United Kingdom
NHS Low Income Scheme (HC2/HC3 certificates)
People in the UK on low incomes who are not automatically exempt from NHS charges
- Eligibility
- Eligibility is means-tested on income, savings, and circumstances. Full help (HC2) covers the entire cost; partial help (HC3) caps it.
- Application
- Apply to the NHS Business Services Authority online where eligible, or using form HC1, available at pharmacies or by post.
- Restrictions
- In Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland prescriptions are already free for residents; the scheme is most relevant in England.
Source checked 19 October 2026 — not a guarantee of current eligibility
Official programme source