The UK government recently announced a proposed increase to the Immigration Health Surcharge fee.<\/p>\n
Introduced in 2015, the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) allows non-EU nationals who have moved to the UK for longer than six months on a work, study or family visa access to its National Health Service (NHS).<\/p>\n
This means that thousands of non-EU nationals who are currently living, working and studying in the UK, says Sable International’s John Dunn.<\/p>\n
“This is the first time that the price of the surcharge has changed since its inception. While the proposed increase is still subject to parliamentary approval, non-EU nationals will see the fee double from \u00a3200 (R3,755<\/strong>) to \u00a3400 (R7,510<\/strong>) per year.<\/p>\n “Students and those on the Tier 5 visa will pay a discounted rate of \u00a3300 (R5,632<\/strong>) per year. The increase is expected to come into effect in December this year,” said Dunn.<\/p>\n Who is affected?<\/strong><\/p>\n Dunn said that all citizens from outside the European Economic Area planning to live in the UK for more than six months are required to pay the IHS.<\/p>\n “You are still required to pay even if you have private medical assistance,” Dunn said.<\/p>\n “Once you have been granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK, you will no longer have to pay the surcharge.”<\/p>\n Reasons for increase<\/strong><\/p>\n While non-EU nationals pay a fee for access to the NHS, the UK\u2019s healthcare system is still paid for by British taxpayers, said Dunn.<\/p>\n “The Department of Health and Social Care revealed that the NHS spends \u00a3470 on average per person per year on treating those who pay the surcharge,” he said.<\/p>\n “Therefore, the new price increase seeks to better reflect the cost to the NHS for treating those who pay for access.”<\/p>\n
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