The public health system
In the United Kingdom, heath care is provided by the NHS (National Health Service). There are four health systems that fall under the NHS umbrella: NHS England, NHS Wales, NHS Scotland and Health and Social Care in Northern Ireland (HSC).
To benefit from the public health care system, all UK residents must register with an NHS doctor who they will then see for all their medical needs. . For a consultation with a specialist doctor (consultant), residents must be referred by their GP (general practitioner).
Public health care waiting lists can be long, so some people living in the UK prefer to go privately for faster access to diagnostics and medical treatment.
What’s provided by the NHS?
NHS care is largely free of charge. These services include:
seeing an NHS GP,
receiving treatment in a hospital,
minor injuries units and walk-in centres.
However, some treatments you will generally need to pay for. These include:
dental care,
optical treatment,
glasses and contact lenses,
prescription drugs.
Health care for expats in the United Kingdom
Your health care needs in the United Kingdom may depend on your situation, the length of your stay and/or your nationality.
If you are European and will be living in the UK for more than six months
In this scenario, when you apply for your visa, you may need to pay an immigration health surcharge. This costs £624 a year, or £470 a year for students and children under 18.
You could be eligible for a reimbursement of this cost if your health care is usually supplemented by a country in the EU, or by Switzerland. Irish citizens are exempt from paying this surcharge as part of the Common Travel Area.
If you are going on secondment to the United Kingdom
During the visa application process, you will need to pay the healthcare surcharge, along with your partner and dependants.
While on secondment, you may choose to opt for private health insurance for expats in the UK to cover your medical needs.
For more information about secondment in the UK, click here.
If you are settling in the UK
The requirements for settling in the UK depend on various factors, including your nationality, work status and if you have a partner and children.
Please find below the steps needed for different countries:
NHS cover, travel insurance, and international health insurance: what’s the difference?
If you are moving to or from the UK, it is important to understand that NHS cover, travel insurance, and international health insurance are three very different things, and relying on the wrong one can leave you with unexpected costs or gaps in care.
NHS cover
The NHS provides comprehensive healthcare to UK residents free at the point of use. However, it only covers you while you are in the UK. If you travel or move abroad, your NHS entitlement does not travel with you. Equally, visitors and new arrivals to the UK are generally not entitled to free NHS treatment until they have paid the immigration health surcharge (or are exempt from it).
The NHS provides broad, high-quality care, though some services, such as dental treatment, optical care, and prescriptions, involve charges and waiting times for specialist or elective care can vary.
Travel insurance
Travel insurance is designed for short trips, typically holidays or business travel lasting days or weeks. It generally covers emergency medical treatment abroad, trip cancellation, lost luggage, and similar short-term risks.
Travel insurance is not intended for long stays. Most policies exclude pre-existing conditions and will not cover non-emergency care, ongoing treatment, or routine check-ups. If you are relocating abroad rather than taking a short trip, standard travel insurance is unlikely to be adequate.
International health insurance
International health insurance is designed for people who live and work abroad for extended periods. Unlike travel insurance, it provides continuous, comprehensive cover including routine consultations, specialist referrals, hospitalisation, and in many cases dental and optical care.
For expats in the UK, international health insurance can complement NHS access by giving you faster access to private specialists and avoiding long NHS waiting lists. For UK residents moving abroad, it replaces the NHS cover you would lose upon leaving, ensuring continuity of care no matter where you are.
To find out more about the health system in the UK:
To find the nearest health care provider, search the NHS directory.
FAQ about the UK healthcare system
Is healthcare free in the United Kingdom?
Is healthcare free in the United Kingdom?
Most healthcare services provided by the National Health Service (NHS) are free at the point of use for residents. This includes consultations with General Practitioners (GPs), hospital treatment, emergency care and maternity services. However, some services such as prescriptions in England, dental care and eye tests may involve additional charges.
Can expatriates access the NHS in the UK?
Can expatriates access the NHS in the UK?
Yes. Expats living and working in the UK can usually access NHS services if they have legal residency status. In many cases, visa holders pay an Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) as part of their visa application, which grants access to NHS care during their stay.
Do I need private health insurance in the UK?
Do I need private health insurance in the UK?
Although the NHS offers comprehensive healthcare coverage, many expatriates and international residents choose private health insurance to benefit from shorter waiting times, access to private hospitals and specialist care, and more flexibility when choosing doctors and treatment locations.
What is the difference between NHS and private healthcare?
What is the difference between NHS and private healthcare?
The NHS is the UK’s publicly funded healthcare system, offering essential medical services to residents. Private healthcare operates separately and allows patients to access faster appointments, private facilities and a wider choice of specialists, usually through private insurance or direct payment.
Do expats still need private international health insurance if they have access to the NHS?
Do expats still need private international health insurance if they have access to the NHS?
Yes, in many cases. While the NHS provides access to public healthcare in the UK, private international health insurance can offer additional protection for expats, especially those who travel frequently, want faster access to private care, or need cover outside the UK. It may also include benefits not always covered by the NHS, such as private consultations, specialist care, medical repatriation, dental or optical care depending on the plan. For internationally mobile individuals and families, international health insurance provides continuity of cover across different countries and greater flexibility when managing healthcare abroad.
