Health insurance and PR application

[kru1133]

Hello,

I have searched the forum, but could not find an answer to my question. I hope someone here can help me.

In 2009 I came to the UK as an EEA national to do a PhD. I had no idea that I needed a comprehensive health insurance and have, as a patient with chronic illnesses, used the NHS from the start. Particularly the last two years I have heavily used the NHS. Due to illness, I am still a PhD student.

Since 2009, I have worked in university, but most under a teaching scholarship and without payment as such. In 2012 I started to get paid. 07/2013-11/2014 I did not work. 12/2014-06/2015 I worked at another university part-time. From 2015 on I started working as a freelancer (and let out a room for a while). Then I worked part-time at another university 10/2015-06/2016. From 07/2016 onward I continue to do some regular freelance work (self-employed), but no contractual employment. My income has always been too low to pay NI though, i.e. NI has always been £0.

I also own a house and pay the rather low mortgage. Apart from the NHS and council tax reduction as a student, I have never financially relied on the UK government and have always been self-sufficient through family funds next to my income.

In short, apart from the (comprehensive) private health insurance cover, I should be able to apply for permanent residence I think. I thought about getting private health insurance now (and not use it), but no idea whether this would be accepted. Or should I apply on the basis of my 2016 employment (and 5ys prior). Or does it not make sense in the first place considering I didn't have insurance in the 'in-between-periods' and until now? Or does it only matter at the time of application (and 1 year ahead)? Or do I not need to have health insurance as I am self-employed now?

Also, does the Home Office contact the NHS? Could an application be rejected on the basis of my use of the NHS even if I would have a comprehensive health insurance?

Or is the solution to finish my PhD, find a job, and hope for the best?

Any suggestions and ideas etc would be very much appreciated!!
Thanks

[noajthan]

Welcome.

It would be easier to make sense of your timeline if you itemise it, line by line.

Selfemployed qualified persons don't need CSI but work needs to be genuine and effective (as per EU law).
HO applies its MET test too (over and above the cleaner, purer EU law) to help caseworker decide if she agrees you are a worker/selfemployed.

CSI cannot be backdated (as its insurance).

You can use the NHS as you are ordinarily/habitually resident in UK.

CSI is just required in an immigration context for those who are economically inactive;
this is so that they don't impose an undue burden on the state's social assistance system (including NHS in UK).

Get up to speed on qualified persons here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... _clean.pdf

[kru1133]

Dear Noajthan,

Many thanks for your response. I think what my main confusion was whether the CSI is needed during the whole period or only when applying. It is clear you need to present documents for 5ys residency and economic activity (etc), but it wasn't clear to me whether also documents of 5ys CSI needs to be presented.

To be honest, I think right now it is hit and miss in a way, although my case would lean towards a miss. I am taking out a CSI now just in case. I am expecting that at some point other students and self-sufficient folk (etc) will challenge the government and quite frankly I rather wait for someone else to do that and let the sleeping dogs lie. I probably have can gain more from that than from approaching the government and inviting them to deny me something.

Worst case, I will apply for a Tier 1 visa once graduating from my PhD and having a job - only that EEA nationals cannot apply and i might not find a job

Thanks anyway!

[kru1133]

I have a small other question, two actually...

First, I assume HO is Home Office. What does the 'MET-test' mean?

Second, re CSI, would anyone know whether an excess of £500 on private insurance is 'normal' in the UK (well, according to the HO)? Or maybe I should play safe and get one of £200. Since I won't use it, I rather get the cheapest one, but then I rather get the one that plays according the HO books.

Thanks - I think these are all my questions!

[noajthan]

I have a small other question, two actually...

First, I assume HO is Home Office. What does the 'MET-test' mean?

Second, re CSI, would anyone know whether an excess of £500 on private insurance is 'normal' in the UK (well, according to the HO)? Or maybe I should play safe and get one of £200. Since I won't use it, I rather get the cheapest one, but then I rather get the one that plays according the HO books.

Thanks - I think these are all my questions!

This may help you understand if you have met requirements for MET test:
https://www.freemovement.org.uk/using-m ... ne-worker/

As for level of insurance excess that's not really an immigration matter; it just depends how risk-averse you are.