UK healthcare for overseas visitors: are NHS services free?

“Do foreign visitors pay for NHS (National Health System) care?” This is a common question among international travelers planning a stay in the UK, and the answer is not as simple as you might expect.

After Brexit, in addition to applying for an electronic travel authorization for the United Kingdom, some nationalities will have to organize themselves with additional measures to receive NHS healthcare in a hospital in Great Britain.

Does the UK have free healthcare?

All residents of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are entitled to free healthcare under the National Health Service (NHS), which is funded through general taxation. The NHS covers care from a general practitioner, mental health care and hospital care.

General practitioners are experts in family medicine, preventive care, health education and treatment of patients with multiple and/or long-term conditions. They are the first point of contact for almost all NHS patients and can refer the patient to other NHS services if needed.

UK residents have several options for accessing healthcare:

  • If they feel sick but it’s not an emergency, they can make an appointment with a family doctor
  • Those who are not in a life-threatening situation but need urgent medical attention or are unsure which NHS service they need, can call the NHS on 111
  • People with minor illnesses or injuries who cannot wait until an appointment with their GP can go to a reception centre, a minor injury unit or an urgent treatment centre
  • People with a common minor illness such as diarrhea, headache, or sore throat can seek advice from a local pharmacist
  • If your life is in danger or someone is seriously injured or sick, you can call 999.

Who can access free NHS care?

In general, free NHS treatment is only available to those who are registered as UK residents. Those who intend to live and work in the UK must register with a GP practice by completing a GMS1 form with the same details used to apply for a visa.

However, registering with a GP does not automatically mean that a patient is entitled to free NHS treatment in a hospital. An individual may be invited for free NHS screening services after registering with a GP, but may still need to pay for the service the GP practice where registered does not provide the necessary service.

However, foreigners visiting from abroad for a short period of time, more than 24 hours and less than 3 months, can still register as temporary patients with a local general practitioner. This treatment is free of charge if the patient presents a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).

Furthermore, a number of treatments and services are provided by NHS hospitals free of charge for all patients, including:

In addition, a range of treatments and services are provided by NHS hospitals free of charge for all patients, including:

  • Emergency services, excluding emergency treatment, if the patient has previously been referred by a family doctor
  • Servizi di pianificazione familiare, esclusi gli aborti o il trattamento dell’infertilità
  • Trattamento di malattie infettive, comprese le infezioni a trasmissione sessuale (IST)
  • Trattamento per condizioni fisiche o mentali causate da violenza domestica o sessuale, tortura o mutilazioni genitali femminili (MGF), ad eccezione dei pazienti che sono venuti esplicitamente nel Regno Unito per perseguire questo trattamento.

Costi del NHS per Residenti non Britannici

Mentre i cittadini dell’UE, Norvegia, Islanda, Liechtenstein e Svizzera che visitano il Regno Unito possono attualmente ottenere cure gratuite con una tessera EHIC valida, i cittadini di altri paesi che intendono rimanere per più di 3 mesi devono pagare un supplemento sanitario per l’immigrazione che copre tutti i trattamenti sanitari , ad eccezione di pochi casi.

Tuttavia, i visitatori stranieri che viaggiano nel Regno Unito dall’esterno dell’area Schengen per meno di 3 mesi dovranno assicurarsi di disporre di un’assicurazione di viaggio valida che copra eventuali costi sanitari che potrebbero essere sostenuti durante il soggiorno, anche se ex cittadini britannici. Questo perché è probabile che venga addebitato fino al 150% della tariffa nazionale del NHS in caso di trattamento.

Esempi di costi di trattamento per questi visitatori sono i seguenti:

  • Chirurgia generale – £ 1,702
  • Trauma e ortopedia – £ 2,801
  • Chirurgia pediatrica – £ 1,799
  • Cardiologia – £ 2,401
  • Malattie infettive (escluso COVID -19) – £ 889

Test e trattamento COVID

Il governo britannico ha dichiarato che le spese per i servizi relativi a COVID per tutti i visitatori stranieri nel Regno Unito, compresi quelli che vivono nel Regno Unito senza un permesso valido, saranno revocate. Non sono richiesti controlli sull’immigrazione per questi servizi.

Ciò include i test per il coronavirus, anche se il test mostra un risultato negativo, nonché qualsiasi trattamento per l’infezione da COVID-19 che potrebbe essere necessario.

In che modo la Brexit influenzerà il trattamento gratuito del NHS?

EU, EEC or Swiss nationals who intend to continue living in the UK after Brexit will still be able to use the NHS for free if they have a ‘Pre-Established Status’ or ‘Established Status’ for the UK.

Those who do not currently have this designation should apply for the EU Settlement Scheme to obtain ‘pre-established’ or ‘established’ status before 31 December 2020 in order to continue receiving free NHS treatment in the UK.

Holders of an EHIC card issued in an EU country will only be able to use it to receive treatment for a health problem that began while they were in the UK until 31 December 2020.

After this date, you will need to have an established or pre-established status to receive free NHS treatment, otherwise you will need to have private health insurance to cover your NHS healthcare costs.

FAQs

What happens with the European insurance card after Brexit?

Holders of an EU insurance card will not be able to use this document to receive free NHS treatment in Britain after Brexit.

What happens with the European insurance card after Brexit?

To obtain an NHS number, a foreign national must register with a primary care practice in the UK.

How to get NHS number as a foreigner?

To obtain an NHS number, a foreign national must register with a primary care practice in the UK.

How to register with the NHS as a foreigner?

To register with the NHS as a foreigner, you must complete a GMS1 form using the details provided that they used to complete your UK visa application.

Do foreign visitors pay for NHS care?

Foreign nationals in the UK, with the exception of citizens of the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland, currently pay 150% of the NHS national tariff for any treatment they need. Unless they are covered by private insurance.