Prescription charges typically involve a co-payment paid by the patient, with the government (or an insurer) covering the remaining cost of the medicine. The specific amount depends on the patient's eligibility for subsidies, their location (e.g., Australia vs. UK), and the specific medicine prescribed.
Prescription charges are for each item not each prescription. For example, if your prescription has 3 medicines on it you will have to pay the prescription charge 3 times. Some items are always free, including contraception and medicines prescribed for hospital inpatients.
The number of scripts for concessional beneficiaries to reach the Safety Net threshold was reduced from 60 to 48 scripts on 1 January 2020.
Patients pay a PBS co-payment to the pharmacist for each prescription that is dispensed. For patients who pay the full general co-payment of $31.60 and where the cost of their PBS medicine is over this amount, the full co-payment of $31.60 will be saved every second month for each medicine with a 60-day quantity.
Patients who have medicines on 60-day prescriptions will pay only one dispensing fee for 60 days' worth of medicine, rather than two dispensing fees for two single-month supplies.
The federal government stared down a histrionic scare campaign against 60-day prescribing. The guild claimed pharmacies would close due to reduced dispensing fees. It also claimed medicines would run out, and children would overdose due to pill hoarding.
You can get free NHS prescriptions if:
To qualify for a 60-day prescription, you must: live with a stable ongoing health condition. have discussed your medication with your prescriber and be assessed as suitable.
You'll generally need a new prescription from a doctor. Again, this can be your usual GP or an online doctor, depending on how quickly you need it and what the medicine is.
Online pharmacies that deliver your medicine to your door can sometimes be the cheapest in-network option with your insurance, and they offer the convenience of not having to wait in line, in person.
If you have a Medicare card and reach the Safety Net threshold, you'll pay the concessional rate of $7.70 for each PBS medicine for the rest of the year. If you have a pensioner or concession card and reach the Safety Net, you'll get your PBS medicines for free for the rest of the year.
Around 89% of prescriptions in England are already dispensed free of charge to children, over-60s, pregnant women, and those with certain medical conditions. Three month and annual prescriptions prepayment certificates will also be frozen for 2026/27 keeping costs low for those with a regular need for prescriptions.
Unlimited prescriptions for different medicines can be filled simultaneously, but generally, only one prescription for the same medicine can be filled at once. Repeats usually cannot be refilled within 20 days unless the pharmacist deems an immediate supply necessary.
Medications can make up a big chunk of your health care expenses, but these strategies can help you save money. It all begins with understanding your options.
Under the PBS, patient co-payments are the out-of-pocket costs that patients pay for PBS medicines: Concessional patients (for example, pensioners and low-income earners) pay $7.70 per prescription. General patients (those without a concession card) pay $25.00 per prescription.
You can buy an NHS prescription prepayment certificate online. The PPC will start from the day you submit your application, unless you ask for a different start date. The start date must be within 1 month before or after the date of your application. You can also apply using the PPC order line on 0300 330 1341.
From 1 January 2026, the cost of PBS medicines will drop from $31.60 to $25.00 per prescription. That means more Australians can afford the medicines they need — without having to make tough choices. If you're wondering how this change affects your prescriptions, your local pharmacist can help.
Once a Penalty Charge Notice has been issued, if no payment has been made within 28 days, a surcharge may be added.
The PBS 20-day rule (Safety Net early supply rule) in Australia means an early refill of a PBS medicine (within 20 days for most, or 50 days for 60-day scripts) doesn't count towards your PBS Safety Net threshold, so you pay the full co-payment, not the discounted amount, as it's meant to prevent unnecessary early fills. Pharmacists can override this for genuine emergencies (like lost medication) by endorsing the prescription as an "immediate supply," but it's tracked electronically.
Hydromorphone and fentanyl modified release products should also not be used in opioid naïve patients (patients who do not already use opioid medicines regularly). Fentanyl is one of the strongest opioids available in Australia.
Out-of-pocket drug costs will be capped at $2,100
Part D enrollees will face a $2,100 cap on annual out-of-pocket prescription drug expenses in 2026, up from $2,000 in 2025, when the cap was introduced.
Including drugs which have been affected by the availability of 60-day prescriptions, the top 10 drugs by prescription counts were:
You may find discounts through manufacturer savings programs or by using a GoodRx coupon. If you're eligible, patient assistance programs, state pharmaceutical assistance programs, and Medicare's Extra Help program can help you afford prescriptions.
Some prescribed items are always free, including contraceptives and medication given to hospital inpatients. Your prescriber can give you more information. Check to see if you are eligible for help.
From 1 January 2026, the PBS Safety Net threshold for patients with a concession card will remain at $277.20 and for other eligible patients it will be $1,748.20.