Prescription Charge Upper Age Exemption: Consultation Outcome

In 2021, the Department of Health and Social Care held a public consultation on aligning the upper age for the NHS prescription charge exemption with the state pension age (SPA), which is currently 66, and due to increase to 67 and 68 in future years. The upper age for NHS prescription exemption was introduced in 1968 to be in line with the women's state pension age, which was 60 at that time. In the decades since, there have been increases to the state pension age, but the upper age exemption for prescription charges has remained the same.

The consultation received over 117,000 responses, the majority of which were opposed to the proposed change. Responses cited, among other issues, cost of living pressures and risk to health of people not taking prescribed medication correctly as reasons for retaining the current upper age exemption. The Government are committed to tackling cost of living pressures and has decided that the prescription charge upper age exemption will remain at 60, meaning that it will not change to align to state pension age.

It should be noted that, in England, a broad range of NHS prescription charge exemptions are in place to help those with greatest need. These measures include a variety of charge exemptions, and eligibility depends upon whether people are in receipt of certain qualifying benefits or tax credits, their age, receipt of a war pension or have a qualifying medical condition. The current exemptions mean that around 89% of NHS prescription items dispensed in the community in England are free of charge, in addition, those on a low income who do not qualify for an automatic exemption can seek help under the NHS low income scheme. For those who do not qualify for an exemption or the NHS low income scheme, prepayment certificates (PPC) are available to help those who need frequent prescriptions. The annual PPC can be paid for through 10 instalments, and covers all prescriptions in that period for just over £2 per week.

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