With skyrocketing inflation, which has seen energy prices and food costs remain high, saving on essential medicines could make a big difference to the cash in your pocket.
Staying healthy for less has never been more important, but with the warmer months upon us, hay fever and allergy sufferers may find it harder to afford over-the-counter medicines and tablets.
To make matters worse, the UK is set to face a “pollen bomb”, with the highest pollen count experienced in years set to fall this coronation bank holiday weekend.
Millions are set to be impacted by the record-breaking weekend, but with pursestrings tighter than ever, knowing how to get hay fever and allergy medicines cheaply is vital.
It’s not only hay fever sufferers who face heightening prices. The cost of prescriptions rose by 3% last month.
But research from MoneySavingExpert suggests that more than a million people overpaid for their prescriptions in the year to April 2022, missing out on savings of up to £40.
The study, based on figures from the NHS Business Services Authority, found that around 1.064 million people paid for at least 12 prescriptions over the financial year, with people purchasing an average of 16 items.
But, with prices going up this April, now is the time to take a closer look at how you pay and whether you can save cash by purchasing an annual subscription.
Currently, each item on a prescription costs £9.65 - but for those who get their medicines regularly, an annual payment could be cheaper.
What’s more, even if you don’t buy prescriptions so frequently, you could still get your hands on the medication required for free.
We run through exactly who pays for prescriptions, how to cut the cost of prescriptions, and how to get hay fever and allergy medicines cheaply.
How to get hay fever and allergy medicines cheaply
Branded hay fever medication tends to be priced at upwards of £10, but there is a way of getting exactly the same active ingredients into your body for a fraction of the cost.
If you’ve ever compared the backs of packets of branded and generic hay fever tablets, then you may have noticed they are incredibly similar. This is because the active ingredient is often the same across the two products, the only difference is the fancy packaging and the price at the till.
Take the active ingredient cetirizine hydrochloride. It’s in popular brand Piriteze’s 10mg Hay fever & Allergy tablets. A pack of 14 is available from Boots for £5.79 (or 41p per tablet).
But Boots’ own brand alternative, which contains exactly the same amount of key ingredient cetirizine hydrochloride, is available for £2.99, or 21p per tablet. That’s almost half the cost of the branded alternative.
Remember, the key here is the active ingredient - cetirizine hydrochloride. If the active ingredient is the same, then the medicine is the same.
Next time you reach for a hay fever tablet, check the active ingredient and search for it on Google - you may be surprised at the cheap alternatives available.
Here’s a breakdown of how much you can expect to pay for cetirizine hydrochloride-based tablets, but the lesson applies to all types of hay fever medicine.
| Tablet | Active ingredient | Cost per pack | Cost per tablet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Piriteze Hay fever & Allergy Tablets | Cetirizine hydrochloride | £5.79 (14 tablets, from Boots) | £0.41 |
| Boots Hay fever & Allergy Relief | Cetirizine hydrochloride | £2.99 (14 tablets) | £0.21 |
| Morrisons Hay fever & Allergy Relief | Cetirizine hydrochloride | £3 (30 tablets) | £0.10 |
| Tesco Hay fever Cetirizine Tablets | Cetirizine hydrochloride | £2.90 (30 tablets) | £0.09 |
Remember, check the active ingredient on your favourite branded medicine, then search around for a cheaper product (it’ll work just as well).
But always be safe when trying different medicines. Check all ingredients thoroughly for allergens and remember to take them within the use-by date.
How much do prescriptions cost?
The government announced a 3% rise in the cost of NHS prescriptions from 1 April 2023. Here’s how much you will be paying.
| Type of prescription | Previous cost | Cost from 1 April | Rise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single prescription | £9.35 | £9.65 | 30p |
| Three-month prepayment certificate | £30.25 | £31.25 | £1 |
| 12-month prepayment certificate | £108.10 | £111.60 | £3.50 |
But this rise might not affect you if you are eligible for free NHS prescriptions.
Who gets free NHS prescriptions?
It’s worth pointing out at the outset that there are different rules in place for prescriptions based on where you live in the UK. In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, prescriptions are free of charge ‒ you only have to pay for them if you live in England.
You can get a free prescription if you fall into one of the following groups:
- Aged 60 or older
- Aged under 16
- Aged 16 to 18 and in full-time education
- Are pregnant or had a baby in the last 12 months and have a maternity exemption certificate
- Have a specific medical condition and have a medical exemption certificate (MedEx)
- Have a continuing physical disability that stops you from going out without help from another person and have a medical exemption certificate (MedEx)
- Have a war pension certificate and the prescription is for an accepted disability
- Are a hospital inpatient
- You or your partner receive ‒ or you’re under the age of 20 and the dependent of someone receiving ‒ income support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Pension Credit Guarantee Credit or Universal Credit
To double-check if you need to pay for your prescription, use the NHS eligibility checker.
Free prescriptions for pregnant women
If you are pregnant or had a baby in the last 12 months, you can get free prescriptions if you have a valid maternity exemption certificate.
You also get free dental care on top.
You should apply for this certificate as soon as you know you’re expecting to take advantage of the free period. Your doctor or midwife does it for you and once you are registered, you will get either a digital certificate if you have an email or a paper one via the post.
The certificate is valid for 12 months from your due date (or when you give birth).
If you are in need of medicine before you get your certificate, let the pharmacist know you are waiting for your certificate - but do not avoid getting your medicine because of it.
Can I get a free prescription if I have low income?
If you have a low income, you will need to apply for an HC2 certificate to get financial help with prescription costs.
To get the certificate, you need to complete the HC1 form, which is available from Jobcentre Plus offices or most NHS hospitals. You might also be able to get an HC1 form from your doctor, dentist, or optician or by calling 0300 123 0849.
A certificate is usually valid for between six months and five years, depending on your circumstances.
Who can get a Medical Exemption Certificate?
If you have certain long-term medical conditions, you could get free prescriptions with a medical exemption (MedEx) certificate. You will need to ask your GP for an FP92A form, which the doctor must also sign. The MedEx is valid for five years.
How to get cheaper prescriptions
A simple way to cut the cost of prescriptions, if you regularly pay for your medicine, is to make use of a prescription prepayment certificate, also known as a ‘season ticket’.
The certificate means that, in return for a set price, you can get as many prescriptions as you need over a specified period.
You can get a three-month prescription prepayment certificate for £30.25, or opt for an annual certificate, which will set you back £108.10. If you don’t fancy paying for the annual certificate in one go, you can instead pay for it in 10 instalments by direct debit.
With a single prescription costing £9.35, the cost of 12 prescriptions would cost £112.20, so if you get more than 12 prescriptions a year, then this could really slash the costs.
Prescription prepayment certificates can be purchased online, at your local pharmacy, or over the phone by calling 0300 330 1341.
What’s more, if you have paid for prescriptions while waiting for your certificate to turn up, then you can get the money back by filling in an NHS FP57 refund form. You should be able to pick one up at your local pharmacy.