Government to double fees paid by temporary migrants for NHS services

By Gavin Cordon5th February 2018News EnglandGovernment / Politics, GPs, Hospitals, Immigration, News England, NHS, Primary Care / GP's

The upfront charges paid by temporary migrants to the UK to use the NHS are to double, the Government has announced.

Ministers said the move would raise around £220 million a year for the health service while ensuring migrants made “fair contribution” towards its costs.

The increase to the immigration health surcharge – payable by people from outside the European Economic Area staying in the UK for six months or longer – means the main rate will rise from £200 to £400 a year.

The discounted rate for students and those on the youth mobility scheme will go up from £150 to £300.

The surcharge was originally brought in by the Government in 2015 in a clampdown on so-called “health tourism”.

Health Minister James O’Shaughnessy said: “Our NHS is always there when you need it, paid for by British taxpayers.

“We welcome long-term migrants using the NHS, but it is only right that they make a fair contribution to its long-term sustainability.

“By increasing the surcharge so that it better reflects the actual costs of using health services, this Government is providing an extra £220 million a year to support the NHS.”