While NHS care is free, there are some things you need to pay for like prescriptions and dental costs.
There is a range of financial support available to eligible people to help with the costs of prescriptions, dental services, NHS wigs and NHS fabric support and more.
Even if you are not eligible for free prescriptions there are ways to save money on them. Read below for more information.
You are eligible for free prescriptions if you:
If you are turning or have turned 18 and are leaving care in north east London you are entitled to free NHS prescriptions until the age of 25.
This is available to all those who are eligible for Leaving Care Services from a north east London local authority, whether you still live in the area or not.
You simply need to ask your local authority Leaving Care Team to apply for a free Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC) for you as long as you:
Are aged 18-24 years, up till your 25th birthday
Are a care leaver from City of London, Barking and Dagenham, Hackney, Havering, Newham, Redbridge, Tower Hamlets or Waltham Forest
Are registered with a GP
Not already eligible for free prescriptions
If you have low income, you may be entitled to help with prescription and other NHS costs through the NHS Low Income Scheme (LIS).
The scheme covers:
You can apply for the scheme if the value of your savings, investments or property is below £23,250 for people who live permanently in a care home; or below £16,000 for everyone else. Any help you are entitled to is also available to your partner and any dependent young people.
Depending on your savings you may receive full help or partial help. You can apply online or by post.
If you need help or have questions about the LIS, call 0300 330 1343 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 3pm on Saturdays.
If you live in Barking & Dagenham, City of London, Hackney, Havering, Newham, Redbridge, Tower Hamlets or Waltham Forest and are homeless, a refugee or asylum seeker or are on certain benefits, you may be eligible for free over the counter medication from community pharmacies in north east London.
Who is eligible?
People who live in north east London where one of the following criteria applies:
How do you get help from this service if you are eligible?
If you are homeless, a refugee or asylum seeker you can walk into a pharmacy in north east London without contacting your GP first.
For all other north east London residents and patients, please contact your GP practice who will be able to refer you to a local pharmacy for advice and treatment for minor illnesses. The pharmacist will confirm your eligibility, assess you and if appropriate provide you the treatment free of charge.
Which conditions does this service cover?
A Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC) could save you money if you pay for your NHS prescriptions.
The certificate covers all your NHS prescriptions for a set price. You will save money if you need more than 3 items in 3 months, or 11 items in 12 months.
Please note:
You can buy a PPC through a registered pharmacy, or online. Your PPC will be valid from the day you call or submit your application.
If you get prescriptions for hormone replacement therapy (HRT), you may save more with the Hormone Replacement Therapy Prescription Prepayment Certificate (HRT PPC).
If you pay for NHS prescribed HRT medicine 3 or more times in 12 months, an HRT PPC could save you money.
The HRT PPC covers an unlimited number of certain HRT medicines for 12 months, regardless of why they are prescribed.
The HRT PPC does not cover all HRT medicines. Check if it covers your HRT medicine.
If your HRT medicine is not covered, or you also get prescriptions for items other than HRT medicine, you may save more with a 3 or 12 month PPC that covers all NHS prescriptions. See information above.
If you are pregnant, all NHS prescriptions and NHS dental treatment is free. They are also free for 12 months after you have given birth. To claim, ask your doctor or midwife for FW8 form, they will be able to fill the form for you.
With the online maternity exemption service you could get your certificate straight away if you have an email address. Just ask your midwife or doctor.
Otherwise, you’ll get your paper certificate in the post within 10 working days of the NHS receiving your application.
Children get free prescriptions until they are 16 years old.
Healthy start is a scheme to help eligible parents buy milk, fresh, frozen, and tinned fruit and vegetables, fresh, dried, and tinned pulses, infant formula and vitamins during pregnancy and until their child is 4 years old.
You need to be claiming certain benefits to qualify. If you’re pregnant and under 18 you can claim even if you do not receive any benefits.
You are sent a Healthy Start card with money on it that you can use in some UK shops (primarily local pharmacies), and it is topped up every 4 weeks. It cannot be used for online shopping.
To find a shop that accepts Healthy Support you can search by using your location.
Eligibility:
To apply for Healthy Start Support fill out this form. You will need name, address, date of birth, national insurance number, baby due date and benefits award letter (if over 18 years old) to apply.
Medication for sexual transmitted infections (STI) and sexually transmitted diseases (STD) is free of charge from your GP or a sexual health clinic. Find your nearest sexual health service.
You can get contraception free of charge, even if you’re under 16, from:
Methods of contraception available for free includes diaphragm or cap, female condoms, implant, injection, IUD (coil), IUS (hormonal coil), male condoms, patch, progestogen-only pill, vaginal ring.
The emergency contraceptive pill, also known as morning after pill, is also available free of charge at:
contraception clinics
sexual health or genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics
some GP surgeries
some young people’s clinics
most NHS walk-in centres and minor injuries units
most pharmacies
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