Prescriptions – pre-paid certificates and payment exemptions
Pre-paid certificates
Patient charges towards the cost of drugs and appliances issued on prescription forms presented for dispensing under the National Health Service are as follows:
- £3.85 Per item on a Prescription Form
- £7.70 Per item of Elastic Hosiery (an anklet, legging, knee-cap, below-knee or thigh stocking)
Pre-payment certificates allow you to cap the prescription fees so you know exactly what your prescriptions will cost you over a given period, regardless of how many items you need.
Pre-paid certificates cost £54 for a yearly certificate, or £19 for 4 months – and any Isle of Man Residents, over 16 (19 if a full-time student) can apply.
A single upfront payment can be made for both options or, from 27 May 2026, anyone selecting a yearly certificate can now spread payments across 10 months using a direct debit.
To get a certificate you just need to complete the online application form (via Online services) by clicking on the button below or download an application form available via downloadable documents, and return it by email to primarycareservices@gov.im or by post to Manx Care, Primary Care Services, Cronk Coar, Nobles Hospital, Isle of Man, IM4 4RJ.
If you use Online Services to order and pay for your pre-payment certificate and provide us with an email address, you will be issued with a reminder 28 days before your renewal date.
For paper applications where payment is to be made upfront, card payments must be made over the phone and cheque payments to accompany the application form and posted to Primary Care Services, Cronk Coar, Nobles Hospital Site, Braddan, IM4 4RJ. If you wish to pay by cash this can only be done in person by visiting the Isle of Man Welcome Centre, Sea Terminal Building, Douglas. For any queries you may call Primary Care Services on +44 1624 642694 or please read our Questions and answers about pre-payment certificates and the application portal.
Exemptions
From 1 January 2017 pharmacy staff will be asking patients for proof of their exemption when they sign to claim free prescriptions.
The current decision by DHSC to request for proof of exemptions is due to many factors – but essentially it is aimed at raising public awareness of the fact that individuals should be very clear that they are definitely exempt before signing the back of the form.
Patients can claim prescriptions free of charge, based on the following exemptions:
- Children under 16 years
- Full time students under 19 years
- Person of State Retirement age
- Persons in receipt of Income Support and their dependents
- Persons in receipt of Income Based Job Seekers Allowance
- Persons in receipt of Incapacity Benefit for a period in excess of six months
- Persons in receipt of Employed Persons Allowance
- Chronic sick, who have been in constant need of medical attention for six months or longer and who are not in substantial employment
Persons suffering from the following conditions, irrespective of income or employment circumstances:
(i) Permanent fistula (including caecostomy, colostomy, laryngostomy or ileostomy) requiring continuous surgical dressing or an appliance
(ii) The following disorders:
- Forms of hypoadrenalism (including Addison’s Disease) for which specific substitution therapy is essential
- Diabetes insipidus and other forms of hypopituitarism
- Diabetes mellitus except where treatment is by diet alone
- Hypoparathyroidism
- Myasthenia gravis
- Myxoedema
(iii) Epilepsy requiring continuous anti-convulsive therapy:
(iv) A continuing physical disability which prevents the patient from leaving his residence without the help of another person
- War Service Disablement Pensioners
- Registered Blind Persons
- Women who are pregnant
- Women who have given birth within the previous twelve months.
No prescription charge is payable for contraceptive appliances and substances prescribed for women under the Isle of Man Health Service.
Please note: No patient will be refused medication and they will NOT be asked to pay in lieu of proof being available.
Those who are unsure if they are actually exempt should ask the pharmacy team for advice. Individuals can pay and get a special receipt for a refund once their exemption has been confirmed should they wish to do so.
Patients claiming their free prescriptions based on receipt of certain benefits do NOT need to contact Social Security to ask for letters or other hard copies of proof, however if patients are in the MiCard scheme for accessing benefits they may show their card.
If you have a pre-payment certificate, please make a note of the expiry date and remember to apply for a renewal in plenty of time. Application forms can be obtained by downloading the document at the top of this page, the Department or at a pharmacy, otherwise you will have to pay prescription charges.
Reminders will not be issued by the Department of Health & Social Care.
All card payments must be made over the phone or a cheque may be posted with your application form. For any queries you may call Family Practitioners Service on +44 1624 642694.
Friends and Family Survey
Every time you visit your Pharmacy you are invited to take part in a short online survey. This is an anonymous survey and you are free to leave your comments about the practice in the space provided. The survey results are checked regularly and will be discussed with the Pharmacy accordingly.
