| answer text |
<p>There are no plans to abolish the NHS surcharge for non-EU citizens who pay National
Insurance contributions. The surcharge is intended to represent a fair and proportionate
financial contribution to the NHS by migrants, corresponding with their temporary
immigration status</p><p>Temporary migrants will not have built up the long-term relationship
and contribution to the UK that a permanent resident has built up, and will build
up, over the course of their lifetime.</p><p>It is, therefore, the migrant’s immigra-tion
status that determines whether they pay the surcharge, not their tax contributions
or their profession. The Government recognises, however, that temporary migrants contribute
to the UK economy in a number of ways, including paying income tax and national insurance;
these contributions are reflected in the surcharge levels, which are below the average
per capi-ta cost to the NHS of treating temporary migrants.</p><p>The Immigration
Health Charge does not apply to migrants granted indefinite leave to remain; those
granted this status qualify for free NHS care if they are properly settled in the
UK.</p>
|
|
