This page contains information on:
- Free prescriptions and NHS dental care
- Where to go for more help
March 2023
Free prescriptions and NHS dental care
You are entitled to free NHS prescriptions and NHS dental care (check-ups and treatment) during pregnancy and for 12 months after giving birth.
Your child can also have free prescriptions and NHS dental care until they are at least 16 years old.
Note: you will need to be registered with a dentist who provides NHS treatment and who accepts you/your children as an NHS patient. You cannot get free dental care if you are registered as a private patient or your dentist does not provide NHS treatment.
How do I claim free NHS prescriptions and NHS dental care?
Your midwife, GP, Practice Nurse or Health Visitor must apply for your Maternity Exemption Certificate for you. They may ask you to sign Form FW8 or they can apply for your Maternity Exemption Certificate online. If they apply for a digital certificate you will receive it by email. Otherwise you will receive it by post within ten days.
Your Maternity Exemption Certificate will be backdated for one month from the date they receive the application.
If you have not yet received your Maternity Exemption Certificate you must pay for your prescriptions until you receive it. You can ask your pharmacist for a form for claiming a refund once your Maternity Exemption Certificate is issued, see next question.
If you claim a free prescription before the start date of your Maternity Exemption Certificate you could be asked to pay a penalty charge of up to £100 by NHS Business Services Authority as well as the prescriptions you have had.
To claim for a child, tick the appropriate box on the back of the prescription/dentist’s form.
You can find out more and download some forms from: https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/check-if-you-have-nhs-exemption/maternity-exemption-certificates
This applies in England only as prescriptions are free in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Can I claim a refund if I pay for my prescriptions/NHS dental care?
If you have not yet received your Maternity Exemption Certificate you will need to pay for your prescription and claim a refund. You will receive Form FP57 when you pay for your prescription. It does not appear to be possible to ask for Form FP57 later. Form FP57 tells you how to claim a refund. You must apply for the refund within 3 months of paying the prescription charge.
You will only be able to claim refunds for the period covered by your Maternity Exemption Certificate (bear in mind it is only backdated for one month from the date of application).
If you pay for NHS dental treatment you should ask your dentist for form FP64.
I have been sent a penalty notice and have been asked to pay for my prescriptions, what can I do?
If you have not yet received your Maternity Exemption Certificate, you should contact your midwife, GP, Practice Nurse or Health Visitor as soon as possible and ask them to apply for it for you. They may ask you to sign Form FW8 or they can apply for your Maternity Exemption Certificate online. If they apply for a digital certificate you will receive it by email. Otherwise you will receive it by post within ten days.
Your Maternity Exemption Certificate will be backdated for one month from the date they receive the application.
You will need to pay for your prescriptions until you receive the Maternity Exemption Certificate to avoid further penalties but you can ask your pharmacist for form FP57 for claiming a refund, see the question above.
NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) will cancel the penalty charge/s if you pay for any free prescriptions claimed before your Maternity Exemption Certificate was issued.
It is not currently possible to claim a refund of prescription charges (unless you asked for a form from your pharmacist when paying for it) even where there were delays in applying for your Maternity Exemption Certificate or you were not issued with your Maternity Exemption Certificate through no fault of your own. However, you can write to NHSBSA, using the model letter below, if you want to complain about the prescription charges and/or penalties for a period in which you should have been treated as exempt.
How do I make a complaint to NHSBSA?
You can complain to NHSBSA informally first by using their online contact form www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/contact-us stating ‘Complaint’ in the subject line
By telephone: 0300 330 1341 (for Maternity Exemption Certificates) or 0300 330 9291 for Prescription Exemption Checking Service (penalty charges).
Or in writing to: Customer Resolutions Team, Bridge House, 152 Pilgrim Street, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 6SN
- If NHSBSA do not resolve your informal complaint, you can make a formal complaint by telephone, email or letter to the above.
- If you are dissatisfied with the response to your formal complaint you can appeal to the NHSBSA Chief Executive.
If NHSBSA refuse to refund any prescription charges and/or penalties for a period in which you would have qualified for a Maternity Exemption Certificate, you can complain to your local MP and/or the Parliamentary and Health Ombudsman. You must follow the full complaints procedure above before contacting the Ombudsman.
