A parent visiting from Nigeria or Ghana: healthcare in the UK, US and Canada compared

How do the UK, US and Canada compare for a visiting parent?

The UK gives visitors free A&E and GP care; the US and Canada give visitors no public health cover, so care is paid for privately or by insurance.

The visa rules differ too. A UK visit visa and a US visitor visa ask for proof of funds, not insurance, and so does Canada's ordinary visitor visa. Canada's Super Visa, which lets a parent stay up to five years at a time, is the only one of the three that requires medical insurance.

How does the NHS charge a visitor in the UK?

In England, A&E, GP care and NHS 111 are free to visitors, but hospital treatment after admission is charged at 150% of the NHS rate.

Hospitals must not start non-urgent treatment until the estimated cost is paid, but urgent or immediately necessary care must never be withheld or delayed because of charging (DHSC guidance updated 20 May 2026). Unpaid NHS debts of £500 or more, outstanding for two months, are reported to the Home Office and can affect future visa applications. The rules may differ in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Our guide for a parent visiting from Nigeria covers the UK in more detail.

What happens if a visiting parent falls ill in the US?

US hospitals with emergency departments that take part in Medicare must screen and stabilise anyone with an emergency condition, regardless of ability to pay, under EMTALA.

That is a duty to treat, not free care. American hospitals spent an average of $3,297 per adjusted inpatient day in 2024 (American Hospital Association data published by KFF), and visitors are not eligible for standard Medicaid. US embassies warned in 2026 that visitors are expected to have funds for any medical care they need and that unpaid medical bills, or reliance on public benefits, can count against future visa applications.

The State Department's published visitor visa requirements ask for evidence of funds to cover expenses in the US; health insurance is not among them. The US Embassy in Guyana told travellers in August 2026 that buying travel insurance before the trip is the responsible way to be covered.

What does Canada require of a visiting parent?

Canada does not pay for hospital or medical services for visitors, and IRCC tells visitors to get health insurance before they come.

An ordinary visitor visa does not list insurance among its requirements. The Super Visa for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents allows stays of five years at a time, with multiple entries for up to ten years, and has stricter conditions.

• Medical insurance of at least C$100,000 in emergency cover for health care, hospitalisation and repatriation.
• Valid for at least one year from the date of entry, and for each entry.
• Paid in full, or in instalments with a deposit; quotes are not accepted.
• From a Canadian insurer, or since 28 January 2025 from a foreign insurer authorised by Canada's insurance regulator (OSFI) and issued through its business in Canada.
• An immigration medical exam, and a host who meets the minimum income requirement.

What should a visiting parent pack?

Pack medicines in their labelled containers with a prescription or doctor's letter, plus a written list of conditions, doses and allergies.

For the US, the FDA advises keeping medicines in the original container, carrying a prescription or doctor's note in English and bringing no more than a 90-day supply. Canada requires controlled substances to be in a container from a health care provider, labelled with the patient's and prescriber's names, limited to a 90-day supply and declared on arrival. In the UK, prescription charges may still apply to visitors.

Checklist for the visit

Most problems on a visit come from gaps found too late: a policy that excludes a known condition, missing medicines, or nobody knowing who to call.

For a parent who lives in Nigeria, Kinship offers doctor calls and check-ins anywhere in Nigeria, with a Kinkeeper, the named person who coordinates.

• Check the visa rules for the exact visa your parent is applying for.
• Ask your parent's doctor for a letter listing conditions, medicines and doses.
• Pack enough medicine for the trip, in labelled containers.
• If buying insurance, check how it treats existing conditions and your parent's age.
• For a Super Visa, check the insurer qualifies and the policy is paid, not quoted.
• In England, register your parent with a GP surgery as a temporary patient; no ID or proof of immigration status is needed.
• Save the address of the nearest hospital with an emergency department.
• Keep copies of passport, visa and insurance documents on your phone.

Questions people ask

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