Originally Posted by formula (Post 11689679)

I think that many couldn't be bothered to charge, even though they were meant to and it was costing the NHS millions; while other NHS staff were angry at the abuse of the NHS that they saw.

The same when the UK should be billing other EEA countires for their citizens use of the NHS, just as they bill the UK. Until 2013, the UK didn't even have the system to find out which EEAs had to pay!

The Immigration Act 2014 has changed all this. As one doctor said on a forum, now they will lose money if they don't bill as their trust will be fined.
If the relevant NHS trust wants the money to pay for the treatment they give someone who uses a BRP with a valid Immigration Helath Surcharge, then they have to apply for it from the cental pot where all this IHS money is held.




From reading that link I gave from 2015, I think that x-ray would be free as it was treatment received via the A&E department. If you had been admitted to a ward and then x-rayed, then you would have been billed (or should have). I assume that was the same before April 2015?

Originally Posted by formula (Post 11689683)

My son was charged that in the US for x-rays for his sprained ankle and a bandage and he didn't stay on a ward.

Originally Posted by SanDiegogirl (Post 11689712)

While all the arguments are very valid, the main point is, surely, that the OP VISITED to the UK with her child (who has a medical problem) without any medical insurance (I'm talking about getting a travel policy which included medical cover).

Originally Posted by Editha (Post 11689733)

Just out of interest, can you get medical cover for an existing medical condition, such as sickle-cell anaemia, and how much would it cost?

Originally Posted by holly_1948 (Post 11689431)

As an aside, it is really stupid that they don't endorse passports "British by descent" or "British other than by descent" on the passport itself now that there are two classes of British citizenship. To save people have to prove things decades later that were already proven decades earlier.

Originally Posted by Editha (Post 11689733)

Just out of interest, can you get medical cover for an existing medical condition, such as sickle-cell anaemia, and how much would it cost?

Originally Posted by holly_1948 (Post 11689431)

So you have two things to do
1. Write to the hospital asking them to review the bill with a view to reducing it bearing in mind that only the overnight, not the A+E part should be charged.

2. Get your son a British passport to which he is entitled being your natural son provided you - yourself - are British other than British solely by descent. If you are British born or British naturalised then your son will be (at least) British by descent.

As an aside, it is really stupid that they don't endorse passports "British by descent" or "British other than by descent" on the passport itself now that there are two classes of British citizenship. To save people have to prove things decades later that were already proven decades earlier.

Originally Posted by Jerseygirl (Post 11689434)

I would argue that her 3 year old son was admitted by the doctor and that the OP has no medical background and thus went along with the doctor's advice.

Getting a UK PP is a good idea...but it does not entitle anyone to free NHS care.

Originally Posted by SanDiegogirl (Post 11689777)

Why did you not have travel insurance (with medical cover) when you visited the UK?

Originally Posted by Fair Lady (Post 11689784)

My son was not admitted by the Dr. He had a sickle cell crisis, his oxygen levels were extremely low and blood levels low also, he had a high fever and was shaking uncontrollably. The staff panicked having little experience with sickle cell and he was seen immediately. The care was good considering and I would hardly think any mother of a child with sickle cell disease has 'no medical background'. More times than not, I am the one informing the Dr's.

Originally Posted by Fair Lady (Post 11689784)

My son was not admitted by the Dr. He had a sickle cell crisis, his oxygen levels were extremely low and blood levels low also, he had a high fever and was shaking uncontrollably. The staff panicked having little experience with sickle cell and he was seen immediately. The care was good considering and I would hardly think any mother of a child with sickle cell disease has 'no medical background'. More times than not, I am the one informing the Dr's.

Originally Posted by Fair Lady (Post 11688901)

While visiting the UK this spring, my son who has sickle cell was admitted into the hospital overnight. I have Brit. cit. but my son who is 3 has american. We discovered afterwards that we were charged with a bill for over a thousand pounds. I guess the laws changed on the 6th April and fees increased by 50%. Had we known we would be charged, I would not have allowed him to stay in especially because I knew he was well enough to go home.