Page 1 of 1

child nhs debt

Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2022 10:10 am
by gasman072
I am a tier 2 skilled worker (5 yr) applying for ILR in 3 months, along with my dependent wife
I have a one yr old child born in the uk

After immense trawling on the forums, it was evident a native passport and visa are not mandatory whilst filling a MN1 form after either of us achieve settled / ILR status

So the issue is about the nhs coverage for the child ... ( since I do not have passport/ brp I cannot exclusively just pay IHS .. i would need to apply for passport/brp/IHS)

Now we had him hospitalised for 2 days, BUT we were not asked / questioned / billed till date

I was unaware of the child 3 month free nhs rule then, but now this could accrue as a NHS debt

So before I apply in the summer, how do I check my child NHS debt as it may be foolish to assume that I have not been challenged hence I am safe.

Gov.uk says "The burden of proof is on the Home Office to prove an NHS debt. The standard of
proof is the balance of probabilities (which means it is more likely that not) but you
must be able provide evidence of the debt if it is contested. You may need to seek
further information from the relevant NHS body."

Re: child nhs debt

Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2022 11:18 am
by vinny

Re: child nhs debt

Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2022 11:37 am
by gasman072
... thats what had raised my eyebrows in the first place and this question !

even the lawyer are a bit perplexed on this ...

Re: child nhs debt

Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2022 1:46 pm
by JB007
gasman072 wrote:
Tue Mar 15, 2022 10:10 am
So before I apply in the summer, how do I check my child NHS debt as it may be foolish to assume that I have not been challenged hence I am safe.
Contact the Oversea Visitor Manager (or their team) at the hospital you used?

Re: child nhs debt

Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2022 1:54 pm
by JB007
gasman072 wrote:
Tue Mar 15, 2022 11:37 am
... thats what had raised my eyebrows in the first place and this question !

even the lawyer are a bit perplexed on this ...
From what I recall, because of all those using the NHS without paying, part of the Immigration Act 2014 brought in changes for the NHS. With it was the refusal of a visa to enter or remain if there was £1,000 or more of NHS debt owed. Later that was lowered to £500.00 NHS debt owed.