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🏥 NHS England Charging 2026💷 £517.50 / 6-Mo IHS Refund🚑 150% Overseas Visitor Billing

UK NHS Healthcare Refund & Visitor Billing Guide

Check whether you qualify for an Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) reimbursement after working in health & social care, understand 150% hospital billing for overseas visitors, and review NHS debt rules.

Executive Overview of NHS Charging & Refunds

Whether someone pays for NHS care in England depends on ordinary residence, visa category, and statutory exemptions. Eligible health and care workers who paid IHS can claim 6-month retrospective reimbursements. Overseas visitors without IHS cover face 150% tariff charges for hospital treatment.

IHS Healthcare Reimbursement Estimator

Calculate 6-month block reimbursements for eligible health and social care workers who paid IHS

Reimbursement Result

6-Month Rate / Person
£517.50
Standard Rate
Qualifying 6-Mo Blocks
1 Blocks
2 Applicants
Total Estimated Refund
£1035.00
Reimbursement

Overseas Visitor Hospital Charges in England

NHS Healthcare ServiceCharging StatusDetails & Exceptions
A&E Outpatient Emergency CareFREEFree up to point of hospital admission.
Inpatient Hospital Admission150% TariffFull 150% tariff charged unless exempt.
Specified Infectious DiseasesFREETB, COVID-19, cholera, etc. free for all.
STI Testing & TreatmentFREESexual health clinic services are free.

Frequently Asked Questions (6 Detailed FAQs)

Eligible Health & Care Worker visa holders generally do not pay the Immigration Health Surcharge in the first place. A separate reimbursement scheme exists for certain people working in health and care who actually paid IHS, including eligible workers in qualifying healthcare settings. To qualify under the healthcare-setting route, you generally must have paid the IHS, worked for an eligible organisation and worked in the role for at least 6 months at an average of at least 16 hours per week.

Eligible applicants can claim reimbursement for one 6-month period at a time. At the standard IHS rate of £1,035 a year, 6 months corresponds to £517.50. The actual amount depends on the IHS that was paid and the qualifying period.

Yes, eligible dependants can also receive a refund when the main applicant qualifies and includes them in the claim. Dependants have their own IHS reference numbers, and their relevant immigration period must correspond to the qualifying claim.

People who are not ordinarily resident and are not otherwise exempt can be charged for NHS hospital treatment in England. Overseas visitors are generally charged at 150% of the relevant NHS cost. A&E emergency treatment is free up to the point of admission.

Some services are free regardless of immigration status. These include A&E services up to the point of admission, specified communicable-disease treatment, diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and qualifying family-planning services.

Yes. An unpaid NHS debt of £500 or more outstanding for 2 months or more can be reported to the Home Office and may lead to refusal of future UK visa or entry clearance applications under suitability grounds.

Official NHS & GOV.UK Sources

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Key Healthcare Benchmarks

Health & Care VisaIHS Exempt
6-Mo IHS Refund Rate£517.50
Overseas Visitor Rate150% NHS Tariff
NHS Debt Visa Threshold£500 (2 Months)

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