GOV.UK
Guidance
Guidance on overseas visitors hospital charging regulations
- From:
- Department of Health
- Part of:
- NHS visitor and migrant cost recovery programme
- Published:
- 1 October 2012
- Last updated:
- 19 July 2017, see all updates
- Applies to:
- England
Guidance on making and recovering charges for NHS hospital treatment from overseas visitors not exempt from charge.
Documents
Guidance on implementing the overseas visitor hospital charging regulations 2015
PDF, 1.04MB, 131 pages
Ways in which people can be lawfully resident in the UK
PDF, 271KB, 12 pages
Biometric residence permits: overseas applicant and sponsor information
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/biometric-residence-permits-overseas-applicant-and-sponsor-information
Information sharing with the Home Office: guidance for overseas patients
PDF, 98.8KB, 7 pages
Ordinary residence tool
PDF, 269KB, 8 pages
Equality analysis - overseas visitors charging regulations and guidance
PDF, 145KB, 7 pages
Details
Page updated on 19 July 2017
Preparatory guidance has been published for NHS bodies in carrying out their duties under draft NHS (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Regulations 2017 to make and recover charges for NHS hospital treatment from chargeable overseas visitors.
The Regulations currently require Parliamentary approval and are therefore not legally enacted. Proposed changes are due to come into effect on 21 August 2017, with further changes coming into force on 23 October 2017.
Upcoming Amendments can be found on the Introduction page of the guidance itself.
In the meantime, NHS bodies must follow the current 2015 charging Regulations guidance, prior to the new rules coming into force.
We have also provided template letters, guidance and posters to help the NHS recover the costs of health care from visitors and migrants.
This has been updated to take account of amendments made to The National Health Services (Charges to Overseas Visitors) (Amendment) Regulations 2015, which come into force from 1 February 2016. This replaces all previous guidance manuals on this topic. It is not intended to cover all possible scenarios, and should therefore be used as a companion to the regulations themselves and, where necessary, tailored legal advice.
Statutory Instruments:
- SI 2017/756 - The National Health Service (Charges to Overseas Visitors) (Amendment) Regulations 2017
- SI 2015/2025 - The National Health Services (Charges to Overseas Visitors) (Amendment) Regulations 2015
- SI 2015/238 - The National Health Services (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Regulations 2015
Changes to health surcharge
Changes to the health surcharge came into force on 6 April 2016. Nationals of Australia and New Zealand will no longer be exempt from paying the surcharge. In addition, people on a Youth Mobility Scheme visa will be treated the same as students and charged the reduced surcharge rate. People who fall into either of these categories will continue to have a green banner on their NHS record (paid or exempt from the health surcharge).
Please note these changes when reading pages 39 to 43 of ‘Guidance on implementing the overseas visitor hospital charging regulations 2015’.
Reciprocal healthcare agreement with Barbados
The reciprocal healthcare agreement with Barbados was terminated on 1 October 2016. Those visiting from Barbados who access NHS treatment on or after that date may be charged.
Document information
Published: 1 October 2012
Updated: 19 July 2017
- Guidance published for providers of NHS secondary care on amendments to the Charging Regulations that come into force on 21 August 2017 and 23 October 2017.
- Changes to health surcharge from 6 April 2016 added.
- Updated 'Overseas chargeable patients, NHS debt and immigration rules: guidance on administration and data sharing'
- 'United Kingdom permanent residence entitlement' document removed as it was superseded by 'Ways in which people can be lawfully resident in the UK'.
- Guidance updated to take account of changes to The National Health Services (Charges to Overseas Visitors) (Amendment) Regulations 2015.
- Ordinary residence tool for overseas visitor managers added.
- Updated to provide guidance on the implementation of the National Health Service (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Regulations 2015
- Updated appendices 1 to 8 of the guidance on overseas visitors hospital charging regulations and amended chapter 5.
- Guidance and appendices updated for EU case law developments.
- First published.