healthcare travel costs scheme (htcs)

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• Health and social care
• National Health Service

Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme: Instructions And Guidance For The NHS

Updated instructions and guidance for the NHS following amends to regulations in April 2010.

Applies to England

PDF , 283 KB , 43 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Regulations governing the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme were amended on 7th April 2010. This guidance document has been updated to reflect these amendments, and also includes changes to reimbursement of the London Congestion Charge.

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Travel costs: Disabled people and carers - Hospital visits

If you are disabled or are a carer you may be entitled to help with transport costs

• Hospital visits

Non-emergency Patient Transport Services (PTS)

You may be eligible for non-emergency patient transport services (PTS). This service provides free transport to and from hospital for if you:

• need additional medical support during your journey
• find it difficult to walk
• are a parent or a guardian of children who need visit to hospital

PTS may not be available in all areas. You will need to speak to your GP or the healthcare professional who referred you to hospital. They will tell you if you’re eligible for PTS and how to apply.

Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS)

If your GP or the healthcare professional refers you to hospital or other NHS premises for an appointment, you may be able to claim a refund of reasonable travel costs under the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS).

Please visit NHS Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme to find out eligibility and how to claim.

• https://www.turn2us.org.uk/get-support/information-for-your-situation/travel-costs-disabled-people-and-carers/hospital-visits

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Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS)

If you're referred to hospital or other NHS premises for specialist NHS treatment or diagnostic tests by your doctor, dentist or another primary care health professional, you may be able to claim a refund of reasonable travel costs under the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS). Visits to GP surgeries and dentists for routine care, as well as most emergency department attendances, are not included.

This section explains who's eligible for the scheme and how to make a claim.

Who can claim for help with travel costs?

To qualify for help with travel costs under the HTCS, you must meet 3 conditions:

• At the time of your appointment, you or your partner (including civil partners) must receive one of the qualifying benefits or allowances listed on this page, or meet the eligibility criteria for the NHS Low Income Scheme.
• You must have a referral from a healthcare professional to a specialist or a hospital for further NHS treatment or tests (often referred to as secondary care).
• Your appointment must be on a separate visit to when the referral was made. This applies whether your treatment is provided at a different location (hospital or clinic) or on the same premises as where your GP or another health professional issued the referral.

Children and other dependants

You can claim travel costs for your children if you're eligible for any of the benefits described under condition 1 and your child has been referred for treatment as outlined in condition 2 and condition 3.

If your child is aged 16 or over, they may make their own claim under the Low Income Scheme.

Carers and escorts

You can claim travel costs for an escort if your health professional says it's medically necessary for someone to travel with you.

These payments are made on the basis of the patient's eligibility for the scheme, irrespective of the escort's eligibility.

Who cannot claim help with travel costs?

You cannot claim help with travel costs if you're visiting someone in hospital.

You also cannot claim if you're visiting your local GP, dentist or another primary care service provider for routine check-ups or other services, such as vaccinations or cervical cancer screening, as these are excluded from the scheme.

Urgent primary care services during out-of-hours periods (between 6.30pm and 8pm on weekdays, weekends or bank holidays) are also excluded.

What are the qualifying benefits and allowances?

You can claim help with travel costs if you or your partner (including civil partner) receive any of the following benefits:

• Income Support
• income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Working Tax Credit (WTC) with Child Tax Credit (CTC)
• WTC with a disability element or a severe disability element
• CTC but you're not eligible for WTC
• Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
• you receive Universal Credit and meet the criteria

You can also claim for help with travel costs if:

• you're named on, or entitled to, an NHS tax credit exemption certificate (if you do not have a certificate, you can show your award notice) – you qualify if you get child tax credits, working tax credits with a disability element (or both), and have income for tax credit purposes of £15,276 or less
• you have a low income and are named on certificate HC2 (full help) or HC3 (limited help) – to apply for this certificate, you should complete the HC1 form: claim for help with health costs, which is available from your local hospital, Jobcentre Plus offices or the NHS print contract order line on 0300 123 0849

Patients who are not in receipt of a qualifying benefit, but are on a low income, and whose savings are less than £16,000 (or £23,500 if in a care home) may be eligible for assistance with their NHS travel expenses.

What form of transport can I use?

If you qualify, you will be entitled to a full or partial refund of necessary travel costs equivalent to the cheapest reasonable method of travel, which in most cases will be public transport. Taxi fares will not normally be paid unless agreed in advance.  You'll also be able to claim for unavoidable car parking and toll charges.

If you travelled by car and your claim was approved, you'll be reimbursed for the cost of fuel at the mileage rate used by your local clinical commissioning group (CCG) .

