NHS Continuing Care Deadline Is Imminent
The deadline for people to claim back wrongly paid care fees in the UK is looming. Anyone who believes they are owed for NHS Continuing Care has until 30th September to submit a claim and the cut-off date is imminent.
The Department of Health (DH) announced in March that Britons disputing fees paid between 1st April 2004 and 31st March 2011 have until the end of September to register for a refund.
Over the past couple of years thousands of elderly pensioners have been forced to use their savings or sell their homes to pay for care that should have been funded by the Government. Anyone who thinks they have incorrectly paid for continuing care at home or in a care home need to act fast- you have until 30th September to submit an assessment of eligibility.
After the looming deadline, no-one will be able to claim back fees for care provided between 1st April 2004 and 31st March 2011. Claims with special extenuating circumstances can be considered and even if the patient in question is now deceased, relatives can still submit a claim.
People questioning fees paid for care provided between 1st April 2011 and 21st March 2012 have until the later date of 31st March 2013 to ask for an assessment.
The DH introduced the deadlines to give people the opportunity to have their cases examined as soon as possible. From 1st April 2013, the responsibility for NHS Continuing Healthcare assessments passes to the newly formed Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs). The aim is that the cut-off deadlines will make the handover easier.
This article was provided by Cheselden, the leading Continuing Care Review specialists.
