Healthcare insurance United Kingdom

The United Kingdom (UK) has a public health service: the National Health Service (NHS). This public system is largely paid for by taxes and provides residents with access to the GP, specialists and hospitals. Anyone who lives or works legally in the UK and has a National Insurance Number can use the NHS. For students, access to the NHS is often included in the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) in the visa application. 

• The four UK countries: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, each have their own policies 
• Basic healthcare through the NHS is free for residents 
• Waiting times in the NHS are often long, especially for specialist care 
• You often have to pay for medication, dental care, glasses and contact lenses either partially or in full  

You can also choose to take out private medical insurance. This gives you access to private clinics, which often have shorter waiting times. Note: These often only cover care within the UK, whereas OOM provides worldwide cover. 

• Since Brexit, new rules apply for short stays: You can often still use your EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) for emergency care, but this provides limited cover. Travel insurance with medical cover is highly recommended for tourists and for people travelling to the UK on business 
• If you live and work in the UK, you’re covered by the NHS. If you receive a pension from an EU/EEA-country or Switzerland, you can sometimes apply for an S1 form. Ask your health insurer for information 

Note: The rules following Brexit continue to change. Always check the current situation with the NHS and the Dutch government.

• For more information about living in the UK with a pension or benefit, visit the CAK site 
• Read more about Brexit and healthcare on the UK government website
• For more information about social security forms (S1, A1), visit the UK government site and ask your health insurer 

If you remain registered in the Netherlands, your Dutch national health insurance will cover emergency care anywhere in the world up to a maximum of the cost in the Netherlands. Dutch national health insurance generally doesn’t reimburse the cost of repatriation or evacuation in the case of illness or an accident.  If you’re no longer registered in the Netherlands, you’re no longer entitled to Dutch national health insurance and you must arrange your own insurance.  

Healthcare in the United Kingdom can be quite different to what you’re used to in the Netherlands. Not every country has national health insurance, there may be strict rules and waiting times may apply. Healthcare costs can also be much higher than in the Netherlands. Without proper cover, this can leave you with unexpectedly high bills. 

With OOM, you don't have to worry. We’ll make sure everything is properly taken care of. 

We’re here for people with extraordinary stories, who want to be well insured. We always offer a solution that will suit your situation during your stay in the United Kingdom. 

Our healthcare insurance gives you certainty when Dutch national health insurance no longer applies or doesn’t provide sufficient cover. Your OOM insurance can also serve as a supplement to local insurance in the United Kingdom. Providing you with proper cover for costs outside your local policy. This is especially important in a country where the rules are different to in the Netherlands, or healthcare costs can be unexpectedly high. 

With OOM Healthcare insurance you can: 

• Insure yourself while staying abroad: If your Dutch national health insurance expires and you can’t or don’t want to use the local healthcare system, our international healthcare insurance provides you with the certainty you’re looking for
• Insure yourself while you wait for your local insurance to come through
• Get additional insurance if your Dutch national health insurance or local public insurance are not enough

OOM's insurance is for anyone who wants to be properly insured in the United Kingdom. Whether you’re only staying abroad temporarily or permanently emigrating. Our solutions suit different situations, such as: 

• Expats and entrepreneurs going to the United Kingdom for work, or who need insurance to be able to register locally
• Dutch nationals who do not have, or who are no longer entitled to Dutch national health insurance 
• Students and travellers temporarily staying in the United Kingdom
• Emigrants permanently settling in the United Kingdom
• Backpackers or global travellers who want to avoid unexpected costs during their adventure in the United Kingdom

OOM provides worldwide cover and helps you avoid unexpected bills. This is reassuring in a country where healthcare is regulated differently than in the Netherlands. 

Choosing OOM means choosing certainty that travels with you. Wherever you are in the world:

• Worldwide cover: Including if you visit the Netherlands or travel while living abroad
• Always available: Our Assistance Centre is available 24/7
• Tailor-made: You choose the cover that best suits your situation
• Extra certainty: Supplement your insurance easily with additional options, such as household contents, personal accident or liability insurance

With OOM you can arrange your own healthcare insurance quickly and effectively. Helping you focus on your plans in the United Kingdom, without unexpected worries.

Do you want to start your adventure without worry? You can calculate your premium easily online and apply for your insurance immediately.  

If you’ve any questions, our team will be happy to help you.

Always check the current travel advice on The Netherlands Worldwide (in Dutch). Right now, the UK generally is code green. You can live, work or study safely in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Bear in mind that the current situation might influence the care you receive. Long waiting times in the NHS mean supplementary insurance is an attractive choice. Especially if you want to be seen quickly. If you take medication, always check in advance if it’s available in the United Kingdom (UK) and if you need to apply for a prescription from a local GP.  
For travellers, emergency care is usually well organised. However, supplementary insurance protects you from higher costs. For expats and emigrants, additional insurance is recommended to cover dentistry, glasses or specialist care, so you don’t need to bear these costs yourself.