How do I claim a refund?

You are expected to pay for your travel and claim back the costs within 3 months.

You should take your travel receipts, appointment letter or card, plus proof that you're receiving one of the qualifying benefits, to the General Office to claim your travel costs.  There your claim will be assessed and any payments will be made directly to you.

If you are unable to make a claim on the day you attend, you may be able to return for a cash payment at a later date. Alternatively you can complete a HC5(T) claim travel charges form, available from General Office, and post it to the address stated on the form.  You can make a postal claim up to 3 months after your appointment took place. Please note refunds paid in this way take several weeks to process.

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Healthcare travel cost scheme (HTCS)

Advice and Information - 16 August 2023

This page explains who's eligible for the scheme and how to make a claim.

If you have questions about help with health costs, join the  Help with Health Costs team on Facebook , where the NHS Business Services Authority will respond to your queries Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.

Who can claim for help with travel costs?

To qualify for help with travel costs under the HTCS, you must meet 3 conditions:

• At the time of your appointment, you or your partner (including civil partners) must receive one of the qualifying benefits or allowances listed on this page, or meet the eligibility criteria for the  NHS Low Income Scheme .
• You must have a  referral  from a healthcare professional to a specialist or a hospital for further NHS treatment or tests (often referred to as secondary care).
• Your appointment must be on a separate visit to when the referral was made. This applies whether your treatment is provided at a different location (hospital or clinic) or on the same premises as where the GP or another health professional issued the referral.

Children and other dependants

You can claim travel costs for your children if you're eligible for any of the benefits described under condition 1 and your child has been referred for treatment as outlined in condition 2 and condition 3.

If your child is aged 16 or over, they may make their own claim under the Low Income Scheme.

Carers and escorts

You can claim travel costs for an escort if your health professional says it's medically necessary for someone to travel with you.

Some integrated care boards (ICBs) may accept claims for help with travel costs if you're the parent or guardian of a child under the age of 16 who you have to bring to your appointment with you.

These payments are made on the basis of the patient's eligibility for the scheme, irrespective of the escort's eligibility.

Who cannot claim help with travel costs?

You cannot claim help with travel costs if you're visiting someone in hospital.

You also cannot claim if you're visiting a GP, dentist or another primary care service provider for routine check-ups or other services, such as vaccinations or cervical cancer screening, as these are excluded from the scheme.

Urgent primary care services during out-of-hours periods (between 6.30pm and 8pm on weekdays, weekends or bank holidays) are also excluded.

What are the qualifying benefits and allowances?

You can claim help with travel costs if you or your partner (including civil partner) receive any of the following benefits:

• Income Support
• income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Working Tax Credit (WTC) with Child Tax Credit (CTC)
• WTC with a disability element or a severe disability element
• CTC but you're not eligible for WTC
• Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
• you receive  Universal Credit  and meet the criteria

You can also claim for help with travel costs if:

• you're named on, or entitled to, an NHS tax credit exemption certificate (if you do not have a certificate, you can show your award notice) – you qualify if you get child tax credits, working tax credits with a disability element (or both), and have income for tax credit purposes of £15,276 or less
• you have a low income and are named on certificate HC2 (full help) or HC3 (limited help) – to apply for this certificate, you should complete the  HC1 form: claim for help with health costs (PDF, 218kb) , which is available from your local hospital, Jobcentre Plus offices or the NHS print contract order line on 0300 123 0849

Patients who are not in receipt of a qualifying benefit, but are on a low income, and whose savings are £16,000 or less (or £23,250 or less if in a care home, or £24,000 or less if residents in Wales) may be eligible for assistance with their NHS travel expenses.

Find out more about the  NHS Low Income Scheme .

What form of transport can I use?

The NHS organisation handling your claim will normally base any refund on the basis of what would have been the cheapest suitable mode of transport for your circumstances.

This can include your age, medical condition or any other relevant factors, such as the availability of public transport.

This means you should use the cheapest, most appropriate means of transport, which in most cases will be public transport.

If you travelled by car and your claim was approved, you'll be reimbursed for the cost of fuel at the mileage rate used by  your local integrated care board (ICB) .

You'll also be able to claim for unavoidable car parking and toll charges.

If you need to use a taxi, you should agree this in advance with the hospital or ICB before you travel.

Find your local hospital

Patients in London may be able to claim congestion charges. Get more information on the  Congestion Charge NHS Reimbursement Scheme  operated by Transport for London.

Help with travel costs before your appointment

You're expected to pay for your travel and claim back the costs within 3 months.

In some cases, you may be able to get an advanced payment to help you attend your appointment.

