MARTIN Lewis has shared a little-known “secret” code that could save you money when buying over-the-counter medicines.
The money saving expert, 50, revealed the tip on a recent episode of his Money Show on ITV.
He said there was a “simple” check people needed to carry out before buying certain products.
Martin told viewers they should be on the look-out for a “secret” nine-digit number on the packet.
He said the nine-character code was printed on every box and this can be used to find a much cheaper unbranded alternative to a big-name product.
Martin said that often people were merely “paying for the packaging” with big name brands.
To illustrate this, Martin held up two packets of period painkillers that had been purchased on the same day.
He told viewers: “I have in front of me two packets that were bought today. They are both for period pains – painkillers.
“This one cost £5.29, this is £3.45. But if you look on the side of these boxes, the PL Code, the Product Licence code. 12063/0071. And 12063/0071.
“That doesn’t mean same active ingredient. That means these are exactly the same tablets.”
“Exactly the same tablets. Same product licence, same tablets, totally different price. Just for the packaging.”
The founder of the MoneySavingExpert website said people should check if the different medicines have the same Product Licence code.
Martin said: “They could well be substantially cheaper and it’s not the same active ingredient, it’s the same tablets.”
He also advised people to do this even if there’s not an identical medicine that’s cheaper.
Some groups of people that are exempt from paying NHS prescription charges.
These are anyone aged 60 or over or under 16.
Anyone aged between 16 and 18 and in full-time education is also exempt.
People with a valid maternity exemption certificate (MatEx) or medical exemption certificate (MedEx) also don’t have to pay.
You can only get a MedEx certificate if you have a specific health condition.
Anyone with a valid war pension exemption certificate and the prescription is for your accepted disability can also get free prescriptions.
Any NHS inpatients can get free prescriptions too.
People on certain benefits are also entitled to free NHS prescriptions. Click here for the full list.
Doctors have also been giving out their own money saving tips to avoid paying prescription charges.
Recently, Dr Zoe Williams revealed her little boy Lisbon had chickenpox.
She said that there was just a 70p trick that could help you relieve the pain your little one is suffering with – after many medications for the illness were out of stock due to a national shortage.
Dr Zoe said an oatmeal bath would help soothe their skin, with a bag of oats costing as little as 70p.
Martin said it was often possible to save cash by avoiding branded products and pick unbranded or own-brand-equivalents.
He said the key thing that mattered was the medicine’s “active ingredient” and the rest was largely irrelevant unless you have particular allergies.
Martin added: “If you’re buying Nurofen the active ingredient in it is ibuprofen and you can buy generic ibuprofen for far less than Nurofen, it does the same thing.
“The only thing you have to watch for is whether it’s coated, or what the ingredients are if you’ve got an allergy or something like that and maybe the speed of operation. But the active underlying ingredient is the same.”
