Our overseas patients team helps determine eligibility for free NHS treatment and ensures correct charges for non-eligible patients at our hospital.
Who is entitled to free NHS hospital treatment?
The NHS provides free hospital care to people who reside lawfully, voluntarily and permanently in the UK for settled purposes.
If you are not ordinarily resident, you may be charged unless you fall under an exemption such as:
- A Reciprocal Healthcare Agreement
- Having paid the Immigration Health Surcharge
- Specific clinical exemptions (e.g. certain infectious diseases)
The Trust will not withhold treatment that is immediately necessary or urgent. However, reserves the right to withhold treatment that, in the opinion of a clinician, is not immediately necessary or urgent. For non-urgent care provided to overseas visitors we will require full payment in advance of treatment commencing. The decision to treat will be based on clinical opinion provided by the treating physician.
NHS Trusts have a legal duty. NHS Trusts have a legal obligation to assess eligibility and charge where appropriate in accordance with the UK statutory rules and guidelines (opens in a new tab).
British citizens and residency rules
Citizenship alone does not determine entitlement. The UK system work on the residency rule and not citizenship.
A British citizen living abroad may not be eligible for free NHS treatment unless another exemption applies. These exemptions can be found on the Ordinary Residence British Citizens and Family members page (opens in a new tab).
Emergency and urgent treatment
We will never withhold immediately necessary or urgent treatment. However:
- Only treatment provided in the Emergency Department is free.
- Emergency treatment elsewhere in the hospital is chargeable.
- Maternity and neonatal care will never be withheld, however may be charged.
Establishing your eligibility
We may ask you questions about your residency when:
- You attend the Emergency department
- You register for an outpatient appointment
- We receive a GP referral
Everyone is asked the same baseline questions, regardless of nationality, property ownership in the UK, or any previous National Insurance or tax contributions.
Proof of eligibility
To confirm your entitlement to free NHS care, you may be asked to provide one document from each category.
Non-urgent advice: Proof of identity
The following documents can be used as proof of identity:
- Passport (with visa if applicable)
- UK Home Office residence permit
- EU/Swiss national ID card
- UK driving licence
- Armed forces or police ID
- Application Registration Card (asylum seekers)
If your status depends on a spouse or EU family member, their documents may also be required.
Non-urgent advice: Proof of address
Examples include:
- Recent utility bill
- Council tax bill
- Bank or building society statement
- Tenancy agreement
- Mortgage statement
- DWP/HMRC benefit or pension letter
This will help us to determine your eligibility more quickly and avoid delays to your treatment.
Understanding your treatment costs
If we cannot verify your eligibility or you are a chargeable patient:
- You will receive an estimate based on your clinical diagnosis
- Full payment in advance is required for non-urgent treatment
- Costs may change as treatment progresses, and we will keep you informed
Non-urgent advice: Paying for treatment
You can pay securely online 24/7 via the UK government payment system. You will receive an email confirmation as your receipt. Please quote your invoice number so we can allocate your payment correctly.
If your bank blocks the transaction, please contact them to authorise it.
Information sharing and immigration rules
We may share non-clinical information with:
- Government agencies (to confirm entitlement)
- Debt collection agencies (for recovery of unpaid charges)
Under immigration rules 320, 321, 321A and 322, anyone who has NHS debts of more than £500 that remain unpaid for over two months may be refused future immigration applications to enter or stay in the UK.
If the debt is not settled promptly or a repayment plan is not agreed, non-clinical information about the debt will be shared with the Home Office. This information will remain active until the debt is fully paid, with records kept in line with standard retention rules.
EU citizens
Following the UK’s exit from the EU, eligibility rules changed on 31 December 2020. Please contact us to confirm your chargeable status before accessing treatment.
We do not charge patients directly for treatment received in the emergency department, as this service is free to all patients. However, where applicable, we are able to reclaim the cost of treatment from European countries if patients provide a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or Provisional Replacement Certificate (PRC). Recovering these costs is important in helping to support NHS services.
If you have a valid EHIC, please send us photos of both sides of the card. I f you not have an EHIC, we kindly request that you apply for a PRC from your local health authority to cover the dates of your treatment at Addenbrooke's.
Visit the EU website (opens in a new tab) where you will find information on how to apply for a PRC. Please ensure the certificate covers the correct start date of your treatment.
Overseas patients team
We aim to identify overseas patients early and apply the correct funding stream.
- Location: Main Concourse, Cambridge University Hospitals
- Phone: 01223 216999
- Email the overseas patients team
We are happy to help with any questions you have. We will take copies of your documents if we have asked you to provide them.
Alternative formats
If you would like this information in another language or audio:
- Phone 01223 256998
- Email interpreting services