The NHS service providing your treatment should be able to tell you how to apply. Alternatively, contact your local ICB for advice.

How do I claim a refund?

To claim your travel costs, take your travel receipts, appointment letter or card, plus proof that you're receiving one of the qualifying benefits, to a nominated cashiers' office.

Nominated cashiers' offices are located in the hospital or clinic that treated you. They'll assess your claim and make the payment directly to you.

In some hospitals, the name of the office you need to go to may be different (for example, the General Office or the Patient Affairs Office).

If you're not sure, ask reception or  Patient Advice and Liaison Services (PALS)  staff where you should go.

Some hospitals and clinics do not have cashier facilities. In this case, you can complete an  HC5(T) claim travel charges (PDF, 110kb)  and post it to the address stated on the form.

You can make a postal claim up to 3 months after your appointment took place.

Can I claim travel expenses for treatment abroad?

If you're travelling abroad for treatment on the NHS, you may claim for travel costs incurred travelling to a port (including an airport, ferry port or international railway station) in Great Britain from where your international journey begins.

The cost of your travel from the port to the place of treatment falls within NHS foreign travel expenses and cannot be claimed through HTCS.

NHS foreign travel expenses are travel expenses that a person incurs travelling abroad from a port in Great Britain to receive services arranged by the NHS.

You're only entitled to have NHS foreign travel expenses paid for when the health service body that made the arrangements for services to be provided overseas agrees the mode and cost of travel, and the necessity or otherwise for a companion.

This all has to happen before the costs are incurred.

Find out more about  going abroad for medical treatment.

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Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS)

If you’re referred to hospital or other NHS premises for specialist NHS treatment or diagnostic tests by your doctor, dentist or another primary care health professional, you may be able to claim a refund of reasonable travel costs under the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS).

If you meet the criteria to be eligible, you can claim at the time of your appointment if you bring evidence of eligibility. Claim forms will be available at your appointment but please raise any queries with the relevant team or service prior to your appointment.

Who can claim for help with travel costs?

To qualify for help with travel costs under the HTCS, you must meet 3 conditions:

• At the time of your appointment, you or your partner (including civil partners) must receive one of the qualifying benefits or allowances listed on this page, or meet the eligibility criteria for the NHS Low Income Scheme .
• You must have a referral from a healthcare professional to a specialist or a hospital for further NHS treatment or tests (often referred to as secondary care).
• Your appointment must be on a separate visit to when the referral was made. This applies whether your treatment is provided at a different location (hospital or clinic) or on the same premises as where your GP or another health professional issued the referral.

Children and other dependents

You can claim travel costs for your children if you’re eligible for any of the benefits described under condition 1 and your child has been referred for treatment as outlined in condition 2 and condition 3.

If your child is aged 16 or over, they may make their own claim under the Low Income Scheme.

Carers and escorts

You can claim travel costs for an escort if your health professional says it’s medically necessary for someone to travel with you.

Some clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) may accept claims for help with travel costs if you’re the parent or guardian of a child under the age of 16 who you have to bring to your appointment with you.

These payments are made on the basis of the patient’s eligibility for the scheme, irrespective of the escort’s eligibility.

Who cannot claim help with travel costs?

You cannot claim help with travel costs if you’re visiting someone in hospital.

You also cannot claim if you’re visiting your local GP, dentist or another primary care service provider for routine check-ups or other services, such as vaccinations or cervical cancer screening, as these are excluded from the scheme.

Urgent primary care services during out-of-hours periods (between 6.30pm and 8pm on weekdays, weekends or bank holidays) are also excluded.

Got a question?

If you have questions about help with health costs, join the  Help with Health Costs team on Facebook , where the NHS Business Services Authority will respond to your queries Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.

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Health Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS)

Find out more about the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS) which provides support for people on lower incomes.

The Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS) provides support for people on lower incomes. The scheme is part of the NHS Low Income Scheme which also covers other expenses such as prescriptions and glasses.

This page explains a little more about the scheme, including who is eligible and how people can claim.

Who can get help with travel costs?

You must meet the three conditions below to be eligible for support:  

• At the time of your appointment, you or your partner must receive one of the below benefits or allowances (or meet the eligibility criteria for the NHS Low Income Scheme):
• Income Support
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Working Tax Credit (WTC) with Child Tax Credit (CTC)
• WTC with a disability element or a severe disability element
• CTC but you’re not eligible for WTC
• Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
• you receive Universal Credit and meet the criteria
• You can also claim for help with travel costs if:
• You’re named on, or entitled to, an NHS tax credit exemption certificate, you qualify if you get child tax credits, working tax credits with a disability element and have income for tax credit purposes of £15,276 or less.
• You have a low income and are named on certificate HC2 (Full Help) or HC3 (Limited Help).
• You must have a referral form from a doctor or another health professional to a specialist or a hospital for further treatment or tests.
• Whatever the location of your appointment, it will also need to be on a separate visit to when your referral was made. This applies whether it’s a different location or the same place where you received your referral.

