NHS Health Care if you move back??!!!
Feb 4th 2011, 9:26 pm
#16
Ping-ponger
Joined: Jul 2002
Location: Dreich Alba
Posts: 12,024
Re: NHS Health Care if you move back??!!!
Do you think there'd be any problem with having had no recent medical history in England? I mean, all I have is an old cardboard NI card to prove the number with a long-expired address on it.
The last time I visited the Doc over there, he had an ashtray on his desk and still made house-calls.
The last time I visited the Doc over there, he had an ashtray on his desk and still made house-calls.
Last edited by dunroving; Feb 4th 2011 at 9:28 pm.
Feb 4th 2011, 10:43 pm
#17
Home Sweet Home
Joined: Jan 2010
Location: Surrey, England
Posts: 5,128
Re: NHS Health Care if you move back??!!!
I didn't have any problem either time. I knew my old NHS number off by heart but they gave me a new number anyway. Because of the increasing concern over "NHS health tourists" (expats who come back for a spell just to get free routine health care), there may be an additional level of scrutiny these days but I think it would depend on who was across the counter. I think most NHS workers are too busy to ask a bunch of questions, TBH.
I too know my old NHS number, it was on my birth certificate, but the lady told me those old letters/numbers had been replaced by a new system of just numbers these days.
Feb 5th 2011, 8:15 pm
#18
Forum Regular
Joined: Jul 2009
Location: Toronto
Posts: 220
Re: NHS Health Care if you move back??!!!
Landed back in Blighty on monday! It has been great. I just signed up at the GP's office with my NHS card. Easy as pie.
reeni
reeni
Feb 6th 2011, 12:59 am
#19
Concierge
Joined: May 2006
Location: ex ex-pat, in Taunton
Posts: 27,385
Re: NHS Health Care if you move back??!!!
OK - I think I've "sort of" got it clear - no NHS on a visit (which makes perfect sense) but if I were to move back, assuming I had been back for 12 months and was intending to stay - as a permanent resident - then I would be re-eligible.
My fear was permanent NHS exclusion even if I returned to the UK permanently. Of course rules can change and that still might happen.....sheesh
They seem to be interpreting the rules pretty tightly for that lady
My fear was permanent NHS exclusion even if I returned to the UK permanently. Of course rules can change and that still might happen.....sheesh
They seem to be interpreting the rules pretty tightly for that lady
Feb 7th 2011, 10:02 am
#20
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 263
Re: NHS Health Care if you move back??!!!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/ar...h-tourist.html
Blimey - so expats are totally ineligible for NHS care? Even as UK citizens, if we've paid taxes and continue to file UK taxes?
Sheesh -that's scary.
Blimey - so expats are totally ineligible for NHS care? Even as UK citizens, if we've paid taxes and continue to file UK taxes?
Sheesh -that's scary.
My Fiance arrived in the Uk to visit me and was taken ill, i took her to see a Doctor: NO CHARGE, Medication NO CHARGE.
I would have no fears of claiming NHS in the UK moving back, as there tends to be no problems for immigrants from South & East Europe coming into the country illegal and claiming.
Feb 7th 2011, 10:08 am
#21
Ping-ponger
Joined: Jul 2002
Location: Dreich Alba
Posts: 12,024
Re: NHS Health Care if you move back??!!!
My Fiance arrived in the Uk to visit me and was taken ill, i took her to see a Doctor: NO CHARGE, Medication NO CHARGE.
I would have no fears of claiming NHS in the UK moving back, as there tends to be no problems for immigrants from South & East Europe coming into the country illegal and claiming.
I would have no fears of claiming NHS in the UK moving back, as there tends to be no problems for immigrants from South & East Europe coming into the country illegal and claiming.
Feb 7th 2011, 11:21 am
#22
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,518
Re: NHS Health Care if you move back??!!!
My Fiance arrived in the Uk to visit me and was taken ill, i took her to see a Doctor: NO CHARGE, Medication NO CHARGE.
I would have no fears of claiming NHS in the UK moving back, as there tends to be no problems for immigrants from South & East Europe coming into the country illegal and claiming.
I would have no fears of claiming NHS in the UK moving back, as there tends to be no problems for immigrants from South & East Europe coming into the country illegal and claiming.
Feb 7th 2011, 1:11 pm
#23
Finally Home!
Joined: Mar 2010
Location: Used to be New York, now North Yorkshire
Posts: 3,610
Feb 9th 2011, 6:34 am
#24
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 35,082
Re: NHS Health Care if you move back??!!!
This is a good reminder to those long term overseas to always take insurance when you travel back to the UK
many of my friends in the UK laugh when I say I have insurance but I have always known that once you go you are not entitled to non emergency treatment. A fair system really so any visitor (non EU) whether or not Brit cit has to pay.
Good ole daily mail - would have been the first to highlight someone from India say on a visit who took medical care so why not a brit who has clearly said they are intending to return overseas -
many of my friends in the UK laugh when I say I have insurance but I have always known that once you go you are not entitled to non emergency treatment. A fair system really so any visitor (non EU) whether or not Brit cit has to pay.
Good ole daily mail - would have been the first to highlight someone from India say on a visit who took medical care so why not a brit who has clearly said they are intending to return overseas -
Feb 9th 2011, 6:47 am
#25
Ping-ponger
Joined: Jul 2002
Location: Dreich Alba
Posts: 12,024
Re: NHS Health Care if you move back??!!!
I think there is a rather vague understanding of what constitutes "emergency treatment" and I wouldn't want to be on the wrong side of the definition. If it just means stopping the bleeding and stablizing you, that may not be enough. The extra costs in getting back home in a full body cast or receiving physio to even be able to get home may not be covered unless you have travel insurance ...
Feb 9th 2011, 7:23 am
#26
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 35,082
Re: NHS Health Care if you move back??!!!
Maybe for things like repatriation costs, follow-up treatment, etc.?
I think there is a rather vague understanding of what constitutes "emergency treatment" and I wouldn't want to be on the wrong side of the definition. If it just means stopping the bleeding and stablizing you, that may not be enough. The extra costs in getting back home in a full body cast or receiving physio to even be able to get home may not be covered unless you have travel insurance ...
I think there is a rather vague understanding of what constitutes "emergency treatment" and I wouldn't want to be on the wrong side of the definition. If it just means stopping the bleeding and stablizing you, that may not be enough. The extra costs in getting back home in a full body cast or receiving physio to even be able to get home may not be covered unless you have travel insurance ...
Feb 9th 2011, 7:28 am
#27
Finally Home!
Joined: Mar 2010
Location: Used to be New York, now North Yorkshire
Posts: 3,610
Re: NHS Health Care if you move back??!!!
I think there is a rather vague understanding of what constitutes "emergency treatment" and I wouldn't want to be on the wrong side of the definition. If it just means stopping the bleeding and stablizing you, that may not be enough. The extra costs in getting back home in a full body cast or receiving physio to even be able to get home may not be covered unless you have travel insurance ...
Feb 9th 2011, 7:59 pm
#29
Concierge
Joined: May 2006
Location: ex ex-pat, in Taunton
Posts: 27,385
Re: NHS Health Care if you move back??!!!
It's for the EMERGENCY treatment only, if you need to be admitted, that is not part of the emergency treatment, so you would have to pay, plus any follow up treatment, and, as has been said, repatriation if needed.
