Fact Checked
Fact Checked
This article has been fact checked by a licensed expert before publication to ensure all information provided is correct and safe.
How does payment work when buying medicine online in the UK?
Medically reviewed by
Alexandra Cristina Cowell, Writer & Clinical Content Reviewer
Does Treated accept health insurance for prescriptions?
In the UK, most private insurance policies only cover inpatient care (the treatment you get when you’re being treated in hospital). Some policies do extend to out-patient prescriptions, but right now we can’t accept any health insurance for any orders placed through the uk.treated.com platform.
You may be able to claim back the cost through your insurance, depending on your policy – but we can’t do this for you. Check with your insurance provider and your policy for more information.
Can I use an NHS prescription to get treatment from Treated?
If you’ve already been diagnosed with a condition and prescribed medication for it, you should be able to order your treatment online through the uk.treated.com platform – but you’ll still need to have a consultation, and because we’re a private pharmacy, you’ll have to pay for the full cost of your medicine. This might be more convenient for you if the medicine you want to use isn’t currently available on the NHS, or if there’s a long waiting list.
What payment options are available on Treated?
When placing an order through uk.treated.com, you’ll be able to pay with a credit card, debit card (Visa or Mastercard), direct debit, or PayPal. Any card payments you make through our site are handled by a secure payment gateway, and if you choose to save your details for future orders, they’ll be stored securely, too.
If you’re paying with direct debit, the first payment you make can take a little longer to clear than the other methods of payment we accept. This means it might take your order a few more days to process, so it can take a little longer for you to get your treatment.
If you’re on a subscription, we’ll always use your preferred method of payment. The same goes if you’re coming to us for a repeat of a “one-off” treatment (if you’ve saved your details).
But if your card has expired, or you used PayPal for your initial order, we’ll ask you for your payment details again.
What are the cost benefits of using online medical services?
The main benefit you get for the cost when using online medical services like uk.treated.com is choice. You can choose when you take the consultation, and after receiving recommendations from the prescriber, out of these you can often choose the treatment that you feel is best for you. When you place an order through uk.treated.com, the cost of the consultation is also included in the price you pay for treatment.
We’ll also keep in contact with you after you place your order, so if you have any questions or concerns about your medication or health, our expert team is on-hand to help.
Are there any discounts available?
When you place an order on uk.treated.com (whether you’re a new or returning customer), you’ll be asked whether you’d like to opt-in to our referral program. This is a way to earn discounts on the cost of orders (depending on if you’re a new or returning customer) by referring a friend or family member to our service.
If you choose to refer someone, you’ll provide is with their email and we’ll send them and we’ll send them a unique referral link. When this person opens this link and places an order through the uk.treated.com platform, you’ll qualify for a discount on your next order. You can receive multiple referral discounts if multiple referrals place orders through Treated, up to a maximum of 25% off one order.
You’ll receive more details about our referral programme and be invited to participate when placing an order through Treated.
When do you pay for your medicine?
After answering the questions in your consultation, you’ll be asked to provide payment details. But we won’t charge your payment method until your prescription has been approved by the clinician. Before your payment is confirmed, these funds will show as a ‘pending’ payment in your account – but if your prescription isn’t approved, the payment will be cancelled.
If you place an order with credit card, debit card, or PayPal, we’ll usually be able to process your order right away and get it sent out on either the same or the following working day. If you use direct debit to pay, your first payment can take a little longer to process, so it might take a few more days before we can get your treatment sent out to you.
If you’re on a subscription, or placing a repeat order for a one-off treatment, sometimes your payment could be declined. The most common reason when this happens is that the card used to pay has expired. We’ll let you know right away if your payment has declined – you’ll just need to log into your account and add a valid method of payment. As soon as that’s sorted, we’ll process your payment and send your treatment out for delivery.
How we source info.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
Tell us what you want to hear.
Have a subject you’d like us to cover in a future article? Let us know.
Give us the inbox treatment.
We're making healthcare more about you. Sign up to our newsletter for personalised health articles that make a difference.
Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any questions or concerns about your health, please talk to a doctor.
Find treatment
I'm looking for
Popular searches:
Sign up to our newsletter for all the latest on and more.
By clicking 'Subscribe now' you're agreeing to our Privacy Policy.