What free health benefits are you entitled to when you retire?

At £9.90 an item in England, the cost of prescriptions can make managing your healthcare expensive, especially if you suffer from a chronic condition. However, once you reach the age of 60, you’ll be entitled to free prescriptions, irrespective of your income.

You shouldn’t have to provide ID to prove your age either, as your date of birth should be printed on the prescription.

If you’re under 60 and still need to pay for prescriptions, you may be able to cut costs by purchasing a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC).  Whether or not a PPC represents good value for money depends on how often you pay for prescriptions. For example, a 12-month PPC costs £114.50, meaning you would need more than 11 prescriptions each year to save money.

In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, prescriptions are free of charge for all age groups.

Even if you are lucky enough to have an NHS dentist, the cost of dental check-ups and treatment can still be expensive. Sadly, advancing age isn’t enough to get you free dentistry - contrary to popular opinion.

• In England NHS charges will continue to be based on which of the three cost bands your treatment falls into.

• In Wales, you can get free examinations on the NHS once you have turned 60, but you will still need to pay for any further dental treatment that is required according to the Welsh three-band charge system.

• Everyone in Scotland gets free dental examinations - irrespective of age - but you’ll need to pay for treatment (80% of the cost, capped at £384).

• In Northern Ireland you’ll also have to pay for 80% of costs (up to £384) - including the cost of the examination.

In all parts of the UK, you may be able to access free dentistry in retirement, if you are on a low income (for example, claiming benefits such as pension credit). Read the section on ‘Additional help if you are on a low income’ for more information.

Unfortunately, our hearing deteriorates with age. By age 50, 40% of us will have a degree of hearing loss, rising to 70% by age 70.

Everyone, however, can have free hearing tests on the NHS, regardless of age. You just need to ask your GP to refer you to an audiologist.

Some chains of chemists and opticians will also offer free NHS hearing tests. In addition to assessing your hearing, they will be able to offer advice on hearing aids and services such as earwax removal.

Whether you’ve worn glasses for years, or you’re finding yourself holding books further and further away to read small print, it’s important to get your eyes tested regularly.

A thorough eye test won’t just assess your vision – your optician will also take a thorough look at the front and back of your eyes and check for health conditions, including cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration.

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland you will be entitled to a free eye test every two years, once you turn 60. But, you won’t normally get help for the cost of glasses or contact lenses, unless you require complex lenses or are on a low income and claim certain benefits.

In Scotland all eye tests are free.  

Retiring or reaching state pension age doesn’t necessarily mean you get access to everyday health services free of charge.  However, if you have retired and are on a low income, you may be eligible for additional support by applying for the NHS Low Income Scheme.

The amount of support depends on your income and outgoings, as well as your savings and investments.

If, after an assessment of your finances, you qualify for support you will either be issued with an HC2 certificate (for full help with health costs) or an HC3 (for limited help with health costs).

With an HC2 certificate you’ll get:

• Free prescriptions

• Free NHS dental treatment

• Free NHS eye tests

• Help with the costs of glasses or contact lenses

• Help with the costs of getting to NHS appointments (under the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme)

• Free NHS wigs and fabric supports

Alternatively, if it's decided that you can pay some costs, you’ll get an HC3 certificate. This will tell you how much you need to pay towards:

• NHS dental treatment

• NHS eye tests

• Travelling for NHS treatment (under the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme)

• NHS wigs and fabric supports

You may also get a voucher to help pay for glasses or contact lenses.

You can apply to the NHS Low Income Scheme online, but note you won’t need to apply if you are in receipt of benefits like pension credit, which will already offer you support with healthcare costs.

To qualify for the NHS Low Income Scheme, you (or your partner) will need to have less than £16,000 in savings, investments and property (not including your home).

You’ll automatically qualify for help from the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme if you or your partner meets the criteria for the NHS Low Income Scheme or you receive a qualifying benefit, such as pension credit.

Free NHS health checks

Prevention is always better than cure, so as you get older it’s important to make sure you are taking advantage of free NHS health checks.

This is a free review of your cardiovascular health and can help find out if you are at risk of major health problems, including heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes or stroke.

