UK Health Insurance [2024]

UK Health Insurance

If you want to study in the UK, you must hear about the UK Health Insurance. But do you know what health care insurance is or why you need to pay for it? The NHS (National Health Services) is one of the best healthcare systems in the world. UK health insurance provides students with a wide range of services through the NHS, including appointments with the doctor, dental care, and hospital treatment. This article will cover every detailed information about the UK health insurance. So, checkout the article to become familiar with IHS and NHS in UK.

What is the UK immigration healthcare surcharge?

The immigration healthcare surcharge or IHS is a UK healthcare insurance that the non-EEA migrants need to pay as part of their application process.  The healthcare surcharge is an additional fee included in your visa application. You will need to pay the UK health insurance fee if you are-

• A citizen of non-European country
• Coming to the UK for 6 months or longer

Paying the IHS means you will get emergency medical services in the UK, including hospital and further medical treatment. But keep in mind that you have to pay for eye tests, dental treatments, and prescriptions.

How much money do you need to pay for UK health insurance?

As an international student now the question is how much money you need to pay as a UK healthcare surcharge fee. The exact money that you’ve to pay depends on the length of your visa. According to the UK government the amount of UK health insurance fee for international students is-

• £470 per year for a student visa or mobility scheme visa
• £470 per year for visa and immigration applicants (if you are under 18)
• £624 per year for all other visa applications

If you are living in the UK 6 months or less you need to pay-

• For inside the UK – £235 for student and mobility visa and £312 for other visa

• For outside the UK- You don’t need to pay any surcharge fee if you are coming to the UK for less than 6 months

How to pay for the UK health insurance?

According to the Gov.UK, if you are making an online immigration application you must have to pay the health insurance fee as a part of your application. You must complete the payment and return to the online immigration application in less than 30 minutes. 

However, if you are making the immigration application by post you must pay the UK health insurance fee before completing your application. You have to pay the healthcare surcharge by credit or debit cards.

The information you will be asked for while applying online or offline.

While applying online, an international student will be asked for-

• The start and end dates of the certificate of sponsorship.
• The course dates (if you are applying as a student)

While applying by a post, an international student will be asked for-

• The visa type you are applying for
• Travel document and passport number
• An email address

What is NHS?

NHS elaborately that stands for National Health Service is the 10 digits unique identifier number. It’s recommended as the best UK health insurance service provider. To identify you correctly, UK healthcare service providers use this number. The number is for your identification. You do not need this number to get the NHS services. When you get your health insurance done, you will get the NHS services like a citizen of the UK.

How to find the NHS number?

• You can find the NHS number through the documents and letters sent to you by NHS. Such as the prescriptions, test results, hospital letters etc.
• You can find the NHS number on the NHS website.
• You can call your GP surgery to get your NHS number.

When can a student start to use the NHS services?

As an international student, you can use the NHS services when-

• You have paid the health insurance/ healthcare surcharge.
• The application for your visa and immigration is granted.

After accessing the healthcare insurance, an international student needs to provide-

• Biometric residence permit.
• Use your share code to prove your status online.

Do the NHS cover all the healthcare services?

You can’t get all the healthcare services by making health insurance through the NHS. You need to pay for specific services such as prescriptions, dental treatment, eye tests, and assisted conception.

What services does an international student get through NHS?

After getting registered with the national health services by paying the UK health insurance, you will get all the facilities provided by the NHS. Here we will discuss the benefits of NHS will deliver to the international students.

NHS covered services

• You can consult a doctor by visiting a government-funded clinic.
• Consultation with your GP.
• In an emergency, you can get hospital treatment.
• Public clinics will offer you treatment for minor injuries.
• You can consult with a specialist after getting referred by a general practitioner.
• Maternal issues like contraception.

What is the GP register, and how to register for a GP surgery?

The GP register lists doctors who are available and eligible for appointments and work as general practitioners in the UK. GPs are highly skilled doctors and offer great care to the citizens of the UK.

So how to register for a GP surgery in the UK?

Anyone in the UK can register for a completely free GP surgery. Most of the general practitioners in the UK own a website. You can register through it. If you have missed the online process, you can contact via phone call, email or by visiting the clinic.

Usually, you do not need an ID proof to register with a GP, but you might get help if you have the following documents. They are- passport, birth certificate, hostel/accommodation certificate etc.To know more about UK health insurance, like who is bound to do it and who can be exempted from it, you can visit our student consultancy firm, AIMS Education. The experienced counsellors of AIMS Education can help you from application to visa processing. Make your study abroad journey easy and simple with the AIMS education-a student consultancy firm.

FAQ– Frequently asked questions