Claim a refund for treatment costs

An S2 certificate will cover all eligible state-funded healthcare costs. This includes costs that a permanent resident in the country you're having treatment in would be expected to pay.

Some countries may ask you to pay a contribution towards the cost of your healthcare before receiving the treatment, even if you have an S2. This is known as a co-payment or patient contribution.

If you hold a valid S2 certificate and can provide evidence, you can claim a refund for these co-payments. Any refund will normally be up to the the cost of the NHS Tariff. 

If you receive state-funded healthcare that is not covered by your S2, you can use your UK EHIC or UK GHIC to cover the costs. You cannot use a UK EHIC or UK GHIC if you have already paid for your treatment.

If you do not have a UK EHIC or UK GHIC, you apply for a Provisional Replacement Certificate to present to the healthcare provider instead.  

Keep all receipts and any paperwork. You or your insurance company may need them if you apply for a refund. 

Claim a refund for your S2

Download and complete the Refund claim form - S2 (PDF: 320KB)

If you need help or have any questions about completing this form, contact us:

Telephone: 0191 218 1999
Telephone from outside the UK: +44 191 218 1999
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
Find out about call chargesIf English is not your first language, phone this number and we will provide an interpretation service over the phone.

Evidence to support your S2 claim

To support your claim, you’ll need to provide:

• all original invoices  
• translations of invoices if not provided in English  
• proof of any payments that you have made 

You'll need to translate any financial documents that are not in English before you send them. You do not need to use an official translator, but you'll need to make sure any translation is accurate.

Whoever completes the translation must:

• confirm who they are, including their role or relationship to the patient 
• sign and date the translated documents

If the translation you send is not clear, we may need to ask for more information.  We will not cover or refund any translation costs.

We will only consider refunding patient contributions if they are related to treatment covered by a valid S2. You’ll need to send invoices to prove this.

We cannot reimburse any additional planned treatment that is not covered by a valid S2.

This means you cannot claim a refund for:

• any additional planned treatment that is not covered by an S2
• privately funded treatment or services
• services that are not normally offered through the NHS, such as room upgrades

We will keep information and documentation submitted once your claim is settled.  

Charges will be reimbursed in accordance with the NHS Tariff. 

You cannot claim a refund if you have not paid for treatment, as you’ll need to provide receipts to make a claim. 

We cannot reimburse the costs for any treatment received at a private facility.

If you used your UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), UK European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), or a Provisional Replacement Certificate (PRC), any costs attached to this process will be automatically refunded to the country in which you received treatment.