Checks take between 20 and 30 minutes and include:

• Weight, height and waist measurements

• Blood pressure

• Cholesterol test and sometimes a blood sugar test

You’ll also be asked general questions about your health and lifestyle – including whether you smoke, how often you drink and your exercise habits.

Everyone aged between 40 and 74 is entitled to an NHS Health check every five years. You should be contacted by your GP or local council. Get in touch with your surgery if you think you are due a check but haven’t received an invitation.

Once you reach certain ages, you’ll also become entitled to free vaccinations to help you stay fit and healthy. The age you become eligible for the vaccinations listed below will be the same, whether you live in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.

The flu jab

It’s possible to get a free flu jab once a year, from the age of 65 (or 64 if you will turn 65 by 31 March 2026). Vaccinations are normally given during the Autumn to ensure you’re protected before flu season begins in early winter.

It’s usually only children, pregnant women, those with long-term health conditions and frontline and health and social care workers who will get free NHS flu jabs prior to age 65.

If you are entitled to a free flu vaccine, you can book an appointment via the NHS website, or by calling 119. Alternatively, you can find pharmacies that offer free flu vaccinations.

The Covid 19 vaccination

The Covid 19 vaccination program has been scaled back substantially in the years since the pandemic. This means that even if your age entitles you to a winter flu jab, you might not necessarily qualify to receive a Covid vaccine at the same time.

Now, only retirees over the age of 75 (or turning 75 by 31 January 2026) will get a Covid vaccine. Younger people will only be eligible for the booster if they have a health condition or live in a care home for older people.

You can book appointments for Covid vaccinations online or by using the NHS app.

The shingles vaccine

Shingles is an infection that causes a painful rash, but while it usually gets better within a few weeks, there’s a greater risk of complications in older people.

So, once you’ve turned 65 (or 70 if you turned 65 before 1 September 2023) you’ll be entitled to a free shingles vaccination on the NHS.

The vaccination is offered in two doses, given between six and 12 months apart.

Your GP should contact you to make an appointment, but if you think you are entitled and haven’t been invited for your vaccination, it’s important to let your surgery know. You’ll be eligible for your first dose until your 80th birthday.

Health cash plans: help with everyday costs

Whether you need a new pair of glasses, a visit to the dentist or want to pay to see a physiotherapist or podiatrist, the cost of everyday healthcare can quickly rack up.

A health cash plan can help with the cost. Unlike health insurance, which covers the cost of private medical treatment, cash plans offer a cash payment for a range of healthcare services from the NHS or the private sector. It may not reimburse all of your costs, but it can ease the financial pain.

The payment you get will depend on the provider and the level of cover you choose. For example, you could get 100% of your dental costs back, up to a maximum of £50, £100 or £200 a year.

Exactly what’s covered will vary between providers too, but typically health cash plans will pay out for:

• Routine eye tests

• Glasses and contact lenses

• Hearing aids

• Dental treatment

• Prescriptions (NHS and private)

• Physiotherapy, osteopathy and podiatry

• Inpatient or outpatient hospital treatments

• Consultations in private hospitals if you don’t use health insurance

• Access to GP, counselling and legal advice helplines

Health cash plans are usually relatively affordable - policies often start at less than £10 a month rising to £30 or more, depending on the level of payout offered. It’s important to note that some providers have a maximum sign-up age, meaning there are fewer options for those aged over 65.

Is a health cash plan worth it?

Cash plans can offer fantastic value for money and give you the nudge you need to access treatment or services that don’t come free of charge. This can be really helpful when you are retired and potentially needing more treatment.

However, keep in mind that you have to pay for services upfront and claim the cash back from your provider. That means it’s essential that you’re organised, keep receipts and submit claims within the timeframe required.

You should also be aware that some benefits have a waiting period of several months, before you are able to claim. This is to prevent people from taking out policies knowing that they require treatment and claiming straightaway.

Does private health insurance cover everyday healthcare?

Private health insurance is designed to cover the cost of private medical treatment if you are ill or injured. While it can help with some more routine expenses - like physiotherapy, for example - it isn’t intended to cover the cost of everyday healthcare.

It’s unlikely to cover expenses like trips to the optician or dentist unless you have added extra options such as optical and dental cover to your policy. For this type of expense, a healthcare cash plan could be a better fit.