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Fees to use NHS by temporary migrants to double

Charges paid by temporary migrants to use the NHS are to double, a move the government says will raise around £220 million a year for the health service

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Charges paid by temporary migrants to the UK to use the NHS are to double, the government says.

Ministers said the move would raise around £220 million a year for the health service while ensuring migrants made a fair contribution towards its costs.

The increase to the immigration health surcharge – payable by people from outside the European Economic Area staying in the UK for six months or longer – means the main rate will rise from £200 to £400 a year.

Discounted rates for students and those on the youth mobility scheme will go up from £150 to £300.

Health tourism clampdown

The surcharge was originally brought in by the government in 2015 in a clampdown on so-called health tourism.

Health minister James O’Shaughnessy said: ‘Our NHS is always there when you need it, paid for by British taxpayers.

‘We welcome long-term migrants using the NHS, but it is only right that they make a fair contribution to its long-term sustainability.

‘By increasing the surcharge so that it better reflects the actual costs of using health services, this government is providing an extra £220 million a year to support the NHS.’


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