evelyned

Hi guys,

not been here for a while but now that we are almost settled into our new lives, little questions keeps coming up!

My husband (UK citizen) has been approved PR for Canada since October and he now has his health card for Quebec. He is going back to the UK regularly to do some work. The business is still registered there, he is filing a tax return and pays taxes. Will he need health travel insurance for the UK??

Thanks!

Almost Canadian

Where does he ordinarily reside?

Novocastrian

Technically and legally, that's exactly the right question, but, practically, "is he still registered with a GP?" might be more pertinent.

evelyned

Resides in Canada. Yes still has a GP. I'm more concern that if the worst was to happen and he gets stuck in a hospital for days, are we still covered by NHS?

Aviator

For the little cost, get travel insurance. An annual policy cost next to nothing compared to the hassle if something goes wrong.

Juggernaut1064

I was recently in the UK for a visit and left my meds at my sisters (had a stent fitted) i just gave a doctor my name and up popped all my details and he wrote me a prescription right there.. That was just over nine years since i saw a UK doctor, Oh on top of that i wound up at hospital too, twisted my ankle a bit but being on blood thinners my ankle/foot looked like a tank had driven over it and my sister insisted i went to a hospital, Again no issues . i was Xrayed to make sure nothing broken and sent away no charges etc.

evelyned

Wow, 9 years, that's good to know!

That's why I am a little confused. When I got to the UK for the first time, I was only travelling and when I went to the Doctors, everything was free... But now, even though we still pay taxes there we are technically not allowed to use it?!

I am quite a worrier though and tend to do things by the book so not sure what to do...

Also, we now know that my husband has high cholesterol so it's likely his travel insurance will go up.

Juggernaut1064

Its all electronic as i found out, i wasn't sure what would happen although i am covered through my jobs health care abroad. they had my last address and doctor, all my records popped up and no issues what so ever. Oh i did pay more than most for my meds because i don't live there but wasn't a lot at all. Oh i have high cholesterol too, don't you have any health cover through work ? If so it should cover you too mine with GWL covered me for everything while outside of Canada but i suppose it depends on what cover your company negotiated ?

scilly

I have had high cholestrol and high blood pressure since about 2002.

Both are well-managed and controlled.

We have travelled to Europe, Australia, the UK, and into America since then ....... and the cost of my travel insurance has never been affected. It's been the same cost for both my OH and myself.


You do have to tell the travel insurance provider that you have the condition, along with any other pre-existing conditions such as having had cancer. They will ask if you have seen a doctor for that problem within the last 3 or 6 months, and if there have been any medication changes. If the answer is no, then the cost does not increase.


We do always go to an Insurance Broker to buy our travel insurance.

scilly

look at this site for more information ..........

Pre-existing Condition Coverage | Travel Insurance Review

Juggernaut1064

Not 100% sure but thats not relevant as you are a citizen of the UK and even though after a while things change your still entitled to medical care ? As i said i was 9 years, anyone else on here have input about this ?

Siouxie

Advice for overseas visitors - The NHS in England - NHS Choices

It tells you here.

The NHS is a residence-based healthcare system.

Some people who are not ordinary residents in the UK are still entitled to at least some hospital treatment free of charge. These include those working for UK-based employers and students on courses of at least six months in duration. UK state pensioners living outside the EEA, and those visiting from countries that have a reciprocal healthcare agreement with the UK, are also entitled to free hospital treatment, but not pre-planned treatment or treatment that can await their return home. For more information see the exemption categories listed below.

If you need hospital treatment during your stay in the UK, ensure you can provide evidence that you are entitled to free treatment. For ordinary residents, this means showing that you are lawfully and properly settled in the UK (for example, showing a passport/visa plus rental agreements, utility bill, etc). For those that are exempt from charges, this will likely include your immigration status plus evidence of study/work, or which country you are visiting from, as appropriate. If you cannot provide evidence showing you are entitled to free treatment then the hospital will charge you.

Look at the exempt from charges dropdown at the bottom of the page, he could technically be able to obtain services as he is self employed.

"Former UK residents of 10 continuous years or more who are now working abroad (including self employed people) for not more than five years"

"Anyone who is working in the UK for a UK-based employer or who is self-employed in the UK. This does not include people looking for work"

Novocastrian

No, you're not covered by NHS.

Juggernaut1064

hmm i got drugs and xray no charges or questions ? My sister blabbed i live in Canada and still no issues ?

mikelincs

It will really depend on whether your Dr knows you now live outside the UK, you should, legally, have told them you were no ;onger living in the UK, then they will have that info when they put the details in the computer, technically speaking you MAY be committing some sort of fraud. With a curremt crackdown on health tourism, and treating expats that have no valid right it may well become harder. Interestingly enough, when we retirned to the UK after 5 years to the same town we left from, the local surgery hd still got me registered as a patient, but my wife had been removed from their records.