Healthcare in the UK There are two types of healthcare in the
UK; public and private. Public healthcare is provided by the NHS
(National Healthcare Service) and is free to all UK residents.
Private healthcare is paid for by individuals or families who
prefer to be able to access private facilities in return for a
monthly or yearly fee. It is not mandatory for UK residents to
take out private health insurance and many find the NHS is
sufficient for their medical needs; however, those with ongoing
illnesses or who require peace of mind may opt to pay for their
healthcare. The NHS is funded by national health insurance,
which has to be paid by all UK citizens who are eligible to be
taxed and are in part or full-time employment. NHS services are
generally unlimited; seeing a local GP, attending a regular
dentist or opticians appointment, surgery and emergency services
are all free under the public healthcare system. The only
procedures that are not covered by the NHS are those that are
classed as cosmetic, althou