Children and Other Dependants

You can claim travel costs for your children if you’re eligible for any of the benefits descried under condition 1 above and your child has been referred to treatment as outlined in condition 2 and condition 3 above. If your child is aged 16 or over, they may make their own claim under the low-income scheme.

Carers and Escorts

You can claim travel costs for an escort if your health professional says it’s medically necessary for someone to travel with you. You will need to meet the conditions above, but your escort  does not  have to meet them.

How do I claim a refund?

To claim your travel costs, take your travel receipts, appointment letter or card, plus proof that you’re receiving one of the qualifying benefits to a nominated cashiers office. Nominated cashiers’ offices are in the hospital or clinic that treated you. They’ll assess your claim and make the payment directly to you. If you’re not sure, ask reception or the Patient Advice and Liaison Services (PALS) at the place you have your appointment.

Mid & South Essex NHS Foundation Trust Cashier Office  

Mid Essex Hospital – The cashier office is located within the main atrium next to the hospital’s main reception desk. It is open from Monday – Friday (8:30am – 18:00pm).

Basildon & Thurrock Hospital – Located at the main reception, opposite the main reception desk and next to security. It is open Monday – Friday (09:00am – 16:30pm).

Southend Hospital – It’s located at the general office in the previous main entrance. The Office is manned Monday – Friday (09:00am – 16:30pm).

Postal Claims

HC5(T) Refund claim forms need to be sent to NHS Business Services Authority, Bridge House, 152 Pilgrim Street, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 6SN. Forms can be accessed visiting the NHS website .

More information

You can find more information about making a the Healthcare Travel Cost Scheme on the  NHS website.

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Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS)

If you're referred to hospital or other NHS premises for specialist NHS treatment or diagnostic tests by your doctor, dentist or another primary care health professional, you may be able to claim a refund of reasonable travel costs under the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS).

This section explains who's eligible for the scheme and how to make a claim.

If you have questions about help with health costs, join the  Help with Health Costs team on Facebook , where the NHS Business Services Authority will respond to your queries Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.

Who can claim for help with travel costs?

To qualify for help with travel costs under the HTCS, you must meet 3 conditions:

At the time of your appointment, you or your partner (including civil partners) must receive one of the qualifying benefits or allowances listed on this page, or meet the eligibility criteria for the  NHS Low Income Scheme .

You must have a  referral  from a healthcare professional to a specialist or a hospital for further NHS treatment or tests (often referred to as secondary care).

Your appointment must be on a separate visit to when the referral was made. This applies whether your treatment is provided at a different location (hospital or clinic) or on the same premises as where your GP or another health professional issued the referral.

Children and other dependants

You can claim travel costs for your children if you're eligible for any of the benefits described under condition 1 and your child has been referred for treatment as outlined in condition 2 and condition 3.

If your child is aged 16 or over, they may make their own claim under the Low Income Scheme.

Carers and escorts

You can claim travel costs for an escort if your health professional says it's medically necessary for someone to travel with you.

Some clinical commissiong groups (CCGs) may accept claims for help with travel costs if you're the parent or guardian of a child under the age of 16 who you have to bring to your appointment with you.

These payments are made on the basis of the patient's eligibility for the scheme, irrespective of the escort's eligibility.

Who cannot claim help with travel costs?

You cannot claim help with travel costs if you're visiting someone in hospital.

You also cannot claim if you're visiting your local GP, dentist or another primary care service provider for routine check-ups or other services, such as vaccinations or cervical cancer screening, as these are excluded from the scheme.

Urgent primary care services during out-of-hours periods (between 6.30pm and 8pm on weekdays, weekends or bank holidays) are also excluded.

What are the qualifying benefits and allowances?

