What is a Maternity Exemption Certificate?
What is a Maternity Exemption Certificate? Having a baby entitles you to some freebies. Yay! But don’t “yay” too loud – you have to take advantage while the offer lasts.
Pregnant women and those who have had a baby in the last 12 months are entitled to free NHS prescriptions and dental treatment. You need a Maternity Exemption Certificate (MATEX) to do this.
To apply, you need to complete an FW8 form which can be obtained from your GP, midwife or health visitor and also signed by one of the aforementioned. Don’t assume that you will be offered the form – health professionals are as busy as the rest of us and often forget… so don’t feel shy asking!
If you need to pay for any prescriptions before you receive your certificate, you may be able to claim a refund. When you pay, ask your pharmacist for an official NHS receipt (form FP57 in England).
And, if you did not apply for a maternity exemption certificate while you were pregnant, you can still apply at any time during the 12 months after your baby is born.
I had no idea about these perks of pregnancy. A friend told me. Now it’s up to me to share the love and spread the word to other oblivious mums to be.
Please do the same, dear reader!
This is a public forum and we welcome your opinions. However, libelous and abusive comments are not permitted.





1 Comment
I’m originally from the US, so I had no idea about Maternity Exemption when I got pregnant. But I was very lucky to have a fabulous GP who filled the form out on my first visit (at 7 weeks pregnant!) and made sure it was all ready for me from day 1. I took full advantage of it, getting my teeth fixed, getting my prescriptions filled and making sure that everything was in order. It was lovely.
I have no time for those who complain about the healthcare system in the UK. It is by far the best I’ve ever seen. I am thankful for it every day.