Healthcare Rights and Charges
NHS treatment is available to everyone regardless of your immigration status, including if you have ‘no recourse to public funds’ (NRPF) conditions on your immigration status. However, your immigration status will affect whether you are required to pay for some types of treatment.
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Help with health costs
The NHS Low Income Scheme (NHS.UK) may be able to help you with NHS costs if you have a low income or no income. Depending on your circumstances, you can receive full help (HC2 certificate) or partial help (HC3 certificate).
The HC2 certificate entitles you to free:
- NHS prescriptions
- Dental treatment
- Wigs and fabric support
- Sight tests (and vouchers towards the cost of glasses or contact lenses)
- Travel costs to and from hospital for NHS treatment under the care of a consultant
If you receive a HC3 certificate the certificate will explain how much help you will receive towards the costs of these items.
You can apply to the NHS Low Income Scheme using a HC1 form which can be printed – (nhsbsa.nhs.uk) or by applying online on the NHS website.
If help to complete a form is required telephone support is available from the NHS by calling 0300 330 1343. An interpretation service will be provided if English is not your first language.
Advice on claiming HC2 support in other languages is available on the NHS website.
The expiry date of your certificate will be marked on your certificate. You will be responsible for renewing your certificate when it expires.
Claiming refunds of NHS prescription charges
If you have paid for a prescription but believe you were entitled to free prescriptions, you can make a claim for a refund. You must have an NHS prescription charge receipt (known as a FP57 form). This will be provided to you when you pay. The receipt provides information on how to claim a refund. This must be completed within three months of paying the charge.
HC2 Certificates for people seeking asylum
A HC2 certificate will provide you with full help with health costs if you are seeking asylum and also receiving Section 95 support – (gov.uk). After you receive your section 95 decision letter you should receive your HC2 certificate within 21 days. You should not be refused a service or medication while you are waiting for your certificate to arrive. The certificate will be valid for six months and will cover any dependants if you have them.
The HC2 certificate entitles you to free:
- NHS prescriptions
- Dental treatment
- Wigs and fabric support
- Sight tests (and vouchers towards the cost of glasses or contact lenses)
- Travel costs to and from hospital for NHS treatment under the care of a consultant
Expiry and renewal of your HC2 Certificate
- HC2 certificates for people on asylum support normally last for 6 months
- The expiry date is on the certificate and a new application should be made (about 14 days) before this date
- You can renew an HC2 certificate by completing a HC1 form. This can be done on a HC1 form which can be printed or by applying online on the NHS website.
- If help to complete a form is required telephone support is available from the NHS by calling 0300 330 1343. An interpretation service will be provided where English is not your first language.
- If a renewal application has been made but a new certificate has not been received within 10 days, this should be reported to Migrant Help. Free prescriptions can still be claimed during this period.
- Advice on claiming HC2 support in other languages is available on the NHS website.
- The Migrant Help website provides contact details for help with renewals or issues relating to HC2 certificates and healthcare entitlements.
Claiming refunds of NHS prescription charges
If you have paid for a prescription but believe you were entitled to free prescriptions, you can make a claim for a refund. You must have an NHS prescription charge receipt (known as a FP57 form). This will be provided to you when you pay. The receipt provides information on how to claim a refund. This must be completed within three months of paying the charge.
No Recourse to Public Funds and Healthcare Charging
If your application for asylum has been refused and you are Appeals Rights Exhausted (ARE), you and any dependents will still be able to use Primary NHS healthcare delivered through GP practices, NHS walk-in centres, dentists, pharmacists and optometrists without charge. These services can be accessed by everybody for free, regardless of their immigration status. A full list of these services is available on the Free NHS Treatment list on the NRPF website. You should never be refused access to other healthcare services but you may be asked to pay.
You can also still apply for help with health costs (an HC2 certificate – see above section, ‘Help with health costs’) but you will need to provide a letter outlining details of any assistance you are receiving from a council, charity or voluntary sector organisation.
Charges for Maternity Care
All pregnant women can access NHS maternity services and should not be refused access to maternity care. Maternity care is free for ordinary residents of the UK, for women seeking asylum and for women who have paid the NHS surcharge. If you are a victim of sexual violence, you may also be able to use maternity services free of charge. If you have been refused asylum and are not on Section 4 support, you may be asked to pay. If you are asked to pay, speak with your midwife and find local support groups on our Find Services page who could help you with a payment plan.
There is information on how to access free advice on NHS charging for maternity care on the Maternity Action website.
You can also use the Maternity Care Access Advice Service online form – (maternityaction.org.uk) or call the free Maternity Action advice line 0808 800 0041 which can provide advice and support on charging for migrant and asylum-seeking women.
A maternity exemption certificate gives people free NHS prescriptions and dental treatment while pregnant and for up to 12 months after you give birth. You can check if you are eligible for help on the NHSBSA website and ask your midwife or GP to apply for you.
If you are in receipt of asylum support, you can claim extra money if you (or your partner) are pregnant, have had a baby or have a child under the age of 3. This claim needs to be made via Migrant Help (0808 801 0503) or online, using the Migrant Help website form.
To find out about additional support for women seeking asylum during pregnancy see our Maternity and Family Planning page.
British National (Overseas) Visa Holders and the Healthcare Surcharge
BN(O) Visa holders must pay the NHS healthcare surcharge. This will usually have been paid as part of your visa application. This will enable you to access most NHS health services without charge but NHS prescriptions, dental care and eye tests will still need to be paid for.
If you are on a low income you may be entitled to help with NHS costs. See the ‘Help with NHS costs’ section above. For further information about support available to BN(O) visa holders see the Support for BN(O) visa holders page.
Ukrainians on the UK Visa Ukraine Schemes
All Ukrainian nationals in receipt of UK visa support are able to access all NHS health services (with the exception of assisted conception services), free of charge. As with UK citizens, NHS prescriptions, dental care and eye tests will still need to be paid for.
If you are on a low income you may be entitled to help with these NHS costs. See the ‘Help with NHS costs’ section above. More information about support available to Ukrainian nationals is available on the Information for Ukrainians page.