UK Citizens and other individuals who have status in the UK benefit from free health care from the NHS. On the other hand, if you are a visitor, overstayer or seeking asylum in the UK then you may soon need to pay for any medical treatment you receive.
Changes to NHS policies in regard to free medical treatment for non-UK citizens are set to come into action very soon. These changes outline that if you are not a UK citizen, in order to qualify for free NHS treatment you need to meet certain exemption criteria or have adequate health insurance to cover the duration of your stay in the UK.
There are some services that are given by the NHS that are free of charge to everyone, such as treatment given in an Accident and Emergency Department or in an NHS walk-in centre which provides similar services.
Emergency services that are provided in other areas of the hospital are not included in the list of free services provided by the NHS, and if you are a visitor, overstayer or asylum seeker in the UK, if you or a member of your family find yourself requiring urgent emergency treatment then you may be expected to cover the cost of the treatment.
Many people seeking to visit or settle in the UK may suffer from illnesses and medical conditions that require special treatment. If an emergency were to occur and you or a member of your family required NHS treatment, would you be able to afford the costly treatment to ensure their well-being?
If you fit one of the following criteria then you may qualify for free NHS treatment;
If you don’t fit into any of these criteria, you would be expected to pay for any medical treatment that you would require.
At Duncan Lewis, we understand that if you are in the UK and don’t qualify for free NHS treatment, should an emergency rise and you or a member of your family were to require emergency treatment, it may be very difficult to you to meet the costs required to secure their well-being.
This is why we are here to help. If you need NHS treatment, but can’t afford the costs, we may be able to help you to get access to free NHS treatment.
Due to the fact that laws surrounding overseas visitors and their access to NHS treatment are imminently getting stricter, it will only become more difficult to gain access to free medical treatment.
If you are in the UK and require emergency medical treatment, but don’t qualify, then get in touch with Duncan Lewis today and discuss your issue with our immigration solicitors.