jago25_98

I was told today that because I am out of the UK I have to pay for NHS treatment.

I don´t mind paying if I´m in work but I am worried that once I go this route it may be hard to reverse the situation back if I should lose my job. I get UK only healthcare coverage from work which I have been unable to use because NHS waiting lists are so long and doctors won´t give me an appointment for the specialist direct (2 week wait to see the GP then a 3 week wait for the specialist means 5 weeks in the UK unable to work).

On the one hand my symptoms are not yet life threatening. On the other, I could have cancer and this has been going on for years now.

paulpur

if you are non-resident of the UK then yes you are not entitled to free healthcare under the NHS , however, should you become resident of the UK again then from the day you become resident in the UK then you will be entitled to free healthcare under the NHS again.

dunroving

What do you mean by "it may be hard to reverse the situation back if I should lose my job"? You don't say where you are living but regardless of your employment status, if you are in the EU, you are eligible for government-subsidized healthcare in whatever form that takes. If you are outside the EU, perhaps you could explain your situation in more detail (I'm not sure for example how your employer provides UK healthcare if you live outside the UK).

From what you have said so far, the previous post is correct - you are not eligible for routine NHS health care.

Also, 5 weeks to see a specialist on the NHS seems very optimistic. I am still waiting to see a specialist more than 12 months after a referral from my GP.