What NHS Continuing Healthcare is
NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) is a package of care that is arranged and funded by the NHS, usually free of charge to the person, for people who have significant ongoing healthcare needs. It is not means-tested. Where CHC applies, the NHS pays for the care — including care in a care home — rather than the person being means-tested by the local authority.
Why many families should check
CHC decisions are made against defined national criteria, but the process is complex and families often say they were not told about it. Many people who may be eligible are never assessed. If a loved one has serious ongoing health needs — not just social-care or support needs — CHC should at least be considered.
How the process typically works
- A short CHC Checklist is completed to see if a full assessment is needed.
- If the Checklist suggests further consideration, a multidisciplinary team completes the Decision Support Tool, scoring the person’s needs across twelve care domains.
- A recommendation is made on whether the person has a primary health need.
- If CHC is agreed, the NHS funds the care package.
- If declined, there is a defined appeals process.
Important things to understand
- CHC is about healthcare needs, not diagnoses. Having a particular condition does not automatically qualify or disqualify a person.
- Decisions can and do change over time as needs change. CHC is reviewed.
- Historical reviews and refunds are possible in some situations where care was paid for but should have been CHC-funded. The scope of this has narrowed over the years, so take advice promptly.
How we can help
We can explain how CHC fits with the other decisions families face, help you understand what to ask for, and point you to specialists where the position is contested.
Related questions
- Do I have to sell my house to pay for care?
- Not automatically. Whether the home is counted depends on who else lives in it and on your part of the UK. See our full guide for the hedged detail.
- How much are care home fees in 2026?
- Weekly fees vary a lot. As a very broad illustration, residential care may fall around £900–£1,500 per week, nursing care higher. Always ask the individual home for a written fee schedule.
- Is there a seven-year rule for care fees?
- No. The seven-year rule comes from inheritance tax. For care-fees deprivation-of-assets purposes there is no automatic clock.
- What is deprivation of assets?
- A rule under which the local authority can treat an asset you no longer own as still belonging to you if they conclude you transferred it with a significant purpose of avoiding care fees.