Most Health Service treatment is free, although there can be charges for some things. Depending on your circumstances, you might get help with the cost of some treatment, services and items. If you're on a low income, you may be able to get help with health service and travel costs.

Who can get help with health costs

All prescriptions dispensed in Northern Ireland are free of charge for everyone. This includes medication, wigs and surgical appliances. You do not need to do anything to qualify for free prescriptions as everyone is automatically entitled.If you are in one of the groups below, you may also be entitled to the following:

• free HS dental treatment
• free sight tests
• vouchers towards the cost of glasses or contact lenses
• help with the costs of travel for treatment on referral by a doctor or dentist

Group 1

You may be entitled to some or all of the above because of your age (young or old), a medical condition or because you get a War Disablement Pension or hold a War Pension exemption certificate.

Group 2

You are entitled to all of the above, if you and/ or your partner get:

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Pension Credit Guarantee Credit

Group 3

If you do not fit into group one or two above, you may get help with your health costs if one of the following also applies - you:

• claim Universal Credit
• are on a low income

If you get Universal Credit, you can find out more about how you may be able to get help with your health costs at:

• Getting help with NHS health costs if I get Universal Credit

How to claim help with health costs

Group one and group two

To get help if you are in groups one or two, fill in the back of your prescription form, or tell your dentist or optician when you go for dental or optical treatment. If you are claiming help with healthcare travel costs or for wigs and fabric supports, tell the hospital and show proof of entitlement.

Group three

You need to fill in the claim form HC1 'Claim for help with health and travel costs'.

You can get the form:

• by downloading it at this link Form HC1 - claim for help with health and travel costs
• from any Jobs & Benefits offices 
• from your local doctor, dentist, pharmacist, optician, or hospital - they might also have a copy

When you have filled in the form, post it to or hand it in to your local Jobs and Benefits office.

You will not get help with these costs until after you send the form and get confirmation that you are eligible.

If your application is successful, you will be issued a certificate which will entitle you to either:

• full remission of health costs for a 12 month-period (HC2 certificate)
• partial remission of health costs for a 12 month-period (HC3 certificate)

To continue to get help with health costs, you will need to complete a new HC1 form before your HC2 or HC3 certificate expires.

Date your HC1 form is received 

The date the claim form is received in a Jobs & Benefits office is the date the Department for Communities can consider payment from - not the date you downloaded the form.

Travelling outside Northern Ireland for treatment 

If you wish to receive treatment outside Northern Ireland, it’s important to understand how it works and the help you may be able to access. 

A dedicated online information hub is available to help patients find out what schemes are available, how to apply and in some cases receive reimbursement.