Can an NHS dentist do this?

[Lazaruseifer]

I have an appointment with an NHS dentist and I phoned the other to ask them about my treatment and she said that I have to pay and then claim the charges back even though I have a HC1 form.

 

Is this true?

 

Can a dentist just do this?

[Helen2264]

I have an appointment with an NHS dentist and I phoned the other to ask them about my treatment and she said that I have to pay and then claim the charges back even though I have a HC1 form.

 

Is this true?

 

Can a dentist just do this?

 

I have an NHS dentist I've never had to pay for anything all they wanted to see was a letter from the DWP saying I am in receipt of JSA. HC1 are you receiving Incapacity Benefit? people on Incapacity Benefit have to pay for most things themselves.

[ErikaPNP]

Yes, an NHS dentist can do this, until you can produce a valid certificate of exemption or a benefit award notice which verifies your entitlement to free/help with dental treatment. An HC1 form is not verification of entitlement to free treatment; it's just a claim form. You need to complete this and send it off. If you qualify for help, they will send you the exemption certificate HC2 (full help) or HC3 (partial help).

 

If you are in receipt of certain benefits (income based benefit only), your letter of entitlement can be produced as verification. If you are on an income based benefit and you don't have your entitlement letter, you can ask for a copy at any time from the office which deals with your benefit.

 

Link

[Lazaruseifer]

Akh, I am sorry, I have a HC2 form, not a HC1 form...

[ErikaPNP]

In that case, all you need to do is produce it. They can only charge you the fee if you cannot prove entitlement. A current HC2 certificate is a valid form of proof and you should not have to pay and claim a refund later if you can produce the HC2.

 

If you told them on the phone that it was an HC1 form then what they told you was correct - you would have to pay and then see about a refund as an HC1 isn't proof of exemption. Perhaps some crossed wires?

[Lazaruseifer]

Quite possible, thanks for the info. A+++