Social Security/Health Insurance – United Kingdom

Migrant sex workers who have entered the UK legally – except for those who used a tourist visa – and remain legally in the UK have access to the National Health Service (NHS). The NHS provides comprehensive medical services. Some elements of care such as dental care and ophthalmologic care do carry user payments, but the majority of services are provided free at the point of delivery.

Migrants without legal status or on a tourist visa may not register for the state run welfare system. However, general practitioners can treat people who would otherwise be ineligible for free treatment on a discretionary basis. Local asylum support services would have local information about who these might be in a particular area.

Certain treatments are exempt from charges:

• accident and emergency treatment in hospital casualty departments;
• depending on the local health board policy, treatment of certain diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, whooping cough, family planning services, sexually transmitted diseases, cholera, food poisoning, diagnosis of HIV and AIDS and treatment under the Mental Health Act.

Women who do not have a legal basis to remain in the UK and therefore may not register with the National Health Care System may register with private health insurers. Some private health insurers do not check applicant’s legal residence in the UK. BUPA, a non-profit health care provider, for example, asks for the applicant’s name, address and date of birth but does not ask for identification. You may also check with (among others) Norwich Union, Western Povident and AXA PPP Health Care. See Useful Addresses.

Self-employed sex workers must register as self-employed with the Inland Revenue (UK’s tax collection agency) and pay their own contributions.

Employed sex workers who have a legal right to remain in the UK may register for all aspects of the state run welfare system. This include state pension schemes and social security benefits. Many of these benefits are means-tested and may also be dependent on the amount of National Insurance contributions paid by the woman.

Employed sex workers will have their social security contributions, including health, social security and pension, deducted from their wages by their employer.