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Money

The HRT prescription prepayment certificate: pay less for HRT in England

If you live in England and pay for your HRT prescriptions, one £19.80 certificate can cover them for a whole year. Here's how it works.

Last checked September 2026 · 4-minute read · Sources

In short

  • The HRT prepayment certificate (HRT PPC) costs £19.80, paid once.
  • It covers eligible HRT medicines for 12 months, however many items you need.
  • One prescription item costs £9.90 in England, so it saves money if you need more than 2 eligible HRT items a year.
  • It's for people who live in England. Prescriptions are already free in Scotland and Northern Ireland, and in Wales if you're registered with a Welsh GP.
  • Not every HRT medicine is covered. Check yours first.

What it costs, and what you could save

In England, each item on an NHS prescription usually costs £9.90. The government froze this charge for 2026 to 2027.

An HRT PPC costs £19.80, the same as 2 items. It then covers all your eligible HRT items for 12 months.

HRT items in a year Paying per item With an HRT PPC
2 £19.80 £19.80
4 £39.60 £19.80
6 £59.40 £19.80
12 £118.80 £19.80

Prices from April 2026. The table only counts HRT items the certificate covers.

What it covers

The HRT PPC covers an unlimited number of certain HRT medicines for 12 months. It covers them even if they're prescribed for something other than menopause symptoms.

It only covers HRT medicines that are licensed to treat menopause in the UK. So not every HRT medicine is on the list, and a GP may prescribe you something that isn't covered.

  • Check before you buy. NHSBSA publishes the list of medicines covered. The list changes from time to time.
  • Generic versions count if the generic name of the medicine is on your prescription.
  • Not sure? Ask your GP or pharmacist before you buy.

When the scheme started, the government asked people to get HRT on a separate prescription from any other medicines. NHSBSA's guidance for prescribers says the same.

If you have other prescriptions too

The HRT PPC only covers HRT. If you also pay for other medicines, a standard prepayment certificate covers all your NHS prescriptions. It costs £32.05 for 3 months or £114.50 for 12 months, and may save you more.

Do you need one?

You don't need to pay for prescriptions in England if you're 60 or over. You don't need to apply for anything.

You also get free prescriptions if, for example, you:

  • have a valid medical exemption certificate for certain conditions
  • are pregnant or had a baby in the last 12 months, and have a valid maternity exemption certificate
  • get certain benefits, or have an HC2 certificate for help with health costs

Menopause itself isn't one of the conditions that gives a medical exemption. NHSBSA lists everyone who gets free NHS prescriptions.

How to buy one

You can buy an HRT PPC:

  • online from NHSBSA, and get it by email to print or download
  • in person at some pharmacies
  • by phone on 0300 330 2089, Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm, and Saturday 9am to 3pm

Choosing the start date

You choose the start date. It can be up to 1 calendar month before or after the day you buy. So if you paid for HRT in the last month, you could start the certificate from then.

Refunds

If you paid for HRT during a time your certificate covers, you may be able to claim that charge back. You need a receipt form called an FP57. Ask for one when you pay, because you can't get one later. Claim within 3 months of paying.

The certificate itself can't be refunded or cancelled once you've paid, even if your circumstances change.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

You can only buy an HRT PPC if you live in England. Elsewhere in the UK, prescriptions are already free:

  • Scotland: prescriptions are free.
  • Wales: prescriptions are free if you're registered with a GP in Wales.
  • Northern Ireland: prescriptions are free for everyone.

Your next step

Check your HRT is on the NHSBSA list, then buy an HRT PPC from NHSBSA.

Sources

  1. NHSBSA, NHS Hormone Replacement Therapy Prescription Prepayment Certificate (HRT PPC) (date not shown)
  2. NHSBSA, Medicines covered by the HRT PPC (list correct as of 1 July 2026)
  3. NHSBSA, Terms and conditions for buying an HRT PPC (date not shown)
  4. NHSBSA, HC12: A quick guide to help with health costs (April 2026)
  5. NHS, Save money with a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC) (reviewed 27 November 2023)
  6. GOV.UK, Chancellor freezes charges to keep prescriptions under a tenner (published 21 November 2025)
  7. GOV.UK, New scheme for cheaper hormone replacement therapy launches (published 1 April 2023)
  8. NHSBSA, HRT PPC guidance (date not shown)
  9. NHSBSA, Medical exemption certificates (date not shown)
  10. NHSBSA, Free NHS prescriptions (date not shown)
  11. NHS inform, Prescription charges and exemptions (updated 13 June 2023)
  12. GOV.WALES, Free prescriptions (updated 18 September 2020)
  13. nidirect, Help with health costs (date not shown)

Last checked September 2026. Next check April 2027.

This guide gives general information. It isn't medical advice, and it can't tell you what's right for you.

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