Auld Yin

Am I wrong in assuming she provides a UK address? I had a cousin who once returned on vacation from South Africa for a cancer operation. She lied as to her residency and, of course, received free treatment. She wasn't a happy camper when I told her she was a lying cheat.

livermanl

In my view if i got something like cancer i would try and move back purely for the NHS i know too many people in Canada that have had cancer and the treatments in Canada are not as great as in the UK.

But then i would actually be going back to 'live' and not just on holiday...

fledermaus

I'm also pretty certain, but don't have time to look it up, that the free emergency treatment is only for the first 48? hours, so if you needed to be in hospital for longer then you pay for that part of the treatment. Maybe someone could look this up and check please?

ray1968

The treatment in Canada is actually very good at least in Ontario in Toronto . Very good hospitals - the drugs being covered for the main part by OHIP. As good as anything you'd probably get in the UK.


Cancer survival rates are higher in Canada then the UK
http://news.scotsman.com/health/UK--...ies.4296430.jp

livermanl

It's more a question of the fact that 3 people in my wifes family have had cancer and out of all of them the best and fastest treatment was given to her aunty who would not have died had they left it.

Her uncle has had cancer for 2 years now and has had 3 different treatments and is on his last one next week b4 they pull the plug and her other aunty had part of her intestines removed to get rid of the cancer and she now cannot work for fear of bowel movemnets.

My aunty had lung cancer in england and the next day she started Chemo and radio...

So for me it's purely personal experiances.

ray1968

I have also had personal experiences ...we'll have to agree to disagree

Jerseygirl

I can't find anything about that.

There is an interesting section on this page entitled 'Am I entitled to Primary Care Services?'

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/E...able/DH_074387

calgaryowl

The problem with cancer treatment in the UK is its a post code lottery. So if you returned to wrong area you could get very treatment, which stinks to be honest.

spooooook

How can you possibly equate someone who has never paid anything into the system with someone who has?

Disappointing to see that the disgraceful New Labour tactic of playing the race card against anyone who doesn't share your point of view is alive and well, even amongst ex-pats

livermanl

As someone else pointed out it's like insurance...If you drive your car uninsured don't expect a payout...

Also to point out that the tax that funds the NHS among other things is Called National Insurance...When was the last time you paid for that?

spooooook

Errrr, I'm still paying it....

Souvenir

Oddly enough, the UK is probably the only country I am ever likely to vist where I don't have medical coverage.

livermanl

Then you must still be living there or at least working for the UK in some form.

Also i am pretty sure that if you work for a UK company but live abroad you can apply for rebates on services you do not recieve (???) not too sure but some tax guru might be able to shed more light on this.

Souv - what do you mean do you have an international medical insurance plan?

TrishP

It happens here in Ontario, it's not just a British sentiment - I work as a therapist in the accident benefits side of auto insurance here in Ontario and wish I had a loonie for every time a client got huffy when the insurer won't pay for something, citing their entitlement as they'd paid insurance for years and never made a claim before ... tis human nature, not just a British-ism.

Jerseygirl

National Insurance contributions have nothing to do with the NHS. NI contributions pay for social security benefits ie pensions.

NHS is funded from income taxes.