Hundreds of thousands of women could pay less than £20 a year for hormone replacement therapy (HRT) by using a ‘prescription season ticket’ to cut the cost of menopause treatment.
Women taking HRT to reduce the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause can buy a HRT Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC) from the NHS. This could help around 400,000 women to get 12 months’ worth of HRT for just £19.30, or around the same cost as two separate prescription charges. Find more information on the menopause and managing symptoms in our guide Managing your menopause journey.
Without the certificate, if a woman is paying for two items on prescription every month each costing £9.65, which may be the case if she’s using HRT and also needs medication for another condition, this could amount to more than £230 a year.
There’s no limit on how many times the HRT PPC can be used to buy any type of HRT, such as gel, tablets and patches, provided it’s still in date. Read more in our guide Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) explained. You can view the list of menopause prescription items that you can buy with the certificate on the Gov.uk website and you can buy a certificate at nhs.uk.
The HRT PPC was introduced following the publication of the government’s Women’s Health Strategy for England in 2022. At the time, Maria Caulfield, Minister for Women, said: “Around three-quarters of women will experience menopause symptoms, with one-quarter experiencing severe symptoms which can seriously impact their quality of life.
“Reducing the cost of HRT is a huge moment for improving women’s health in this country, and I am proud to be announcing this momentous step forward. In our Women’s Health Strategy, we made menopause a top priority – by making HRT more accessible, we’re delivering on our commitment to women.”
According to latest figures from the Department of Health, around 15% of women aged between 45 and 64 in England are currently prescribed HRT. Dame Lesley Regan, the Government’s women’s health ambassador, said: “This pre-payment certificate is a major step forward in prioritising the health and wellbeing of women.”
When and where can you buy an HRT Prescription Pre-payment Certificate?
You can apply for the HRT PPC through the NHS, or you can do so in-person at a pharmacy that’s registered to sell PPCs. Before applying for an HRT PPC, check if you’re entitled to free NHS prescriptions and other help with health costs using the service’s eligibility checker.
Once your application is accepted, you can use the HRT PPC immediately. You’ll need to show digital or paper proof or your HRT PPC when collecting your prescriptions, alongside completing the exemption declaration on the NHS prescription form.
Dr Ranee Thakar, president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said: “We know that cost can be one of the barriers that women face in accessing treatment to manage their symptoms during menopause, and the introduction of HRT pre-payment certificates is a positive step to improve access to HRT.”
How to cut the cost of other prescriptions
NHS prescription charges in England for a single item are £9.65.
If you get prescriptions for items aside from HRT, you may also save money with a standard PPC that covers all NHS prescriptions. The HRT PPC is in addition to the existing help with prescription charges, such as standard PPCs. For people who take many medicines, the existing PPCs may remain a more cost effective method of paying for prescriptions.
A PPC will save you money if you need 12 or more items in a 12-month period and at least 10 are not for HRT. A PPC costs £111.60 for 12 months, but you can spread this cost by paying monthly by direct debit. You can buy a PPC here, or by calling 0300 3301341 You can also buy a three-month PPC to save you money if you buy four or more prescriptions within this timeframe, and at least two are not for HRT.
If you’ve paid for prescriptions before you receive your PPC, you can apply for a refund using the NHS FP57 form from your local pharmacy to get your money back.
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