[Charlie_Bubble]

Originally Posted by Xaccers

That's the sick situation immigrants are forced into, if they can't afford health treatment, and we're talking mostly in thousands of pounds not a few hundred, health care as you know is expensive, then you don't get it, even if it would put your life at risk, no matter how much tax and NI you've given.
"No recourse to public funds" on your visa means you're stuffed.
No JSA if you find yourself out of work, no hospital care even if you're dying (especially if you're dying as they're not likely to get you to pay for it!), yet you still have to contribute.

Not 100% accurate. You can get healthcare even if you have 'no recourse to public funds' as a condition of your visa:

http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/ukr...s/publicfunds/

If you have a residence permit that allows you to live in the United Kingdom, it may include the condition that you have no recourse to public funds. If so, it means you will not be able to claim most benefits, tax credits or housing assistance that are paid by the state.

http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/ukr...es/healthcare/

If you are a visitor to the United Kingdom or have temporary permission to live here (we call this limited leave to remain), you may be able to register with a GP in your area and receive free treatment. The GP can decide whether or not to register you. You may not be able to receive the full range of hospital treatment, because you must be a permanent resident or have lived here for a year to qualify for it. This applies even if you are a British citizen or have lived or worked here in the past.

Some health services are free of charge to everyone. These are:

treatment given in an accident and emergency (A&E) department or in an NHS walk-in centre that provides services similar to those of an A&E department;
treatment for certain infectious diseases (but for HIV/AIDS only the first diagnosis and counselling that follows it are free);
compulsory psychiatric treatment; and
family planning services.