Anyone taking insulin or tablets for their diabetes is entitled to an exemption certificate for prescriptions. They last for five years and application forms are available from your GP or post office. People who treat their diabetes with diet alone are not entitled to an exemption certificate.

To get prescriptions free of charge you must hold a current exemption certificate. If you have forgotten your certificate, most pharmacists will still provide the prescription, but will indicate on the form that they have not seen an exemption certificate. This may mean that your exemption is checked at a later date. Therefore it is sensible to start taking your certificate whenever you go to collect a prescription.

Remember the certificates only last for five years, so make sure that yours is in date and that you renew it in good time.

Prescription exemption in Wales

All people registered with a GP in Wales who collect their prescriptions from a pharmacy in Wales do not have to pay for prescriptions. People registered with a GP in England who get their prescriptions from a pharmacy in Wales are entitled to free prescriptions if they have an entitlement card.

For full information about prescription rules in Wales visit the Health of Wales Information Service website.