Healthcare and Insurance

You should take out travel insurance to cover personal belongings, medical costs and repatriation.

National Health Service (NHS) treatment is free to students who are studying on a course lasting more than six months. Overseas students at Lancaster for less than six months will be covered by the UK National Health Service for emergencies but not for other health care. For non-emergencies you will receive medical care, either at the campus Health Centre or elsewhere, but may have to pay for treatment. You can then file a claim for reimbursement from your own insurance company. Private treatment outside the National Health Service is available, but can be extremely expensive.

EEA Nationals studying in the UK for six months or less can be covered for existing conditions if they complete Form E128 before they leave home.

All students need insurance covering any travel outside Britain, where UK National Health coverage does not apply.

Note for North American students:

If you are currently included in your family's insurance, check to see that the coverage will include treatment abroad. If not, see if a rider can be attached. If this is not possible, you will need your own private coverage. With standard US coverage, you pay for treatment and then apply for reimbursement from the company.

You may wish to contact one of the following American companies which offer coverage designed for Americans going abroad:

If you purchase an International Student Identity Card through TravelCraft or the Council on International Educational Exchange in New York or one of its affiliated issuing offices, some medical insurance is included in the cost of the card. However useful, this insurance should not be considered a substitute for regular insurance coverage. Note that cards purchased outside North America (at Lancaster, for example), do not include any insurance.

Make sure you have arranged insurance coverage, have claim forms with you, and understand claim procedures for both health care and repatriation before leaving home.

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