You can claim help with travel costs if you or your partner (including civil partner) receive any of the following benefits:

• Income Support
• income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Working Tax Credit (WTC) with Child Tax Credit (CTC)
• WTC with a disability element or a severe disability element
• CTC but you're not eligible for WTC
• Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
• you receive  Universal Credit  and  meet the criteria

You can also claim for help with travel costs if:

• you're named on, or entitled to, an NHS tax credit exemption certificate (if you do not have a certificate, you can show your award notice) – you qualify if you get child tax credits, working tax credits with a disability element (or both), and have income for tax credit purposes of £15,276 or less
• you have a low income and are named on certificate HC2 (full help) or HC3 (limited help) – to apply for this certificate, you should complete the  HC1 form: claim for help with health costs (PDF, 218kb) , which is available from your local hospital, Jobcentre Plus offices or the NHS print contract order line on 0300 123 0849

Patients who are not in receipt of a qualifying benefit, but are on a low income, and whose savings are less than £16,000 (or £23,500 if in a care home) may be eligible for assistance with their NHS travel expenses.

Find out more about the NHS Low Income Scheme

What form of transport can I use?

The NHS organisation handling your claim will normally base any refund on the basis of what would have been the cheapest suitable mode of transport for your circumstances.

This can include your age, medical condition or any other relevant factors, such as the availability of public transport.

This means you should use the cheapest, most appropriate means of transport, which in most cases will be public transport.

If you travelled by car and your claim was approved, you'll be reimbursed for the cost of fuel at the mileage rate used by  your local clinical commissioning group (CCG) .

You'll also be able to claim for unavoidable car parking and toll charges.

When using a taxi for transport, it's recommended that you agree this in advance with the hospital or CCG before you travel.

Find your local hospital

Patients in London may be able to claim congestion charges. Get more information on the  Congestion Charge NHS Reimbursement Scheme  operated by Transport for London.

Help with travel costs before your appointment

You're expected to pay for your travel and claim back the costs within 3 months.

In some cases, you may be able to get an advanced payment to help you attend your appointment.

The NHS service providing your treatment should be able to advise how to apply. If they cannot, contact your local CCG for advice.

How do I claim a refund?

You should take your travel receipts, appointment letter or card, plus proof that you're receiving one of the qualifying benefits, to a nominated cashiers' office to claim your travel costs.

Nominated cashiers' offices are located in the hospital or clinic that treated you.

They're responsible for assessing your claim and making the payment directly to you.

In some hospitals, the name of the office you need to go to may be different (for example, the General Office or the Patient Affairs Office).

If you're not sure, ask reception or  Patient Advice and Liaison Services (PALS)  staff where you should go.

Some hospitals and clinics do not have cashier facilities. In this case, you can complete a  HC5 (T) claim travel charges (PDF, 35.5kb)  and post it to the address stated on the form.

You can make a postal claim up to 3 months after your appointment took place.

Can I claim travel expenses for treatment abroad?

If you're travelling abroad for treatment on the NHS, you may claim for travel costs incurred travelling to a port (including an airport, ferry port or international railway station) in Great Britain from where your international journey begins.

The cost of your travel from the port to the place of treatment falls within NHS foreign travel expenses and cannot be claimed through HTCS.

NHS foreign travel expenses are travel expenses that a person incurs travelling abroad from a port in Great Britain to receive services arranged by the NHS.

You're only entitled to have NHS foreign travel expenses paid for when the health service body that made the arrangements for services to be provided overseas agrees the mode and cost of travel, and the necessity or otherwise for a companion.

This all has to happen before the costs are incurred.

Find out more about seeking medical treatment in Europe

Important numbers

Call 0300 330 1348 for the dental services helpline

Call 0300 330 1343 for the Low Income Scheme helpline

Call 0300 330 1341 for queries about medical exemption certificates

Call 0300 330 1341 for queries about prescription prepayment certificates (PPCs)

Call 0300 330 1349 for the prescription services helpline

Call 0300 330 1347 for queries about tax credit certificates

Call 0300 123 0849 to order a paper copy of the HC12, HC5 and HC1 (SC) forms

Call 0300 330 1343 for all other queries

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Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme

Description

If you're referred to hospital or other NHS premises for specialist NHS treatment or diagnostic tests by a doctor, dentist or another primary care health professional, you may be able to claim a refund of reasonable travel costs under the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS).

If you have questions about help with health costs, join the  Help with Health Costs team on Facebook , where the NHS Business Services Authority will respond to your queries Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.

Who can claim for help with travel costs?

To qualify for help with travel costs under the HTCS, you must meet 3 conditions:

• At the time of your appointment, you or your partner (including civil partners) must receive one of the qualifying benefits or allowances listed on this page, or meet the eligibility criteria for the  NHS Low Income Scheme .
• You must have a  referral  from a healthcare professional to a specialist or a hospital for further NHS treatment or tests (often referred to as secondary care).
• Your appointment must be on a separate visit to when the referral was made. This applies whether your treatment is provided at a different location (hospital or clinic) or on the same premises as where the GP or another health professional issued the referral.

Please see our website for further details.

