What the Immigration Health Surcharge Actually Covers in 2026

Every international student on a Student visa pays the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) as part of their visa application, often without a clear explanation of exactly what it buys. Understanding the gaps now, before you need care, avoids unpleasant surprises partway through your degree.

What the IHS actually pays for

The IHS gives you access to the NHS on broadly the same basis as a permanent UK resident, for the length of your visa. This includes:

• GP consultations — free, once registered
• Hospital treatment, including planned (elective) care and emergency care
• Mental health services, including NHS Talking Therapies and, where clinically needed, specialist referral
• Maternity care, fully covered as NHS care (see our guide on registering a pregnancy as a student)
• Prescriptions, at the standard NHS prescription charge in England (free in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland)
• Ambulance services and A&E care

What the IHS does NOT cover

This is where most students get caught out:

1. Routine dental care — check-ups, fillings, and most dental treatment are charged even to NHS patients, though at a subsidised NHS rate rather than full private cost. See our full guide on dentist and optician access in Oxford.
2. Routine eye tests and glasses/contact lenses — opticians are largely a private service in the UK; the IHS doesn't cover routine sight tests unless you qualify for an NHS exemption (e.g. certain medical conditions).
3. Some assisted conception services (IVF) — availability varies significantly by NHS region and is not guaranteed.
4. Prescription charges in England — while care itself is free, each prescription item carries a standard charge (unless you qualify for an exemption).
5. Non-emergency travel to home country for treatment and any care sought privately or outside the NHS.

Budgeting for the gaps

Since dental and optical care sit outside full NHS coverage, it's worth budgeting a modest amount each term:

• A routine NHS-rate dental check-up in England typically costs a set banded fee (Band 1 is the cheapest, covering exams and basic treatment)
• An eye test at opticians such as Specsavers or Boots Opticians typically costs a smaller flat fee if you don't qualify for a free NHS test
• Consider whether your university's own student insurance or a private top-up plan makes sense if you wear glasses or expect dental work

Does the IHS cover pre-existing conditions?

Yes — unlike many private insurance products, the NHS (funded via the IHS) does not exclude pre-existing conditions. If you manage a long-term condition, see our guide on managing a chronic condition after moving to the UK for how continuity of care works in practice.

Getting the most from what you've already paid for

Since you've already paid the IHS as part of your visa, make sure you actually use it: register with a GP in week one, understand how the NHS works for international students, and know which gaps (dental, optical) to plan around financially. If you're still finalising your move, our pricing page outlines arrival support that helps you get all this set up quickly, and for parents has a breakdown of costs families should expect beyond tuition.