Free prescriptions warning as Britons could be liable for £100 penalty charge | Personal Finance | Finance

People who have certain medical conditions could get medical exemption certificates, and as a result receive free NHS prescriptions. However, recipients are urged to ensure their certificate is still valid as using an expired one could see them paying £100 penalties, but expiration dates between December 2021 and March 2022 have different rules.

As the pandemic starts to slow, the impact on the NHS is growing as elective procedures and normal hospital consultations have been put on hold for almost two years. 

The Department of Health and Social Care has made a decision in order to help reduce the workload on GP practices and give patients a bit of a break.

Medical exemption certificates that are due or have expired between December 14, 2020 and March 1, 2022 will now be extended for six months from the current date of expiry. 

Those who are affected by this extension can expect to receive a letter from the NHSBSA and will receive their new certificate in the post. 

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Anyone whose certificate expires in this time frame and has already applied for a new certificate may now receive two. 

The NHSBSA advises that anyone who does receive two should keep the one with the longest expiry date. 

Certain groups of people are eligible for medical exemption certificates due to their medical conditions which usually involves long-term conditions requiring multiple prescriptions. 

These certificates entitles holders to free NHS prescriptions only and does not cover other health costs. 

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Certificate holders needing to renew their certificate will need to speak to their doctor to re-apply. 

Additionally, holders need to update their certificate with any circumstance changes such as a change of address or name. 

Patients who are entitled to free prescriptions but have been paying can receive a refund so long as all of the following apply:

• They claim a refund within three months of paying
• The start date of their certificate is the same or earlier than the date they paid for the prescription as certificates are backdated one month
• They ask for an FP57 refund receipt when they pay.