Accessing health services
Help with health costs
Free prescriptions for over 60s
You may be entitled to help with NHS health costs, depending on your age and circumstances.
What help could I get with prescription charges and health costs?
Everyone aged over 60 gets free prescriptions. If you’re under 60 you can save money on prescriptions by buying prescription prepayment certificates from the NHS for 3 or 12 months. This covers all your prescriptions for that period, regardless of how many you need.
If you’re 60 or over you’re also entitled to a free NHS sight test, so you should let your optician know when you reach 60.
Depending on your circumstances, you could also get help with:
- NHS dental treatment
- the cost of glasses or contact lenses
- NHS wigs and fabric supports
- travel costs to receive NHS treatment.
- How do I get the help I’m entitled to?
Am I eligible for free prescriptions and health costs?
You’ll be eligible for help with the NHS costs mentioned above if you or your partner receive any of the following benefits:
- the Guarantee Credit part of Pension Credit
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Working Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit (in some circumstances)
- Universal Credit (if you meet certain criteria – find out more on the NHS website).
If you don’t receive any of these benefits but have a low income, you may still be eligible for some help with health costs through the NHS Low Income Scheme. You can either apply for the NHS Low Income Scheme online or by post.
How do I get the help I’m entitled to?
- If you’re 60 or over you might need to show proof of age to the pharmacist to get free prescriptions.
- If you receive any of the benefits listed above you just need to show your benefit award letter to health care staff when you book or attend an appointment.
- If you qualify through the NHS Low Income Scheme you’ll either get a HC2 certificate that entitles you to full help or a HC3 certificate for partial help with health costs. Tell staff you have a certificate when you book an appointment and bring it with you to your appointment.