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Healthcare travel costs scheme.

Published on: 8 October 2020

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The current COVID impact financially is contributing to some people not being able to afford the cost of travelling to a health appointment, but it's important we all have equal access to healthcare.   If you're referred to hospital or other NHS premises for specialist NHS treatment or diagnostic tests by a doctor or another primary care health professional, you may be able to claim a refund of reasonable travel costs under the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS).  

The NHS scheme provides lots of information on financial help that may be available to adults and children, where the elibility criteria is met. The support provided can help to relieve the financial pressures forparents and carers who need to transport their children to their health appointments, while equally helping support adults with travel costs who most need it.

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Help with Travel costs

You may be able to claim a refund of the cost of travelling to hospital under the ‘Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme’ (HTCS) or other NHS premises for NHS-funded treatment or diagnostic test arranged by a doctor or dentist.

This page summarises the scheme, but if you would like more information please visit the Cashiers Office (see below) or the NHS Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme .

Who can claim?

To qualify for help with travel costs under the HTCS, you must meet three conditions:

• At the time of your appointment, you or your partner (including civil partners) must be receiving one of the qualifying benefits or allowances, or meet the eligibility criteria of the  NHS Low Income Scheme .
• Your journey must be made to receive NHS-funded non-primary medical or non-primary dental care services. You must have been referred to by a GP, dentist or hospital consultant.
• For referrals made by a GP or dentist, the service must be provided on a different day and in premises other than those occupied by the GP or dentist who made the referral.
• You can claim travel costs for your children if 2 or 3 above applies to them and you are in group 1 above at the time of the appointment. Any young person aged 16 or over may make their own Low Income Scheme claim.
• You can claim travel costs for an escort (such as an adult or your dependent child) if your doctor, dentist or consultant says that for medical reasons you need someone to travel with you.

You cannot claim help with travel costs, if:

• you are visiting someone in hospital. However, visitors in receipt of one of the qualifying benefits may be able to receive assistance in the form of a Social Fund payment. Further information about this assistance can be obtained from Jobcentre Plus office.
• you are visiting your local GP or dentist for routine primary care services, such as check-ups, vaccinations, cervical cancer screening or minor surgery, as these are excluded from the scheme. Urgent primary care services during the out of hour periods (i.e. between 6.30pm and 8.00pm weekdays, at weekends or on bank holidays) are also excluded.

NHS Low Income Scheme

If you are looking for information about the NHS Low Income Scheme:

• Visit the NHS Low Income Scheme  page, or
• Visit the Cashiers Office at the hospital (see below for more information),
• Talk to your Jobcentre Plus .

How You Travel

By Car:  We pay fixed rates of reimbursement within a certain radius and then by mileage. A refund on the car parking receipt is given.  Please note that if you are not eligible for reimbursement of travel costs you may still be eligible for discounted car parking. Please refer to the car parking page for more details.

By Public Transport: Upon production of tickets, the costs of fares associated with travelling to Hospital will be refunded. In instances where a child is the patient, we will pay for the fares of the child and one adult to accompany them only. We are unable to reimburse the fares of additional adults or children.

By Taxi: Taxi fares are only claimable provided that the patient holds a GP letter stating that they are medically unable to travel by public transport. Without such a letter, reimbursement will be made at the car allowance rate.

Claiming Your Travelling Expenses

Claims can be made from the Cashiers Office. See below for the locations of these.

Before we can process your claim we need to see the following:

• Proof of eligible benefit
• Appointment card
• Receipts (as applicable)

If you do not have a benefit book we will require a letter from the appropriate agency stating:

• Your name and address
• Your National Insurance number / or your certificate number
• The benefit you are eligible for

If you contact your Jobcentre Plus they will provide this letter for you. We are unable to use your card alone. If you do not have the necessary proof with you, a postal claim may be made using an HC5 claim form. These are available from the Cashiers Office or from your local Jobcentre Plus.

Cashiers Office – Location and Times

The Cashiers Office can help with the following:

• Reimbursement of travel expenses for eligible patients attending appointments
• Accepting donations for SATH charitable funds
• Accepting payments for hearing aids/courses and invoices
• Petty cash requests
• Valuables lost property
• Safe keeping of patients valuables property during inpatient stays

Royal Shrewsbury Hospital Cashiers Office

• Location: Enter the hospital through the Outpatient entrance, turn left, the cashiers office is on the left after the League of Friends shop.

Opening hours Monday – Friday: 9.30am – 4.30pm

Princess Royal Hospital Cashiers Office

• Location: Enter the hospital through the Outpatient entrance, walk through the waiting area, the cashiers office is on the right before the main hospital corridor.

