imagration health surcharge

That's good to know with hopefully my girlfriend coming here soon
Once I've completed appendix two

Thats excellent news, I was really worried in case something unforeseen cropped up for her healthwise and I was presented with a huge bill!

You're doing the right thing in inquiring about it, its of paramount importance our loved ones are secure and well looked after once in the UK, if anything needs paying for we want to know about it. The operation my wife is waiting for (been waiting over 12 months by the way) would cost around 6k if done privately.

As most of us already know, our loved ones are not able to claim any benefits until they have reached the ILR (Indefinite Leave to Remain) stage after five years residency in the UK, as far as I know they are the only financial restrictions on them.

for what its worth--when my g/f was here on a visit visa in 2012--she was already registered with a GP from her time before on her student visa. she had an appointment to consult about "the pill"---and was given a prescription for 12 months supply----free!. we declared this on her fiancee visa app.

Better and cheaper to give her 12 months supply of the contraceptive pill than to run the risk of a littlemac coming along

We're too old now for little mistakes to come along.

ha ha ha ha ha--i'm way too old for any of that kind of hanky panky

Of course you are

I'm just glad the missus had already had the op before I met her, no tube tying and sore nuts for me!

The question of Fiance(e) eligibility for free NHS treatment is important.

Free NHS treatment is not dependent on nationality, paying UK tax and/or National Insurance contributions, having an NHS number, being registered with a UK GP or owning property in the UK.
It generally centres around the basis of being ordinarily resident in UK

Ordinarily resident is living legally in the UK on a settled basis.
Overseas visitor – means any person of any nationality not ordinarily resident in the UK.

See here:-
Guidance on implementing the overseas visitor hospital charging regulations 2015
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa...1/Overseas_visitor_hospital_charging_accs.pdf

QUOTE
The National Health Service (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Regulations 2015 (the Charging Regulations) came into force on 6th April 2015 and apply to all courses of treatment commenced on or after that date. The Regulations have subsequently been amended, with changes coming into effect on 1st February 2016.
Anyone not ordinarily resident in the UK is considered to be an overseas visitor and may be charged for NHS hospital treatment.
UNQUOTE

QUOTE
Exempt categories of person
1.2 The following categories of overseas visitor are exempt from charge:

Those who have paid the health surcharge or are covered by transitional arrangements

• Non-EEA nationals, who are subject to immigration control, are exempt from charge if one of the following applies to them while their leave to enter/remain is valid:

– they have paid the surcharge; or
– they are exempt from payment of the surcharge or have had the requirement waived or reduced, or have had part (but not all) of the surcharge refunded to them; or
– they would have been covered under one of the above, but for the fact that they applied for leave to enter or remain in the UK before the start of the surcharge (this will include some people already resident here without indefinite leave to remain, and a small number of people arriving after 6 April 2015 who applied for leave before that date).

• A child born in the UK to an above mentioned exempt person is also exempt from charge up to the age of three months provided that the child has not left the UK since birth.
UNQUOTE

See also here:-
Guidance on implementing the overseas visitor hospital charging regulations 2015 - Ways in which people can be lawfully resident in the UK
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa...ent_data/file/496967/lawfully-resident-uk.pdf

QUOTE
10. A non-EEA national can also be given leave to enter the UK by the Home Office to marry or become the civil partner of a British citizen or settled person. They usually have a marriage/CP visa for 6 months during which time they must marry/register the civil partnership.
They will be directly chargeable during this period unless a further exemption applies. After they have married/formed a civil partnership they can apply for leave to remain as a partner and at that point would be subject to the surcharge. The Home Office will usually grant that spouse/civil partner leave to remain for 30 months, followed by a further 30 months during which time they would be entitled to free NHS treatment in the same way as a resident whilst their visa is valid, and they can apply for ILR after 60 months

Those granted leave to enter or remain as a partner in this way prior to 6 April 2015, but without ILR, will be exempt from charge under transitional arrangements (see Chapter 5 of main guidance).
UNQUOTE

Hmmmm, that is what I thought, they can charge you, maybe it is a rule that some hospitals don't enforce, but it is a big risk to take. I will have to try and get her insured.

Sateev.

Timely advice there @Micawber.....so it makes sense to marry sooner rather than later with a fiancée visa.

Thanks Timmers that is exceptionally helpful as K has an appointment on Thursday at Ipswich Hospital for an ear problem. She is here on her initial Marriage Settlement ("fiancee") Visa but all going well she will have applied for FLR and paid the IHS before any actual treatment.

Or take out some insurance
http://www.malayan.com/products/packaged/travelmaster

Thanks for the info @Micawber! Their travel insurance can be up to 90 days which is good as some only offer until 30 days. It costs around roughly Php4800 which isn't bad really as it covers a lot. This is already for the 90 days.

i checked that out--the medical cover is--emergency only ( obviously )---so--isnt emergency medical treatment free for all on the NHS ?

Yep

The following services are free at the point of use for all patients. A charge cannot be made or recovered from any overseas visitor for:

• accident and emergency (A&E) services, this includes all A&E services provided at an NHS hospital, e.g. those provided at an accident & emergency department, walk-in centre or urgent healthcare centre. This does not include those emergency services provided after the overseas visitor has been accepted as an inpatient, or at a follow-up outpatient appointment, for which charges must be levied unless the overseas visitor is exempt from charge in their own right;

• services provided outside an NHS hospital, unless the staff providing the services are employed by, or working under the direction of, an NHS hospital;

• family planning services (does not include termination of pregnancy); • diagnosis and treatment of specified infectious diseases (listed at Chapter 4);

• diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infections;

• treatment required for a physical or mental condition caused by: – torture; – female genital mutilation; – domestic violence; or – sexual violence, except where the overseas visitor has travelled to the UK for the purpose of seeking that treatment.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa...1/Overseas_visitor_hospital_charging_accs.pdf

many thanks for that Micawber!

The forum at its best, fantastic help

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