英国看病全免费？留学生就医3大绝招

 　　Understanding the British medical system can seem like an insurmountable 点击发音 task. I’ve lived in England for most of my 21 years, and I still struggle to get my head around it. For international students used to more straightforward¹ healthcare services at home, it can be even more daunting²: my mum arrived in London from Australia when she herself was 21, and ended up paying for expensive private appointments for the first couple of years, simply because nobody had explained the concept of the National Health Service (NHS) to her!

　　想要了解英国的医疗制度，简直就像不可能的事。21岁以前，我大都在英国度过，却依然不怎么会看医生。对于国际学生，习惯了自己国家医疗系统的直接明了，在腐国看病就更加细思恐极了。我娘亲21岁时从澳大利亚来到英国，就因为没人给她解释英国的国民医疗制度，头几年都是自掏腰包，去土豪的私人诊所看病！

　　Of course, private healthcare has its benefits – and we will look at those in future articles, as well as many other medical topics. But even still, every international student arriving in this country on a course of 6 months or more is entitled to free treatment via the NHS, and should know how to access it. Here are 3 steps to get you started: don’t wait until you get ill, get cracking now!

　　当然，私人医疗也有好处，看东西之后会再详细说，还会引入更多有关医疗的窍门。但是即便如此，留学生来英国，只要是上超过六个月的课程，都有权享受国民医疗制度（NHS），理应知道如何免费看病。赶紧来看看以下三个入门步骤吧！别等生病了再手忙脚乱，现在开始，时刻准备着！

　　英国看病全免费？留学生就医3大绝招

　　PAYING YOUR INTERNATIONAL HEALTH SURCHARGE FEE

　　支付国际医疗附加费

　　When people describe the NHS as being “free”, what they really mean is that it is “free at the point of service” – i.e. you don’t pay for individual appointments or treatments, and are entitled to as many of those as you need. Of course (as you economics students out there will know), the funding for that has to come from somewhere. Because the NHS is a public service, it is largely financed by taxing British citizens, who are then able to access healthcare without paying anything extra.

　　总听说NHS免费，实际上是“医疗服务免费”。也就是说，不用为私人预约或治疗付费，并且有权享受一些其他你需要的服务。当然，为了提供免费医疗，政府总得从别处筹集资金（学经济的肯定明白）。因为NHS是公共服务，大部分资金来源于英国人纳税，因此英国人不必付任何其他费用，即可享受免费医疗。

　　In the past, this worked out awesomely³ for international students in the UK, who could get this free treatment without being impacted by the taxes. However, with the NHS struggling in recent years, there’s been more pressure to balance the books, and make sure that everyone who is accessing public care is contributing towards it. Starting from 6th April 2015, this means that non-European students in the UK will have to pay a ?150 annual medical surcharge on any new visa they receive, which can be transferred as part of the online visa application process. (Don’t worry if you applied⁴ for your latest visa before that date, you’ll be exempt⁵ – at least until your next application!) ?150 might seem steep, but actually is a small price to pay to cover yourself for the year, and not worry too much about those nagging⁶ coughs and colds.

　　过去，英国的国际学生也能像本地人一样享受免费医疗，还不用纳任何税！然而随着NHS近几年步入窘境，压力越来越大，NHS要保持收支平衡，确保每个享受医疗服务的人都做了贡献。2015年4月6日开始，在英国留学的非欧洲学生，必须每年缴纳150英镑的医疗附加费，无论拿的是哪种新型签证。现在这已经是在线申请签证的必经过程（如果你是在这之前申请的签证，就不必支付此费用——直到你下次申请签证！）。150英镑看起来略贵，但能够保证一年的免费医疗，其实挺划算的，感冒和咳嗽时不时找上门，也不必烦恼了！

　　REGISTERING WITH YOUR LOCAL GP

　　找当地的全科医生注册

　　Once you’ve paid the medical surcharge on your visa (or not, if you applied before 6th April!), you’re ready to register yourself with your local GP (general practitioner). GPs are the gateway⁷ to treatment in the UK: you generally wouldn’t drop into a hospital unless you have had an accident, and it’s almost impossible to get access to a specialist without first getting a referral from your local doctor.

　　办签证时支付了医疗附加费之后（如果在4月6号之前申请就不用支付），就可以找当地的全科医师注册了。找全科医师预约，是在英国看病的第一步：除非你遭遇了事故，否则一般不会去医院。如果不通过全科医师转诊，也没法去看专科医生。

　　Most universities will have a nearby health centre that they recommend, or alternatively you can check in the NHS directory. To register, you simply need to turn up during working hours, ask to be set up with the NHS, and fill out some forms (make sure you bring your passport, student card and proof of address, as well as any other important documents). Before you know it, you should have your own shiny NHS card arriving through the post.

　　大部分大学都有推荐附近的医疗中心，或者也可以在NHS目录查找。只要在工作时间前往申请注册NHS，填填表格，就能完成注册（记得带上护照、学生证、地址证明等重要材料）。很快，腐国邮政系统就会寄来全新医保卡一张！

　　GETTING AN APPOINTMENT

　　预约医生

　　This is the final step, and by far the easiest. You simply need to call your GP (or rather, their office) during working hours to make an appointment. Depending on how busy your local centre is, it could take anything from a day to a couple of weeks to find a time that works – although I always find that those 8am slots are best for quick treatment!

　　这是最后一步，也是最简单的一步。只要在工作时间，联系你的全科医生，或者打电话到他办公室，预约看诊即可。等待的时间从一天到数周不等，取决于当地诊所有多忙。不过听哥一句，快速检查小痛小痒，约早上八点最好！

　　Once you’re actually in the room with your doctor, you’ll have all kinds of other questions – and we’ll look to cover those in future KDS articles. Until then, hope you all stay in good health!

　　在诊所见到医生，一定会有一大堆问题要问——不急，请期待看东西之后的文章，大家一定保持身板壮壮，且听下回分解！

1 straightforward   

adj.正直的，坦率的；易懂的，简单的

参考例句：

• A straightforward talk is better than a flowery speech.巧言不如直说。
• I must insist on your giving me a straightforward answer.我一定要你给我一个直截了当的回答。

2 daunting   

adj.使人畏缩的

参考例句：

• They were faced with the daunting task of restoring the house.他们面临着修复房子的艰巨任务。
• Starting a new job can be a daunting prospect.开始一项新工作有时会让人望而却步。

3 awesomely   

赫然

参考例句：

• The land is flat, and the views are awesomely extensive. 这里地势平坦，其视野之开阔令人敬畏。 来自互联网
• Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. 让简单事情变复杂是平庸；让复杂事情变简单，惊人地简单，是创造力。 来自互联网

4 applied   

adj.应用的；v.应用，适用

参考例句：

• She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
• This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。

5 exempt   

adj.免除的；v.使免除；n.免税者，被免除义务者

参考例句：

• These goods are exempt from customs duties.这些货物免征关税。
• He is exempt from punishment about this thing.关于此事对他已免于处分。

6 nagging   

adj.唠叨的，挑剔的；使人不得安宁的v.不断地挑剔或批评（某人）( nag的现在分词 )；不断地烦扰或伤害（某人）；无休止地抱怨；不断指责

参考例句：

• Stop nagging—I'll do it as soon as I can. 别唠叨了—我会尽快做的。
• I've got a nagging pain in my lower back. 我后背下方老是疼。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 gateway   

n.大门口，出入口，途径，方法

参考例句：

• Hard work is the gateway to success.努力工作是通往成功之路。
• A man collected tolls at the gateway.一个人在大门口收通行费。