Healthcare in the UK for USA nationals
Most healthcare in the UK is provide by the National Health Service (NHS). It is free at the point of delivery for people who normally live in the UK.
If you have a visa to live in the UK
If you are applying for a visa to live in the UK for more than 6 months, then you will have to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge when you apply for your visa. This is currently £1035 per year for an adult and £776 per year for a child or student.
This gives you full access to all NHS services as a UK resident.
On arrival in the UK, you can register with a local GP practice (family doctor) in order to access NHS services. This is usually your first point of contact if you need to access services, apart from emergency care and dentistry.
If you are coming to the UK as a visitor
If you are coming to the UK as a visitor or on any visa of less than 6 months, then you will not pay the immigration health surcharge. You should arrange travel insurance that covers you for medical treatment while you are in the UK. You may be charged for NHS treatment.
The precise rules on paying for NHS treatment vary slightly depending on whether you are in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
Generally, if you need to see a GP urgently, then you can register as a temporary patient with a local doctor. Treatment is usually free, but you will have to pay for medicines that you are prescribed.
If you need hospital treatment, then you can attend an NHS hospital, but you will normally be charged for treatment.
A small number of NHS services are always free. These are;
- Accident and Emergency services that do not require admission to hospital
- Family planning, not including abortions or fertility treatment
- Treatment for infectious disease including STIs
Private Treatment
Private medical treatment and private medical insurance is available in the UK for non-emergency healthcare.
The NHS does provide some dentistry services. However, this is mostly provided through contracts with private dentist practices and may do not accept new NHS patients. In addition, NHS patients may be asked to pay for treatments and the rules for this vary depending on whether you are in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. It is therefore more common to pay for dental care in the UK.
Find out more after reading Healthcare in the UK for USA nationals:
For more information about coming to the UK as a USA national click here.
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