Health Insurance for Indian Students Studying in the UK

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Samarpita Goswami
Updated on Aug 18, 2023 04:13 PM IST

The UK is one of the countries that guarantee certain free health services to its nationals. The good news is, even Indian students, can get the benefits out of the National Health Service. Read the article to know the policies, facilities, and requirements of UK health insurance.

Health Insurance for Indian Students Studying in the UK

Health insurance in UK is essential for international students planning to study in the country. They get quality healthcare services without additional financial burden of unexpected medical expenses. The UK’s universal healthcare system, the National Health Service provides free healthcare to international students except in certain circumstances. Students may also consider taking private health insurance for wider coverage of facilities not covered under NHS.  Private health insurance can provide you with wider coverage and more choice of hospitals and doctors.

While purchasing insurance, students must check coverage for all medical expenses, including emergency treatment, hospitalization and medicines. The cost of health insurance for international students in UK varies depending on the policy they choose and their age and health. For NHS, they need to pay GBP 470 per year. It is important to complete all the formalities regarding health insurance before flying to UK. This will allow students to focus on their education without stressing about their health.

From shortlisting the right universities for you to helping you prepare your SOP, LORs, academic transcripts, our experts can guide you throughout the process of studying in UK. 

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Why Should You Have a Health Insurance in the UK?

When you arrive at a new place, you have a lot on your plate to worry about. Taking care of health often takes backstage. But you should be cautious about taking care of your health. Health insurance is a preventive measure against health disasters. Having health insurance in UK means

  • You can access quality healthcare including services not covered by the National Health Service(NHS) in UK.

  • You do not have to worry about unnecessary medical bills when away from your homeland. This further becomes a burden when your tuition fees themselves consume a huge chunk of your budget.

Health insurance is one of the requirements when a student applies for a visa to study in the UK. Therefore, it should be obtained as soon as it is time.

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National Health Service for Indian Students in UK

British healthcare is funded by the government and NHS is an all-encompassing term to accommodate the healthcare system. The amount comes through taxing the public of the UK. The motive of NHS is to provide free, universal, and comprehensive healthcare to British citizens as well as citizens of other countries residing in the country.NHS services can vary in other parts of the UK and is the world's second-largest single-payer healthcare system after the Brazilian Sistema Nico de Sade.

What is UK Immigration Health Surcharge?

UK immigration health surcharge is a fee that you need to pay along with your visa application. This is applicable only if you stay for six months or more in UK. This will make you eligible to access the National Health Service (NHS).

The fee applicable for immigration health surcharge is GBP 470 per year. For courses that are above six months, the surcharge is GBP 705. The payment has to be made online along with the visa application. The amount is charged based on the start date and end dates while also considering the post-study stay that you will be granted. 

You must remember that despite your purchasing private health insurance, you will have to pay the immigration health surcharge along with your UK student visa application. The fee will not be waived for those who already hold or intend to hold private insurance. Also, you are not entitled to get a refund if you do not access National Health Service during your stay.

Benefits of National Health Services for Indian Students

The UKs National Health Service extends its benefits to all international students who are enrolled for an academic course of more than 6 months. The medical benefits that are free of cost in UK are:

  • Consulting a general practitioner (GP)

  • Accidents

  • Emergency services (no follow-up treatment or admission to hospital)

  • Hospital treatment

  • Contraceptive services

  • Maternity services

  • Minor injuries treatment

  • Basic psychiatric treatment

  • Family planning services

  • Treatment and diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections

  • Covid-19 tests

  • treatment in prison or immigration detention

  • Certain palliative care services

Apart from these, the NHS services that are NOT free of cost are :

  • Medicines

  • Travel vaccination

  • Optic and dental care

  • Cosmetic treatments

When you arrive in the UK, you must compulsorily register yourself with a GP clinic and get treatment from there when needed.

Cost to Access NHS in UK

The host country that is the UK has laid down certain rules for international students to gain access to NHS. You need to pay a surcharge to reap the benefits. International students are required to pay a fee of GBP 470 every year to enrol themselves in NHS. The surcharge is taken while you are applying for the visa. The fees for each dependent are also taken into account.

The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is less if you stay in the UK for below 6 months. The fee, GBP 235 has to be paid by every international candidate. Your debit or credit card is accepted for payment of IHS.

How Can You Register Yourself with a GP in the UK?

A General Practitioner is a doctor who serves under NHS in the UK. They function in the clinics of a locality and are the first point of contact to get yourself treated in the country. The things to keep in mind while selecting and registering with a GP are:

  • Location

  • Services

  • Facilities

  • Performance

The doctor will take charge of your immediate healthcare needs. You can visit their website and register yourself. The other ways to register are via email or call.

The documents that are required to register with a GP are:

  • Student residence card

  • IHS reference number

  • GMS1 Registration form

Once you have registered with NHS, you would have a unique number that will be required for future consultations. While all the immediate illnesses and other problems can be treated by a GP, an Indian student can also get in touch with a specialist in case you need advice on a particular hospital department.

Private Medical Insurance in the UK

Private medical insurance cannot be bought in place of NHS in the UK. However, you can buy additional private insurance in case:

  • You take treatment from private hospitals

  • If you return to your home country for treatment, then the insurance will cover that cost

  • Your stay is shorter than 6 months in the UK

Private medical insurance in the UK can cover the following:

  • Lost fees if you are not able to complete your course at a UK university

  • Cost of returning to India for treatment

  • Cost of returning to India if a family member or relative is ill

  • Cost of a relative or family member visiting you in the UK in case you are not well

  • In the worst possible case, returning a body to India for burial.

You can check with the insurance company of your home country if they can provide you benefits in the UK too. 

Keeping in mind that health insurance along with so many other factors to study in the UK, we have experts on board to help you with kickstarting your plan to study in the UK.

Have Queries About Studying in the UK?

FAQs

Do I need to purchase UK Health Insurance?

You do not need to purchase UK Health Insurance separately. The immigration health surcharge fee is a fee that you will have to contribute towards National Health Service (NHS) along with your visa application. In case you wish to purchase private health insurance in UK that is completely your own decision. 

Is healthcare free in UK for Indian students?

After paying the immigration health surcharge, Indian students can avail of several free healthcare services from the NHS in the same way as domestic students. They do not need to pay additional fees to access a General Practitioner, healthcare centre or hospital. However, you may need to pay for dental or optical treatment, medicines prescribed by the GP and collected from a pharmacy. 

Is it possible to get a refund of the immigration health surcharge if I do not access healthcare services in the UK?

No, you can not get a refund of the immigration health surcharge if you do not access healthcare services in the UK. The money is only refunded if your UK visa is rejected for some reason.

Is it necessary to purchase private insurance in the UK?

No, it is not necessary to purchase private insurance in the UK as most of the services get covered under National Health Insurance. If in case you want to remain on the safe side, you can purchase one. It will cover the cost of hospitalisation in private hospitals in the UK or in case you want to return to your home country for treatment.

Which services can be accessed under NHS in the UK for international students?

The services that can be accessed under NHS in the UK for international students include:

  • Accident and Emergency services

  • NHS Hospital Treatment

  • GP service

  • Sexual health, family planning and contraceptive services

  • Psychiatric treatment

  • Covid-19 test and treatment

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