starts saving at 4 items in 3 months. The £114.50 12-month PPC equals 11 single items, so it starts saving at 12 items a year. If you need a regular item every month, the 12-month PPC is almost always the cheapest route.
A separate, lower-priced HRT PPC covers eligible hormone replacement therapy items for a year. If your only regular prescriptions are eligible HRT items, the HRT PPC is usually cheaper than the standard 12-month PPC.
NHS PPC: frequently asked questions
- How does a Prescription Prepayment Certificate save money?
- A PPC is a fixed-price certificate that covers all your NHS prescriptions in England for its duration, no matter how many items you are dispensed. Because each item otherwise costs £9.90, a PPC saves money as soon as your item count passes its break-even point.
- When is the 3-month PPC worth buying?
- The 3-month PPC costs £32.05. Paying per item, that is the cost of 3 items, so the certificate saves money once you need more than 3 dispensed items within any 3-month period.
- When is the 12-month PPC worth buying?
- The 12-month PPC costs £114.50 and can be paid in 10 monthly instalments. It saves money once you need more than 11 dispensed items in a year. If you need a steady stream of items every month, the 12-month PPC is usually the cheapest route.
- Is there a separate PPC for HRT?
- Yes. A separate HRT-specific PPC covers a list of hormone replacement therapy items in England for a single, lower annual price. If your only regular prescriptions are eligible HRT items, the HRT PPC is usually cheaper than the standard 12-month PPC. This calculator covers the standard prescription PPC.
Need a prescription without waiting for a GP?
A PPC caps what you pay, but you still need a prescription first. GeraClinic's UK-registered clinicians can assess your symptoms online and, where clinically appropriate, issue a prescription the same day — then take it to any pharmacy.
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.