PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Health Services: EU Nationals (30 October 2014)

In 2013-14, the United Kingdom claimed £40.4 million from European Economic Area (EEA) member states for having provided National Health Service treatment to those visitors who are insured under European Social Security Regulations, evidenced by presenting a valid European Health Insurance Card or having been referred for pre-planned treatment with an ‘S2’ referral.

EEA nationals who are ordinarily resident in the UK, i.e. living here on a properly settled basis for the time being, even if not permanently, are entitled to free NHS treatment without charge.

The Health and Social Care Information Centre’s hospital episode statistics do not contain information about the patient’s residency, nationality or migration status; therefore it is not possible to provide the cost to the NHS of providing treatment to non-permanent residents in the UK who have EEA nationality.

Under the terms of the reciprocal healthcare agreements that the UK has with certain non-EEA countries, neither the UK, nor the respective other country, recovers costs for the provision of treatment to visitors between those countries.