You can contact the Ombudsman by email: phso.enquiries@ombudsman.org.uk
Telephone 0345 015 4033
Or in writing to: Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, Millbank Tower, Millbank, London, SW1P 4QP
Model letter – you should delete the words in square brackets below and add the information indicated. Delete anything that is not relevant to you. Dear Sir or Madam I first saw my GP on [enter date when you first saw your GP about your pregnancy]. My first midwife appointment was on [date of your first midwife appointment]. My baby is due on [date]/My baby was born on [date] [Here you should add any information you wish about your health conditions and the medications prescribed during your pregnancy and/or following the birth. If you were asked to sign Form FW8 to apply for your Maternity Exemption Certificate or if your midwife or other health professionals told you that they would apply for your Maternity Exemption Certificate you can also add that here.] I have received a penalty notice and been asked to pay for prescriptions as my Maternity Exemption Certificate had not been issued. I understood that I was exempt from charges during my pregnancy and my health professional failed to apply for my Maternity Exemption Certificate. I consider that this is unfair and will cause me hardship. It is not possible for me to apply for the Maternity Exemption Certificate myself and I have now been charged for prescriptions and sent a penalty notice for a period in which I should have been exempt. I [am/will] be taking maternity leave and I will only be entitled to [Statutory Maternity Pay/Maternity Allowance] of £172.48 per week for most of this period. I was unaware that I needed to pay for my prescription and request a refund form FP57 from my pharmacist and there is no process in place for claiming a refund when an exemption certificate is issued late. [Delete whichever does not apply below] I am requesting a refund of the prescription charge/s I have had to pay for when I was entitled to a Maternity Exemption Certificate [and/or] I am requesting a refund of the penalty charge/s I have had to pay when I was entitled to a Maternity Exemption Certificate.
If you are unable to pay for your prescription charges you can write to NHSBSA and ask for the charges and penalties to be waived, however, there is a risk that you will be charged a penalty if you do not pay for any prescriptions before your maternity exemption certificate was issued.
Can I apply for help with health costs as I have a low income?
You can also apply for full help or some help with health costs by applying to the Low Income Scheme once your child turns one year. Applications should be made on form HC1; you will need to give information about your income and expenditure on this form.
HC2 certificates provide help with
- Free NHS prescriptions
- Free NHS dental treatment
- Free NHS sight tests
- Help with the costs of glasses or contact lenses
- Help with the costs of travelling to receive NHS treatment
- Free NHS wigs and fabric supports.
HC2 certificates are not classed as public funds.
Depending on your income, you could be given either:
- Certificate HC2 which means that you qualify for free treatment or
- Certificate HC3 which means that you get some help with health costs – the certificate will tell you how much you must pay and any costs above this amount will be waived.
If you have already paid for treatment, you may be able to get some or all of the costs refunded, however, prescription charges will only be refunded, as above, if you requested form FP57 when you paid for your prescription. To apply for a refund, complete form HC5 within 3 months of the treatment.
You can find more information on low income help with health costs here:www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/nhs-low-income-scheme
This information sheet was written in March 2023. It is very important to get up-to-date advice as law and guidance changes.
This guide isforinformationpurposes only and should not be treated as legal advice. You are strongly advised to get personal legal advice about the individual circ*mstances of your case.
Where to go for more help
Maternity Action
Maternity Rights Advice Line: for advice on maternity and parental rights at work and benefits
Nationwide (except London) – 0808 802 0029
London – 0808 802 0057
For opening hours see: https://maternityaction.org.uk/advice-line/
Maternity Care Access Advice Service: for advice on access and charging for NHS maternity care – 0808 802 0029
For opening hours see – https://maternityaction.org.uk/maternity-care-access-advice-service/
Migrant Women’s Rights Service: advice for health professionals and other advisers who are supporting migrant women – 020 7251 6189
For opening hours see – https://maternityaction.org.uk/migrant-womens-rights-service/
More Maternity Action information sheets, see www.maternityaction.org.uk
