17.02.15
Foreign visitors to be charged at 150% of tariff rate for NHS care
The Department of Health has announced plans to change how the NHS charges foreign visitors for care in an effort to recoup £500m a year in costs.
From April, people who live outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland will require health insurance when they visit the UK, and those with no insurance will be charged at 150% of the NHS national tariff for any care they receive.
The DH said the changes will “ensure that people who already live and work in the UK do not end up paying through their taxes for visitors who are not economically active”.
For now the new rate only applies to secondary care – treatment in A&E departments and at GP surgeries will remain free for all. However the government is launching a new consultation to look at expanding the charging system to cover GP appointments this year.
Eligibility for NHS care is based on ordinary residence but the government has estimated that it loses hundreds of millions every year by providing free healthcare to visitors who do not actually live in England.
As is the case already, most people, who live or work in another EEA country or Switzerland will continue to get free NHS care using a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) issued by the country they live in. This means the NHS can reclaim healthcare costs from the original country of residence.
UK pensioners who live abroad in the EEA will also now have the same rights to NHS care as people who live in England, provided they are registered for healthcare in Europe with an S1 form.
However, former UK residents who live elsewhere in the EEA or Switzerland but do not receive a state pension will require an EHIC card or health insurance.
Everyone living outside of the EEA, including former UK residents, will require health insurance, unless they are covered by an exemption, such as being a member of the armed forces.
Anyone returning to the UK on a settled basis will be classed as ordinarily resident, and will be eligible for free NHS care immediately.
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