Opening hours: Monday – Friday: 9.30am – 4.30pm

The information on this page about help with hospital travel costs is from the the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme page and is correct at the time of publication. Please note that details of these schemes may change. Please talk to the Cashiers Office or refer to the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme page on nhs.uk for the latest information about this scheme.

Help with health costs

Find out about when you need to pay, help when on universal credit, travel costs and personal health budgets.

• When you need to pay towards NHS care
• NHS Low Income Scheme (LIS)
• Help with health costs for people getting Universal Credit
• Wigs and fabric supports on the NHS
• Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS)
• What is a personal health budget?

Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme

If you’re referred to hospital or other NHS premises for specialist NHS treatment or diagnostic tests by a doctor, dentist or another primary care health professional, you may be able to claim a refund of reasonable travel costs under the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS).

What are the qualifying benefits and allowances?

You can claim help with travel costs if you or your partner (including civil partner) receive any of the following benefits:

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Working Tax Credit (WTC) with Child Tax Credit (CTC)
• WTC with a disability element or a severe disability element
• CTC but you’re not eligible for WTC
• Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
• You receive Universal Credit and meet the criteria

You can also claim for help with travel costs if:

• you’re named on, or entitled to, an NHS tax credit exemption certificate (if you do not have a certificate, you can show your award notice) – you qualify if you get child tax credits, working tax credits with a disability element (or both), and have income for tax credit purposes of £15,276 or less
• you have a low income and are named on certificate HC2 (full help) or HC3 (limited help) – to apply for this certificate, you should complete the HC1 form: claim for help with health costs, which is available from your local hospital, Jobcentre Plus offices or the NHS print contract order line on 0300 123 0849.

How do I claim a refund?

To claim your travel costs, take your travel receipts, appointment letter or card, plus proof that you’re receiving one of the qualifying benefits, to a nominated cashiers’ office.

Nominated cashiers’ offices are located in the hospital or clinic that treated you. They’ll assess your claim and make the payment directly to you.

In some hospitals, the name of the office you need to go to may be different (for example, the General Office or the Patient Affairs Office). If you’re not sure, ask reception or Patient Advice and Liaison Services (PALS) staff where you should go.

Some hospitals and clinics do not have cashier facilities. In this case, you can complete an HC5(T) claim travel charges form and post it to the address stated on the form.

You can make a postal claim up to three months after your appointment took place.

Useful numbers

• Call 0300 330 1348 for the dental services helpline
• Call 0300 330 1343 for the Low Income Scheme helpline
• Call 0300 330 1341 for queries about medical exemption certificates
• Call 0300 330 1341 for queries about prescription prepayment certificates (PPCs)
• Call 0300 330 1349 for the prescription services helpline
• Call 0300 330 1347 for queries about tax credit certificates
• Call 0300 123 0849 to order a paper copy of the HC12, HC5 and HC1 (SC) forms
• Call 0300 330 1343 for all other queries

More information about travel costs at the NHS website

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Would like to be kept informed Find this very useful Thankyou Tessa Sowerby Berwick upon Tweed

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Healthcare in Moscow – Personal and Family Medicine

Emergency : 112 or 103

Obstetric & gynecologic : +7 495 620-41-70

About medical services in Moscow

Moscow polyclinic

Emergency medical care is provided free to all foreign nationals in case of life-threatening conditions that require immediate medical treatment. You will be given first aid and emergency surgery when necessary in all public health care facilities. Any further treatment will be free only to people with a Compulsory Medical Insurance, or you will need to pay for medical services. Public health care is provided in federal and local care facilities. These include 1. Urban polyclinics with specialists in different areas that offer general medical care. 2. Ambulatory and hospitals that provide a full range of services, including emergency care. 3. Emergency stations opened 24 hours a day, can be visited in a case of a non-life-threatening injury. It is often hard to find English-speaking staff in state facilities, except the largest city hospitals, so you will need a Russian-speaking interpreter to accompany your visit to a free doctor or hospital. If medical assistance is required, the insurance company should be contacted before visiting a medical facility for treatment, except emergency cases. Make sure that you have enough money to pay any necessary fees that may be charged.

