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The National Health Service (NHS) is a state institution created to improve, prevent, diagnose, and treat physical and mental health programs to every UK resident regardless of age, gender, race, disability, religion, sexual orientation, belief, gender reassignment, pregnancy, and maternity, marital or civil partnership status. NHS is mostly free, except in very few circumstances sanctioned by the UK parliament.
Through research and innovation, NHS aims to improve the UK population's current and future health and care.
Can Hong Kong Nationals get NHS?
The short answer is yes. Hong Kong Nationals can get NHS if they are ordinarily resident in the UK. This means they have to be lawfully and properly settled in the UK for the time they seek NHS services. You may need to provide proof that you are ordinarily resident in the UK.
To be considered ordinarily resident, you must have indefinite leave to remain in the UK. You can apply for indefinite leave to remain (settlement):
· If you work in the UK and have a work visa. You must have lived and worked in the UK for five years or more. For Hong Kong residents with a Tier 1 visa, it can be 2 or 3 years; for Hong Kong residents with an Innovatoror Global Talent visa, it can be three years.
· You can also apply for indefinite leave to remain if you have a partner, parent, child, or relative in the UK who is a British citizen or a person with indefinite leave. There are different ways to apply for people who are widowedor people whose relationships ended due to domestic violence.
· If you have lived in the UK for ten years, you can also apply for indefinite leave to remain.
· If you are a refugee or have humanitarian protection or discretionary leave.
· If you are returning to the UK and previously had indefinite leave to remain.
· If you served in the armed forces.
People who are visiting England (with exceptions) for more than six months are required to pay an immigration health surcharge upfront for the duration of their visa. If you have paid the surcharge or are exempt from it, and your visa allows you to stay in the UK for more than six months, you are entitled to free NHS hospital treatment in the UK except for assisted conception services. Under this option, free NHS services are applicable from the date your visa was granted until it expires. Some charges still apply, i.e. dental and prescription charges.
Visitors entering England for less than six months must have personal medical insurance coverage during their visit, even if they were formerly UK residents. If you are not ordinarily resident in the UK or have a visa allowing you to get free NHS services, then you will pay 150% of the national NHS rate.
Free-for-all NHS services
1. A & E services excluding emergency treatment if admitted to hospital.
2. Family planning services, excluding abortions and infertility treatment
3. Treatment for most infectious diseases, including STIs
4. Treatment for a mental or physical condition caused by torture, sexual violence, female genital mutilation, or domestic violence, except for people entering England in search of these treatments.
