Sally Redux

What about de free money and free house mon?

nun

Good point, it's a very limited problem. The biggest issue that this thread exposes is the lack of understanding about who has free access to the NHS. If you live in the UK you get free care. It doesn't matter about your accent, colour, religion or wealth. If immigration lets you in to live then you get the NHS.

I've been paying Medicare taxes and private health insurance premiums in the US for 25 years. But if I retire early, say at 55, my insurance premiums will go from $100/month to $500/month and Medicare won't start until I'm 65. So my plan is to return to the UK where I can get care free on the NHS. I don't mind that I'll have paid a lot in Medicare taxes and won't be using the system as it's part of the "social contract".

nun

If I was UK resident I could get treated for that for free on the NHS. But I live in the US so my US insurance will have to pay for it, even if I'm visiting the UK.

Giantaxe

I'd like to see their methodology for coming up with that number. For example, how are they estimating the cost of treatment for expats who return to Britain for the purpose of using the NHS? We've seen from this message board that many people have "flown under the radar" and got treatment that in reality they should have paid for. I doubt this is a huge financial drain, but it must be difficult to come up with an accurate assessment of the likely cost.

rpjs

http://tinyurl.com/6dr6y7b

Giantaxe

And the most pertinent part of the report would appear to be this:

"The figure is “bound to be an underestimate” since new rules intended to prevent the abuse of the NHS by foreign patients are being ignored, according to the report. "

Again, I wonder about the methodology used to come up with the estimate given that the report itself concludes it's an underestimate.

Ozzidoc

[QUOTE=nun;9648354]As pointed out many times before free NHS care is based solely on residency in the UK, not on anything you've paid. QUOTE]

NHS care is not free. It's currently free at point of use, but it is NOT free.

Sally Redux

Eligibility is not based on what you've paid in, though.

nun

[QUOTE=Ozzidoc;9649199] Yes Yes "free at the point of use" sorry for being lazy. The point is that it does not depend on what you pay as an individual in tax of NI etc. You get the same level of free at point of use care if you are homeless or if you're a banker.

Interesting to Google that report on "health tourism" and read the coverage by the Guardian and then the Daily Mail. The Guardian concludes that it's not a big problem, the Mail says it's "rife". I know which paper I trust to look at the report and present a rational piece of journalism

scrubbedexpat099

[QUOTE=nun;9649247] Neither?

I wonder if it includes health?

Ja5on

Also the fact that people are going and getting treatment then leaving.....At which point do they realize that someone has used the system that wasn't meant to? I'm sure people use the NHS that aren't supposed to and the NHS has no idea. I think that is the real problem.

On a side note I have been saying for a while now that the NHS should charge a standard fee for seeing a Dr, even if it's only 10 pounds. It would free up a lot of offices! They charge for prescriptions now a days and no one seems too upset about that.

nun

That's a bad idea...I don't agree with prescription chargers as well. Free at the point of service is crucial so that there is no barrier for people to see a doctor. For the poor a small charge, even if it is reimbursed, can be a discouragement. Access to healthcare is vital for public health. I believe it's why the UK is healthier than the US.

Bomjeito

Interestingly, the local GP where I lived in Scotland, would not see me based on my spouse visa (residency) but would only register me (or see me) when I got my NI card.

So obviously NHS within themselves doesn't really know what they are to do in the first place.

And even though we've not lived there in over a year, I'm sure if I went back to them, they'd see me without a question? I never planned to go back to them as we are expats now and covered here in the USA, and we honestly thought not paying into NI meant no NHS services. We were wrong! So go figure! Obviously the average person doesn't really know the rules, but those who want to take advantage DO know the rules and know that the NHS folks are powerless or unsure of the rules. I'm glad they are tightening these rules and enforcing.

Bomjeito

I think a nominal fee to see the GP or nurse is absolutely a practical idea.

Prescriptions are free in Scotland, btw. Started last year. Amazing. Especially with a $100 prescription deductible we have with our US insurance, CIGNA.

Ja5on

Yeah, as are college fees.....Maybe the Scotts should start paying their way!