Insurance in Russia

Travelers need to arrange private travel insurance before the journey. You would need the insurance when applying for the Russian visa. If you arrange the insurance outside Russia, it is important to make sure the insurer is licensed in Russia. Only licensed companies may be accepted under Russian law. Holders of a temporary residence permit or permanent residence permit (valid for three and five years respectively) should apply for «Compulsory Medical Policy». It covers state healthcare only. An employer usually deals with this. The issued health card is shown whenever medical attention is required. Compulsory Medical Policyholders can get basic health care, such as emergencies, consultations with doctors, necessary scans and tests free. For more complex healthcare every person (both Russian and foreign nationals) must pay extra, or take out additional medical insurance. Clearly, you will have to be prepared to wait in a queue to see a specialist in a public health care facility (Compulsory Medical Policyholders can set an appointment using EMIAS site or ATM). In case you are a UK citizen, free, limited medical treatment in state hospitals will be provided as a part of a reciprocal agreement between Russia and UK.

Some of the major Russian insurance companies are:

Ingosstrakh , Allianz , Reso , Sogaz , AlfaStrakhovanie . We recommend to avoid  Rosgosstrakh company due to high volume of denials.

Moscow pharmacies

A.v.e pharmacy in Moscow

Pharmacies can be found in many places around the city, many of them work 24 hours a day. Pharmaceutical kiosks operate in almost every big supermarket. However, only few have English-speaking staff, so it is advised that you know the generic (chemical) name of the medicines you think you are going to need. Many medications can be purchased here over the counter that would only be available by prescription in your home country.

Dental care in Moscow

Dentamix clinic in Moscow

Dental care is usually paid separately by both Russian and expatriate patients, and fees are often quite high. Dentists are well trained and educated. In most places, dental care is available 24 hours a day.

Moscow clinics

«OAO Medicina» clinic

It is standard practice for expats to visit private clinics and hospitals for check-ups, routine health care, and dental care, and only use public services in case of an emergency. Insurance companies can usually provide details of clinics and hospitals in the area speak English (or the language required) and would be the best to use. Investigate whether there are any emergency services or numbers, or any requirements to register with them. Providing copies of medical records is also advised.

Moscow hosts some Western medical clinics that can look after all of your family’s health needs. While most Russian state hospitals are not up to Western standards, Russian doctors are very good.

Some of the main Moscow private medical clinics are:

American Medical Center, European Medical Center , Intermed Center American Clinic ,  Medsi , Atlas Medical Center , OAO Medicina .

Several Russian hospitals in Moscow have special arrangements with GlavUPDK (foreign diplomatic corps administration in Moscow) and accept foreigners for checkups and treatments at more moderate prices that the Western medical clinics.

Medical emergency in Moscow

Moscow ambulance vehicle

In a case of a medical emergency, dial 112 and ask for the ambulance service (skoraya pomoshch). Staff on these lines most certainly will speak English, still it is always better to ask a Russian speaker to explain the problem and the exact location.

Ambulances come with a doctor and, depending on the case, immediate first aid treatment may be provided. If necessary, the patient is taken to the nearest emergency room or hospital, or to a private hospital if the holder’s insurance policy requires it.

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Every year we host more and more private tours in English, Russian and other languages for travelers from all over the world. They need best service, amazing stories and deep history knowledge. If you want to become our guide, please write us.

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Healthcare in Moscow

This guide was written prior to Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine and is therefore not reflective of the current situation. Travel to Russia is currently not advisable due to the area's volatile political situation.

Healthcare in Moscow is organised by the Moscow Health Department. While public healthcare facilities are available, most expats seek out private healthcare at international medical centres. Expats are advised to take out private medical insurance if it is not provided to them by their company.

Subsidised healthcare is provided to everyone living in the country, paid for by the state and the mandatory health insurance system. That said, professionals in the state system are likely to speak little to no English. 

There are several private medical centres in Moscow where English is spoken and where the healthcare is on par with expat standards. These clinics are generally very expensive, so it is highly recommended that expats take out private medical insurance to cover medical costs in Moscow. Most insurance coverage plans will also include evacuation cover for emergencies or life-threatening situations. 

Recommended hospitals in Moscow

Alliance medicale.

www.alliancemedicale.ru Address: Kutuzovsky Ave, 1/7

Intermed Center American Clinic

www.en.intac.ru Address:  4 Monetchikovsky Lane, 1/6, Building 3

International Clinic MEDSI

www.medsi.ru Address:  26 Prospekt Mira, Building 6

European Medical Center

www.emcmos.ru Address:   5 Spiridon'yevskiy Pereulok, Building 1

Further reading

►For more on the Russian healthcare system see our Healthcare in Russia page.

Expat Interviews " The standard is high, but health insurance is essential − both international and local cover tend to be adequate and similar for routine things." Read more about Stephen, a British expat, and his  experience living in Moscow . 

Are you an expat living in Moscow?

Expat Arrivals is looking for locals to contribute to this guide, and answer forum questions from others planning their move to Moscow. Please contact us if you'd like to contribute.

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