Things like prescriptions, dental treatment and eye tests can take a big chunk out of your budget at uni – here’s how you can keep healthcare costs low…
We all know that UK citizens are entitled to free healthcare in the UK through the National Health Service (NHS). But many things, including prescriptions, dental treatment and eye tests come at a cost, something which can be a bit of shock when you first arrive at university.
There are also key differences between healthcare costs in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales that you might not be aware of.
But there are ways you can get these extra healthcare costs reduced – or even free – if you know how the NHS works and what help is available. Our complete guide has everything you need to know about student health!
What’s in this guide?
- How to register with a GP at university
- Can students get free NHS prescriptions?
- Do students get free dental care?
- Can students get free eye tests?
- Vaccinations for university students
- How to get free contraception
- Do international students get free healthcare in the UK?
- Disabled Students’ Allowance
Getting medical care as a student
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Your first port of call when it comes to healthcare at university should be registering with a GP.
Register with a local GP in your university town
For some health services (a trip to A&E, for example) it doesn’t matter if you’re not registered nearby. But for general check-ups, regular prescriptions and access to medication, you’ll find it much easier if you’re registered somewhere at or near your university.
Most universities will have a GP attached to or affiliated with them, and this is normally the best option to go for as they’ll be experienced in dealing with student health. However, you can register with any local GP.
Make sure you register as soon as you arrive at university – the last thing you want is to be filling in forms when you’ve come down with a bout of freshers’ flu.
Some GPs may ask for some ID or your NHS number in order to register, as well as the name of your previous GP – although you can’t be refused registration if you don’t have access to these. International students may be asked to provide proof of their student status.
The important thing to remember is that since GP services are provided by the NHS, they’ll be free! You might have to pay for prescriptions though.
What to do if you get ill during the holidays
If you go home for Christmas, Easter or summer and you become ill, you’ll still be able to head to your nearest GP practice at home for emergency treatment. You can receive emergency treatment for up to 14 days, and after that, you’ll have to register as a temporary resident (or permanent patient) with that GP.
You’ll also have access to NHS walk-in centres and minor injuries units, which can provide treatment for minor injuries or illnesses, and A&E for serious or immediately life-threatening conditions.
Do university students get free NHS prescriptions?
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A trip to your local GP might be free but, unfortunately, most prescriptions aren’t free for students.
That is unless you’re registered at a GP in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, where prescriptions are completely free (this includes students who are from England, but are studying in and registered at a GP in these countries)!
Who is eligible for free NHS prescriptions in England?
There are some eligibility criteria which could mean that you’re entitled to free prescriptions in England. Among these are if you’re:
- Aged under 16, or 60 or over
- Aged 16–18 and in full-time education
- Pregnant or have had a baby in the past 12 months
- In possession of a medical exemption certificate (MedEx) for a specified medical condition or continuing physical disability
- In receipt of (or are under 20 and dependent on someone in receipt of) income support or Jobseeker’s Allowance.
Check the NHS website for more detailed information on eligibility criteria for free prescriptions in England. If none of the above applies to you, applying for the NHS Low Income Scheme could be a massive help.
However, even in England, some medicines are free.
Medications students can get for free
- Medicines administered at a hospital or NHS walk-in centre, or personally administered by a GP (during your appointment)
- Prescribed contraceptives
- Medicines supplied at a hospital or clinic for the treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
How much do prescriptions cost in England?
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In England, prescription charges are currently capped at £9.15 per item, but if you have a long-term health condition which requires regular prescribed medication, you can use an NHS Prescription prepayment certificate (PPC) to save yourself money in the long run.
You can currently get a three-month PPC for £29.65, which will save you money if you need more than three prescribed items in three months, and 12-month PPC for £105.90, which will save you money if you need more than 12 prescribed items a year.
Signing up for a prepayment scheme will allow you to obtain all the prescriptions you need for around £2 – £2.50 a week, and you don’t need to pay upfront. There are a number of payment options available, including direct debit instalments throughout the year.
How to save money on NHS prescriptions
You can also keep prescription costs down by making sure your GP doesn’t do two separate prescriptions for one item (e.g. if you need 150 mg of a medicine, but it’s only sold in 100mg and 50mg doses, you shouldn’t have to pay twice).
Similarly, if you know you’ll be on the medication for a while and won’t need a check-up in the meantime, ask your GP to prescribe you several months’ of medicine in one go. This will mean you get more medicine for one prescription cost.
