All you need to know when accessing healthcare as an international student at King’s College London

Accessing Healthcare in the UK

What am I entitled to?As you have paid the Immigration Health Surcharge, this means that you are entitled to use the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) in the same way that a UK resident would. This means that you are able to register with a doctor (General Practitioner, or GP) for free, and you do not need to pay for any appointments you have with the GP or nurses at your local clinic. You can also access Accident and Emergency (A&E) services at a hospital for free, and you will be seen initially without a charge. If you require further essential specialist treatment either in hospital, or as an outpatient (e.g. you visit a hospital or clinic regularly for treatment), this will also be free on the NHS. However, you may find that the waiting list for this treatment could be very long (e.g. several months) and you may personally prefer

to pay for treatment yourself from a private healthcare provider in order to be seen more quickly.

What’s not included?If you are prescribed medication by a GP or medical specialist, you will usually have to pay a small fee when you collect this medication from the chemist or pharmacy. You’ll need to pay additionally for treatment from a dentist, and for eye tests / treatment and prescriptions from an optician.

Do I need to buy insurance?You are not obliged to purchase an insurance policy to cover you during your time in the UK – the decision is up to you. However, you may find that an insurance policy will cover you for private medical treatment, should you require treatment that would otherwise

Non-EEA students studying for 6+ months and have paid the Immigration Health Surcharge

incur a long waiting list on the NHS.You may want to check whether you or your family has existing medical insurance coverage, which can be extended to cover you during your time in the UK. If you do decide to purchase private insurance for medical expenses, we advise international students to consider ensuring that the policy covers some or all of the following:

n lost fees if you are unable to complete your course;

n costs of returning home if a relative is ill;

n costs of a relative visiting you in the UK if you fall ill;

n cost of returning to your home country for treatment;

n or in the worst possible situation, returning a body home for burial.

Some of these situations are of course very serious – but they can and do happen to international studentseach year.

What are the most important things I need to do once I arrive in the UK?

nRegister with a GP in London (either at the King’s College Health Centre, or at a clinic close to your accommodation) as soon as you can once you arrive.

n Bring your vaccination record with you when you register with the GP.

nGet travel insurance that covers healthcare when you go on holiday.

Non-EEA students studying for less than 6 monthsand have not paid the Immigration Health Surcharge

What am I entitled to?If you are going to be living at a UK address during your studies at King’s, you can access Accident & Emergency (A&E) services at a hospital for free, and you will be seen initially without a charge.

What’s not included?If you have a UK address, in theory you may be able to register with a doctor – but If you need NHS treatment and you have not arranged insurance, you will be charged at 150% of the standard NHS rate. As a result, some doctors may not allow you to register with them at all. If you are referred for in-patient hospital treatment (e.g. you are admitted to hospital for surgery), or followup specialist treatment (e.g. physiotherapy following a broken bone or sprained muscle), this will not be free and can become very expensive very quickly.

If you are prescribed medication by a GP or medical specialist, you may have to pay the full cost of this medication. You’ll need to pay additionally for treatment from a dentist, and for eye tests / treatment and prescriptions from an optician.

Do I need to buy insurance?We would strongly recommend that you ensure you are covered by an insurance policy for the duration of your studies in the UK, so that you can avoid expensive hospital bills should you require treatment. In your case, it is important that this insurance policy covers medical expenses. You may want to check whether you or your family has existing medical insurance coverage, which can be extended to cover you during your time in the UK. If you do decide to purchase private insurance for medical

expenses, we advise international students to consider ensuring that the policy covers some or all of the following:

n lost fees if you are unable to complete your course;

n costs of returning home if a relative is ill;

n costs of a relative visiting you in the UK if you fall ill;

n cost of returning to your home country for treatment;

n or in the worst possible situation, returning a body home for burial.

Some of these situations are of course very serious – but they can and do happen to international students each year.

What are the most important things I need to do once I arrive in the UK?

n Make sure you have arranged the necessary insurance cover, as described above.

n Register with a GP in London (either at the King’s College Health Centre, or at a clinic close to your accommodation) as soon as you can once you arrive.

n Bring your vaccination record with you when you register with the GP.

What do I need to have in order to access healthcare in the UK?If you are going to be living at a UK address during your studies at King’s, you can access Accident & Emergency (A&E) services at a hospital for free, and you will be seen initially without a charge. If you have a UK address, in theory you may be able to register with a doctor – but if you need NHS treatment and you have not arranged insurance, you could be charged at 150% of the standard NHS rate. As a result, some doctors may not allow you to register with them at all unless you show that you have private medical insurance, or you possess a valid EHIC.

EHIC? What’s that?Most European students are able to obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from their country of residence prior to coming to the UK. This card allows EEA nationals to get the same medical treatment, which is free to residents of the country they are visiting, without being charged. To be eligible for a card, you must be insured by or covered by a state social security system in any EU member country / Iceland / Liechtenstein / Norway / Switzerland. To apply for an EHIC, contact the health insurance institution where you are insured and which is therefore responsible for assuming your healthcare costs.

See http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=563&langId=en#nationalinfo for more information.

What if I can’t obtain an EHIC?If you do not hold a valid EHIC card or are ineligible for one, then you may be asked to pay for your medical treatment and therefore, we would strongly recommend that you ensure you are covered by an insurance policy which includes coverage of medical expenses.

NB: Republic of Ireland nationals are not required to hold an EHIC card and can access free NHS treatment like UK residents.

I’ve heard that I need Comprehensive Sickness Insurance. What’s that?After the first three months of your stay in the UK, if you are exercising your right to reside in the UK as a student, you are required to have ‘comprehensive sickness insurance’ throughout your period of residence in the UK. Having an EHIC satisfies this requirement if you are not intending to be in the UK permanently.

Otherwise, you will need to ensure that you are covered by a private health insurance policy. The UK government has not given a clear guide about what makes an insurance policy ‘comprehensive’. Instead, they have suggested that this would refer to ‘any form of insurance that

Students from the EU / EEA / Switzerland

will cover the costs of the majority of medical treatment they may receive in the UK’. In its information for EEA & Swiss students, the UKCISA website has further information on Comprehensive Sickness Insurance: www.ukcisa.org.uk

Alright, I’m covered. Is that everything?We would still recommend that you purchase travel insurance that covers medical expenses when you go on holiday. The EHIC will not provide nearly enough cover if something bad happens and e.g. you need to be flown home for treatment.

What are the most important things I need to do once I arrive in the UK?

n Make sure you have either got your EHIC, or arranged the necessary private health insurance cover as described above.

n Register with a GP in London (either at the King’s College Health Centre, or at a clinic close to your accommodation) as soon as you can once you arrive.

n Bring your vaccination record with you when you register with the GP.

All information provided is accurate at time of printing to the best of our knowledge.

Please note that our guidance may change after the UK leaves the European Union, currently projected to take place on 29 March 2019.

It may also change after the end of the Brexit implementation period on 31 December 2020.

In the event of any changes, please consult our website for up-to-date information: www.kcl.ac.uk/visa-advice

Published May 2018

Visit us online at www.kcl.ac.uk/advice or contact Student Services.

kcl.ac.uk/studentservicesstudent@kcl.ac.uk@kclstudent020 7848 1234

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