Annual charge to access NHS to be increased from £200 to £400, and from £150 to £300 for students
The Government announced today that it plans to double the immigration health surcharge paid by temporary migrants to the UK. The planned increase will, however, need to be approved by Parliament before it can take effect.
Image credit: UK GovernmentThe immigration health surcharge, which was introduced in 2015, is paid by people from outside the EEA who are seeking to live in the UK for 6 months or more to work, study or join family. Under the new plans, the cost of the surcharge will double from £200 to £400 a year. Students will continue to pay a discounted rate, but it will also double from £150 to £300 a year.
Health Minister James O'Shaughnessy said it was only right that long-term migrants make a fair contribution to the long-term sustainability of the NHS. "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," he said.
In a written statement to the House of Commons today, Caroline Nokes, the Minister of State for Immigration, said:
"Our NHS is always there when you need it, paid for by British taxpayers. We welcome long-term migrants using the NHS, but believe it is right that they make a fair contribution to its long-term sustainability. That is why we introduced the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) in April 2015.
"The IHS applies to non-European Economic Area (EEA) nationals subject to immigration control seeking to reside in the UK to work, study, or join family members for more than six months. Those who pay the charge may access the NHS on the same basis as UK residents for the duration of their lawful stay, i.e. they receive NHS care generally free of charge but may be charged for services a permanent resident would also pay for, such as prescription charges in England. The IHS has raised over £600m and this money has been distributed to the Department of Health and Social Care and the health ministries in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland for health spending, in line with the Barnett formula.
"The IHS is currently set at £200 per annum for most temporary migrant categories, with a discounted rate of £150 per annum for students and the youth mobility category. These rates have not changed since the IHS was introduced.
"In February, the Government announced its intention to double the IHS. This followed a review by the Department of Health and Social Care of the evidence regarding the average cost to the NHS of treating surcharge payers. That review found that the average annual cost of NHS usage by those paying the surcharge is around £470 and that doubling the IHS could generate an additional £220 million a year for the NHS across the UK.
"Today we have laid before Parliament in accordance with section 38 of the Immigration Act 2014, 'The Immigration (Health Charge) (Amendment) Order 2018'. The Order, which is subject to the affirmative procedure, seeks to double the IHS to £400 per annum. Students, as well as those on the Youth Mobility Scheme, will continue to receive a discounted rate of £300. The Order also makes some minor technical amendments to provide greater clarity about exchange rates, when payments are made in foreign currencies.
"The proposed amount is still below full average cost recovery level and remains a good deal for those seeking to live in the UK temporarily. These changes do not affect permanent residents, who are not required to pay the IHS. Certain vulnerable groups such as asylum seekers and modern slavery victims are exempt from paying the IHS. Short-term migrants (including those on visitor visas) and those without permission to be in the UK are generally charged for secondary care treatment by the NHS at the point of access.
"Ministers in the Home Office and the Department of Health and Social Care will shortly host information sessions for interested MPs and Peers."