Paying for healthcare
If you are an international student coming to the UK for more than 6 months, and you paid the Immigration Health Surcharge as part of your visa application, then you are entitled to use the National Health Service (NHS) in the same way as a UK resident This means that most healthcare will be free.
If you are visiting the UK for less than 6 months, you will not have paid IHS as part of your visa application and will need to purchase your own health insurance for your trip.
You must alwasy seek medical care in an emergency. The NHS will not deny you urgent treatment, even if you have not paid IHS. Please be aware however, that you may be liable to pay for treatments afterwards. If you are an EU or EEA national in the UK for less than 6 months and have an EHIC or GHIC, you may be able to use this for medically necessary care, but you will need to pay for anything which is deemed unnecessary. Visit the NHS website for more information on what care is free for visitors from different countires.
Birth Control generally requires a prescription, but it is free on the NHS and you don't need to be embarrassed to ask for it. Even people who have not paid the NHS surcharge (like those on a visitor visa) have access to free contraception.
Abortion is legal in the UK. If you choose to have an abortion, you can either contact your GP for a referral or refer yourself privately.
If you have paid IHS, you are entitled to the same care as anyone who is an ordinary resident in the UK. There are some extra charges to NHS services and these apply to everyone who is not otherwise exempt. Some of the most common charges are listed below:
Prescriptions for medicines cost around £9,90.
Dental Care also has a cost. Prices can vary depending on treatment and not all dentists accept new NHS patients.
Eye Care also has a cost and like dental care, it depends on the treatment. You may also be entitled to a free eye test.