Am I covered by the national healthcare? I have a work visa.

Soooo for no real reason the first try of getting an NI# failed. They said I didn't provide some information that I did indeed provide and I couldn't get them to look at it again because...  well no real reason.  They just said I had to reapply and refused to do anything.

So here I am reapplying. This takes like 4-6 weeks or whatever. 

Am I covered by the national health care currently? I stubbed my toe real bad and it might be broken so here I am not going to the hospital because I don't know.   

Again, I have a work visa.

An NI number has nothing to do with healthcare... An NI number is used for calculating how much income tax you should be paying on your salary and how much you pay in National Insurance contributions.

You should have been entitled to free NHS healthcare since the day you arrived in the UK. You just have to register with an NHS GP at a doctor's surgery and you will be issued with an NHS number, which is used to track your medical records and treatment history (and is completely different to an NI number).

UK citizens born in the UK are issued with an NHS number when they are born, but they do not get issued with an NI number until they turn 16 and can legally work full time.


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When I called my GP about a suspected broken toe, I was told to go to A&E.  A&E is accessible to all, and you do not need to show your NHS number upon arrival.  I always bring some form of proof that I'm eligible for NHS treatment and ID anyway, but haven't been asked for it. 

If it's still bothering you, feel free to go.  It is likely to be a long wait, and there's no real treatment for it-- other than rest, NSAIDs, and it taping to another toe.  (Unless an X-Ray shows it's truly mangled, and needs to be fitted back into place first).  Takes ~6 weeks to heal if it is broken.