Question about FLR(M) and NHS benefits

I got my FLR (M) and NHS number two weeks ago. I registered with a local GP. I seem to recall someone commenting that if I used NHS that it could adversely affect my Visa reapplication chances. They said to get private health insurance or pay out of pocket.  Is this correct?

As always thank you

 

No, that’s not correct.

You have paid the IHS surcharge, so you are entitled to use the NHS for free, same as any UK citizen.

Things like needing private insurance and paying for treatment only come into play if you are on a visa valid 6 months or less that has no IHS surcharge (for example, a visitor visa or a fiancé visa). In that case, you would need to make sure you had paid for all treatment while on that visa, as an unpaid NHS debt of £500 or more (when you were not entitled to free treatment) would mean a visa refusal.

So, in short, you have nothing to worry about because your FLR(M) visa allows you to use the NHS for free, so you can use the NHS as needed without needing to pay or take out insurance, and it will have no affect on your visa or future visas.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thank you very much. You've really eased my mind.

And the link from the government site, to show you are allowed use the NHS services bill free -

"You can start using the National Health Service (NHS) when both:

    you’ve paid the healthcare surcharge (or are exempt from paying it)
    your visa or immigration application is granted

You’ll still need to pay for certain types of services, such as prescriptions, dental treatment, eye tests and assisted conception.

You should bring your biometric residence permit with you when you access healthcare in the UK."

https://www.gov.uk/healthcare-immigration-application