How to get cheap healthcare and dentistry
We are lucky in this country to have a national health service that provides a vast range of treatments, most of them ‘free’ to UK citizens. However I found that when I first went to collect my usual prescription as a university student, I had to pay. I’d never paid for a prescription before and I wasn’t too keen on making it a habit. So I began a little investigation.
It turns out that a lot of students are unaware of the costs of dentistry and healthcare with many avoiding dentists and GPs simply because they are unsure how to approach it (along with horror stories of huge dentist bills).
Registering for a GP as a student
If you are moving away from your hometown to go to university then you will most likely need to change your GP to a more local one to avoid having to travel home every single time that you get ill.
Lincoln has many NHS run GP’s. Most people just register at the University one however if you’re looking for a private one then it’s a good idea to speak to student support who can give you a list of trusted GPs.
Free Prescriptions as a student
I registered at the university GP and found out that there is a way for students to carry on collecting prescriptions without paying for them.
There is a particular form that I had to fill out called the HC2 form which is issued under the NHS Low Income Scheme.
A prescription can cost over £7.50 every single time and if you are someone that regularly needs it, then you can see the costs add up.
But the benefits of this certificate do not end at free NHS prescriptions. There are more goodies that come with this form.
*Please note that your application for your HC2 certificate is based upon your income and your student loan may be treated as income. In this case you can apply for an HC3 certificate which will give you a smaller discount.
Free/Cheap Student Dentistry
The certificate states that you can also receive “Free NHS Dental treatment”. I called up and visited numerous dentists (too long to list here) such as All Smiles Dental Practise and Carholme Dental Practise and most of them do permit the HC2 form when signing up to be a patient. The private ones that I visited such as Lincoln Smile Centre and Oasis Dental Centre still expect the student to pay to be a patient however they did offer some cheaper deals.
Glasses and Contact Lenses
If you need help with new glasses or contact lenses, help with the cost is provided through NHS optical vouchers. The value of your voucher will depend on your prescription – the person who tests your sight will be able to tell you how much this is.
You can normally use your voucher at any optician, though not all opticians fit contact lenses. The certificate entitles you to the full value of an NHS optical voucher.
Other benefits of the HC2
The form also allows the holder to receive free NHS wigs and fabric supports.
It also helps cover costs of travel to receive NHS treatment. If you need to travel:
- in England to receive NHS treatment under the care of a consultant, or through a referral by a doctor or dentist; or
- in Scotland to a hospital to receive NHS treatment; or
- in Wales to receive NHS treatment under the care of a consultant
you can get help with the cost of your journey. In England, if you are referred by a doctor or dentist to the same premises but on a different day you can claim for that travel cost.
Apply for an HC2 certificate now >>
Keep in mind that the certificate lasts for a year so you have to renew is as long as your course goes on for.
So there you have it. If you ever get in trouble with your health during your time at university then you need to make sure you get an HC2 form otherwise you could be in big trouble and end up footing a whopping bill.