You are here: Home > Join the BMA
Membership FAQs
Updated October 2007
Q How can I pay my membership subscription?
A Over 90% of members pay their subscriptions by direct debit. This method of payment significantly reduces the Association's administrative costs, ensures quicker annual membership renewal and greatly reduces the possibility of your membership lapsing inadvertently. Paying by direct debit also helps the Association to maintain contact with members through their bank, should a change of address not have been received. You can choose to pay by direct debit monthly or annually at no extra cost. Alternatively, you can pay your subscriptions by cheque, payable to the British Medical Association.
Overseas members can set up a direct debit provided that they have a valid UK bank account from which to pay the membership subscription. However, if this is not possible, we can accept credit cards, cheques from UK banks, or sterling bankers' drafts from overseas banks. For payment by credit card the following information is required: member's name, membership number, type of card (eg: Mastercard, VISA), expiry date of card, and card number.
Q My BMA subscription is paid by direct debit and I am changing my bank account. What do I need to do?
A Write to the Membership & Professional Records Department at BMA House or telephone 020 7383 6955 (9am to 5pm only - UK time) or email membership@bma.org.uk here. The existing bank details will be removed from BMA records and a new form sent so you can continue with direct debit payments from your new account.
Q How do I find out how much I paid in subscription fees for the last three years for the Inland Revenue?
A Write to the Membership and Professional Records Department at BMA House, email membership@bma.org.uk here or telephone 020 7383 6955 (9am to 5pm only - UK time)
Q Is the membership subscription tax allowable?
A Yes, the Inland Revenue allows BMA practicing members to claim their subscriptioins for tax allowance purposes. The BMA is listed on the HM Revenue and Customs website (www.hmrc.gov.uk) amongst the many organisations whose professional fees are allowable.
Q My partner, who is eligible for membership, would like to join the BMA. Is there a reduced subscription?
A The spouse/partner concessionary rate is available to a married couple or to unmarried partners in a long term relationship with financial interdependence and a joint home. The reduction (50% of the standard subscription rate) is granted to the partner who otherwise would have paid the lesser subscription.
Contact the the Membership and Professional Records Department on 020 7383 6955 to claim this reduced rate.
Q I have just retired from practice; can I pay the retired rate?
A Retired members receive a 62.5% reduction on the standard UK subscription. They become eligible for this reduction on the subscription renewal date (1 October) following their retirement from practice. Concessionary rate claim forms are sent with the subscription renewals each year.
Q I am on maternity leave/sick leave; can I claim a reduction?
A Members who do not intend to practise for the membership year, or who expect to earn less than £8,792 gross from medical practice during the membership year, can claim the 'temporary retirement' rate of £144.00.
Q I have a low income/work part time; can I claim a reduction?
A Any UK member whose gross earnings from medical practice are not expected to exceed £32,338 gross during the October 2007 - September 2008 subscription year can claim the 'salary linked' rate of £195.00.
Read the subscription rates here.
Q I have lost my job/am unemployed. Can I claim a reduced subscription?
A Subscriptions are determined by the members's circumstances on 1 October, the start of the membership year. If a member is unemployed on that date and remains so during the subscription year, the 'temporary retirement'subscription may be claimed.
If a member becomes unemployed during the membership year the 'temporary retirement' subscription may be claimed if gross earnings from medical practice during the year do not exceed £8,792 . If earnings are not likely to exceed £32,338 gross during the membership year, then the 'salary linked' rate of £195.00 is payable.
Q I am going overseas - what happens to my membership?
A You can retain your BMA membership while overseas and continue to receive the BMJ as a benefit of membership. Because the BMA is unable to provide the full range of services to overseas members it offers a reduction on the standard UK subscription. This takes effect from the subscription renewal date following your move overseas.
Q Can I change my BMA Division?
A Yes; contact the Membership and Professional Records Department at BMA House, telephone 020 7383 6955 (9am to 5pm only - UK time) or email membership@bma.org.uk here.
Q CanI receive BMA News as a retired member?
A Yes. Although BMA News is not automatically sent to retired members it can be sent on request. Write to the Membership and Professional Records Department at BMA House or telephone 020 7383 6642 (9am to 5pm only - UK time) or email membership@bma.org.uk here.
Q I have lost my membership card. Can I obtain a replacement?
A Yes. Write to the Membership and Professional Records Department at BMA House, email membership@bma.org.uk here or telephone 020 7383 6955 (9am to 5pm only - UK time).
Membership and Professional Records Department, BMA House, Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9JP.
Fax: 020 7383 6494
Email here to: membership@bma.org.uk