Healthcare on a visitor's visa - covering all the bases

I'm here in the UK on a 6 month visitor's visa and have registered with a local GP as a temporary patient - which is what the practice manager told my friend I needed to do. Barring unusual circumstances, I'll only need to see the doctor in order to get my prescription medications while I'm here. 

My question is what services should I expect to be billed for?  I'm insured, so payment isn't the problem.  I just don't want to have problems with future visa applications.  The information we've received so far is that I'll only be charged for my prescriptions, but not for a consultation.  This doesn't sound right to me (doctors in the US certainly charge for appointments/consultations!) and I don't want to find myself in trouble for using NHS services I'm not entitled to.

My question is what services should I expect to be billed for?

You should be billed for everything - every appointment, every treatment, every prescription, all non-emergency hospital treatment etc..

The only thing you should not be billed for is A&E emergency hospital treatment, which is free to all.

If they are only charging you for prescriptions, then you are being treated for free on the NHS, which, as you know, you are not allowed to do on a visitor visa.

So, you must insist that they bill you for every single thing - if you visit the doctor to get a prescription, you need to pay for the appointment and also pay the non-subsidised NHS fees for the prescription. If you need a consultation appointment, you must insist on being billed. If they try to tell you it's not necessary for you to pay, then you need to keep insisting until they give you a bill.

The NHS is required to treat everyone who needs treatment - whether they are entitled to free NHS care or not, they can't turn you away. They often don't realise that some people need to pay because it is the norm that everyone gets free treatment - they rarely come across people who aren't entitled to it, so they are usually unprepared to bill you for regular appointments... which is why you need to make sure that you pay for everything, even when they say you don't need to.

Thanks ksand.  That is exactly what I thought, but it's nice to have it confirmed.  I wish I didn't have to deal with this at all, but that isn't possible. 

Have you any idea how much I should be charged for these services?  I know that's a silly question, but I can almost picture these very helpful and sweet people at the GP's trying to further help me by charging me a pittance. 

Can I just say this is a rather bizarre situation for me, and probably any other US visitor to the UK, having to insist on paying a doctor bill.   

Have you any idea how much I should be charged for these services?  I know that's a silly question, but I can almost picture these very helpful and sweet people at the GP's trying to further help me by charging me a pittance. 

No idea, I'm afraid - I'm British, so have never been charged for anything except prescriptions .

No idea, I'm afraid - I'm British, so have never been charged for anything except prescriptions .

LOL - Good point. 

The surgery should be able to tell you the cost of a visit to the doctor, but if you are concerned you could google for a private GP in your area. They will certainly charge you, and may even file your insurance claim for you.

Edited to add: you could ask the surgery where you are registered to take you on as a private patient, they may/may not be set up to do this.

If you're insured why don't you go to a private doctor?

Becca, I've been charged for a couple of visits and it's been as low as £12 and "as much" as £30.  Just remember all you need is to be able to say, "I paid for my service," even if it seems minimal.

Thanks Fruitgum and Anonymous.  From everything I've read, I should be taken as a private patient rather than a temporary one.  However, after much asking and re-asking, the GP's office insists I be taken as a temporary one. 

In retrospect I probably should have looked for a private doctor, but from what I, and my friend, had read, most doctors here are NHS doctors and some may take private patients as well.  Honestly I wasn't aware I had the choice to select a private doctor in the first place.  At this point time is too short for me to start the process of looking for a private doctor, as my prescriptions will run out before too long and this GP is the one expecting me.  I just wanted to make sure I knew what I should be charged for.

Thanks KFdancer, it is very reassuring to know I don't have to go find some established price list somewhere and tell the GP what it is I should be charged.   

Surely you can google private GPs in your area.

Just to update my situation....

After the help received here on UK-Yankee, further reading on the subject, and polite (but adamant!  ) insistence that I pay for any medical consultation/treatment/prescriprions I receive, I am now signed up as a private patient with the GP here - the one we've been working with all along.  Yay!   

I'm not usually quite so happy about being "allowed" to pay for something, but, in this case, I'm thrilled! 

Thanks everyone!

Well you have done the right thing, and it shows that we immigrants aren't in fact trying to cheat the system, but actually are working pretty hard to make sure we play by the rules.

I pronounce you a good immigrant!

Well you have done the right thing, and it shows that we immigrants aren't in fact trying to cheat the system, but actually are working pretty hard to make sure we play by the rules.

I pronounce you a good immigrant!

Awwww, thank you!   

Hmmmm, I wonder if I can put that anywhere on my next visa application.....   

Unfortunately the only control I exert in life is over the kitchen rubbish bin, it sits patiently waiting there, never moving an inch, until I take it out.

Hi all--

Apologies if this has been answered elsewhere in the forums, but my father's here for a three week visit from America and he's not got enough medicine (actually only enough for three days).

I'm thinking I should go to my GP and have him seen as a private patient, for which he will have to pay for the visit and then for the medicine.  Have I missed a trick or other way to get this sorted ASAP?

Any help anyone can offer is Very much appreciated!