The NHS Low Income Scheme
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The NHS Low Income Scheme (LIS) can be a student health lifesaver, as it’s based on your income, not your parents’.
You can apply for the scheme if the value of your savings, investments or property doesn’t exceed £16,000 – and, depending on your circumstances, you can apply for full help with NHS prescription costs (HC2 certificate) or partial help (HC3 certificate).
If you’re on a very low (or non-existent) income, then you’ll likely qualify for one of the certificates, meaning you’ll be able to get free or discounted prescriptions, dental costs, eye care costs, healthcare travel costs and wigs/fabric support.
To apply you have to fill out an HC1 form – it’s quite lengthy but will be worth it if you’re eligible for the certificates. Bear in mind that any money from Student Loans (that’s Maintenance Loans, not your Tuition Fee Loans which go directly to your university), your parents and any part-time work all count, so be honest here!
The application also takes into account housing costs, so again be honest with this.
Your certificate will last for anything between six months and five years, depending on your circumstances. You’ll be informed at the time of application how long yours will last for, so take note and remember to renew it, as you’re not likely to be reminded!
Apply for the NHS Low Income Scheme »
Do students get free dental care?
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Unfortunately, most dental care isn’t free, even under the NHS, and there’s no automatic exemption for students.
That said, you will be eligible for free dental treatment if one of the following applies to you:
- You’re under 18
- You’re under 19 and in full-time education
- You’re pregnant or have had a baby in the last 12 months
- You’re staying in an NHS hospital and your treatment is carried out by the hospital dentist
- You’re an NHS hospital dental service outpatient – but you may have to pay for your dentures or bridges
- You receive (or you’re under 20 and dependent on someone who receives) income support or Jobseeker’s Allowance.
If none of the above applies to you, don’t panic – you might still be able to get free dental treatment by applying to the NHS Low Income Support Scheme.
You’ll have to register with a local dentist practice, just like you would with a GP, but make sure you know whether you’re signing up as a private or NHS patient.
Some dental practices might have long waiting lists for NHS patients, or simply won’t be accepting NHS patients at all. If you register as a private patient instead, you’ll have to pay significantly more.
How to find an NHS dentist
Finding an NHS dentist is pretty straight forward – the NHS has a search tool which enables you to locate NHS dentists in your local area.
Look for dentists which are accepting adult NHS patients. Those who are accepting NHS patients by referral only will only accept those who have a letter of referral from their GP.
It’s also worth noting that it’s often easier to register with a dentist after you’ve registered with a local GP.
How much does dental treatment cost?
NHS dental charges are based on courses of dental treatment, which fall into one of four categories.
Even if you have to visit your dentist more than once for a single course of treatment, you’ll still only pay a single set fee (as outlined below):
- Band One course of treatment (£22.70) – This covers basic examinations, X-rays, advice on preventing future problems, scale and polish (if necessary) and preventative care.
- Urgent dental treatment (£22.70) – This covers things like pain relief or a temporary filling.
- Band Two course of treatment (£62.10) – Everything listed in Band One, plus further treatment like fillings, root canal work or tooth removal.
- Band Three course of treatment (£269.30) – Everything listed in Bands One and Two, plus crowns, dentures, bridges and other laboratory work.
Are students eligible for free eye tests?
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Just like prescriptions and dental treatment, the chances are you’ll have to pay for eye tests, as well as glasses and contact lenses.
Who can get a free eye test and NHS optical vouchers?
Some people are eligible for a free NHS eye test and optical vouchers to go towards the cost of glasses and contact lenses. This includes, but isn’t limited to, those who are:
- Aged under 16, aged 60 or over, or aged 16–18 and in full-time education
- Registered as partially sighted or blind
- Diagnosed with diabetes or glaucoma
- At risk of developing glaucoma
- On income support or Jobseeker’s Allowance.
You’ll also be eligible for a free or discounted eye test and optical vouchers if you have an HC2 or HC3 certificate through the NHS Low Income Scheme.
If you do go for a private eye test and glasses/contact lenses, prices can vary hugely across the high street – so make sure you shop around to get the best deal.
Vaccinations you need before starting university
Professionals strongly advise making sure all your vaccinations are up to date before you head off to university, but if you forget, it should be your first priority once you’ve registered with a GP.
