rpjs

The British government has announced new rules intending to crack down on so-called "health tourists" using the NHS, but they've also announced that free NHS access will be allowed for British ex-pats who are not returning to live in the UK so long as they have made ten years' of National Insurance contributions.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/ju...e-nhs-services

There's not much detail in the article so it's unclear if this privilege will be limited to UKCs only or anyone who has paid into NI for ten years, and whether voluntary NI contributions made after leaving the UK will count, but I think this could be a very big deal for many ex-pats, especially those living in countries without state-provided healthcare like the US.

Nutek

Very interesting. Thanks.

materialcontroller

This should make hungryhorace (the erstwhile higher rate taxpayer) very happy indeed.

guitarmaan

Awesome news indeed!

scrubbedexpat099

I thought it was GBP24m

hungryhorace

Of course, because my comments on this matter just reflect common sense thinking. Nice to see the UK gvt reflecting my feelings in this legislation.