It’s recommended that you’re vaccinated against diphtheria, polio, tetanus and measles, mumps and rubella (MMR). Most UK nationals will have been vaccinated against these diseases as a child or teenager as part of the UK national immunisation programme, but it’s worth checking with your GP.
MenACWY vaccine
The MenACWY vaccination, also known as Nimenrix, protects against meningitis and septicaemia and is especially recommended for teenagers and freshers. It replaces the Men C vaccine that was discontinued in July 2016.
MenACWY is a relatively new vaccine and, although it is offered to teenagers in year nine as part of the broader national vaccination programme, it’s definitely worth checking whether or not you’ve had it.
You’ll remain eligible for the vaccination up until your 25th birthday and it’s suggested that new university students get it as you’ll be mixing closely with lots of new people (some of whom may be unknowingly carrying the bacteria at the back of their nose and throat).
Flu jab
Although freshers’ flu is incredibly common among students, you won’t be eligible for a free flu jab unless you have asthma or a serious long-term health condition, or you are living someone who’s at high risk from coronavirus.
If you’re eligible for a free flu vaccine, you can either get it from your GP or from your local pharmacy. Some pharmacists are able to administer the vaccine directly without you having to go to your GP first, so if your surgery is all booked up, it might be worth checking if one in your area does this.
How to get free contraception
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You can get contraception, in whatever form, for free from contraception clinics and sexual health clinics, as well as some GPs. This includes condoms, as well as prescribed contraception methods like the pill.
Where can you get condoms and other types of contraception for free?
- Most GP surgeries (talk to your GP or practice nurse)
- Community contraceptive clinics
- Some genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics
- Sexual health clinics
- Some young people’s services.
And while we’re on the subject, you can get STI tests for free, too. You can take them at home or at a sexual health clinic/GP and you should be getting yourself tested every six months.
Most of the places mentioned above will have condoms readily available for free, but for other forms of contraception such as the pill or the coil, an appointment with your GP will be required. These are also provided totally free of charge.
How much does the morning after pill cost?
There are two types of emergency contraceptive pill: Levonelle and ellaOne. You can take either one in the event that the contraception you used has failed or if you did not use any at all.
To be effective, Levonelle should be taken within three days of having unprotected sex, and ellaOne should be taken within five days. The sooner you take either, the more effective it’ll be.
You can buy both pills from most pharmacies but, if you do, it’ll cost you a pretty penny: Levonelle usually comes to around £25 and ellaOne costs around £35. However, there are places you can get the morning after pill for free.
Where can you get the morning after pill for free?
There are some places you can get both Levonelle and ellaOne for free. These include:
- Contraception clinics
- Brook centres
- Some pharmacies (you’ll have to ask if they provide free emergency contraception)
- Most sexual health or genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics
- Most NHS walk-in centres and minor injuries units
- Most GP surgeries
- Some hospital A&E departments.
Do international students get free healthcare in the UK?
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Whether you get free access to the NHS when studying in the UK as an international student depends on whether you’re an EU or non-EU student:
EU students (including all EEA and Swiss nationals)
If you’re a student from the EU (including all countries in the European Economic Area and Switzerland), you’re able to access all NHS services for free until the academic year 2020/21.
You just need to get yourself a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from your home country before you come to the UK. This qualifies as adequate health insurance while you’re in the UK as a student.
It is not known yet what the status of the healthcare regime will be for EU students and Swiss nationals arriving in the UK after 31st December 2020 (who aren’t already enrolled on a UK course).
As of the 1st January 2021, the UK will have finished exiting the European Union, which may change the way EU and Swiss nationals access healthcare in the UK. The government have not yet announced what its plans will be, but we’ll keep you updated as soon as we know more.
Non-EU students (with a Tier 4 visa)
If you’re a student from outside the EU, you’ll likely be well aware of the Tier 4 visa that you must apply for to be eligible to study in the UK.
As part of your Tier 4 application, you’ll be required to pay a £150 health surcharge (on top of the £348 visa charge) which will allow you to access NHS services for free while you study in the UK. If you’re studying in the UK for less than six months, the health surcharge is reduced to £75.
In essence, once you’ve paid the surcharge and your visa has been accepted, you’ll be able to access the NHS just like any UK resident at no extra cost (apart from those detailed above).
You won’t be able to buy private health insurance instead of paying the health surcharge, but you can buy health insurance in addition to it if you wish to. This will cover things like loss of fees (if you have to drop out of your course for health reasons), travel costs when returning home and private medical treatment.