miami078

Hi Everybody

I wonder if somebody can advice what type of health insurance I need to cover me whilst I return back to the UK. I am a permanent resident of the USA and have just been diagnosed with a chronic medical condition. During this time I want to go home and be with my family for a few months. I am aware I am not eligible for NHS (unless going back to live permanently which at this stage I haven't decided if I want to do). Nor would I abuse the NHS system by attempting to gain access to their services when I am not a permanent resident of the UK. Even though I have continued to pay NI contributions for the 2 years I have been in the USA - I think I am correct in saying I am still not eligible for the NHS.

I am aware I need private insurance but I wondered what type would be most appropiate - particularly if during my stay in the UK I require hospital care. Should I be applying for travel insurance from the USA or alternatively am I eligible for BUPA within the UK?

Also I am having difficulty finding the cost of NHS hospital care for non permanent residents. I wanted to estimate this in order to decide the best private healthcare insurance to buy.

Any help would be much appreciated.

fatbrit

As a visitor, you're covered for emergency treatment by the NHS, anyway. So the answer would be that you don't need travel insurance for health care costs if visiting the UK.

Jerseygirl

Our US healthcare insurance covers us for trips overseas.

As well as emergency NHS treatment...treatment by a GP is entirely and the doctor's/clinic's discretion. They may charge you but there again they may not.

The NHS if funded mainly by British taxpayers...not by National Insurance. NI funds pensions, social security, child benefit etc.

Mummy in the foothills

Our Anthem blue cross covers us internationally. Check with your healthcare provider.
Doesn't regular travel insurance cover to fly you home if something happens?
We have AAA and can have travel insurance through them.

Jscl

I don't know if health insurance is what you need as you can still opt to go privately for any consultation or operation you might need, just you would have to pay for that service, rather than pay through insurance. If you are just visiting for a few months then pay as you go might be more suitable, depending on your circumstances. This list of approximate costs might help you:
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/focus/selfpay/costs.htm

It would all depend on what you think you might need (medically) while you're over there.

Sally Redux

Our US insurance only covers us for emergencies overseas. I think this would be the same with travel insurance. It sounds as though OP is asking about treatment for an ongoing chronic condition.

Jerseygirl

Yes it does...the if the OP has US health insurance she should check to see what the overseas coverage is.

Sally Redux

Yes that would be a good starting-point.

nun

Your US insurance policy might cover any necessary treatment in the UK. You should check with your insurance company and obviously you should coordinate your trip with your US doctor to avoid the need for treatment outside the US and take a supply of required medication. You will find it very hard to get costs of treatment from the NHS. They are just not set up to do that routinely. But if you need anything other than emergency treatment you should tell the NHS doctor/admin folks that you are not UK resident. Even then it's up to the NHS hospital whether or not to charge you.

Also your NI contributions have nothing to do with your eligibility for the NHS. The sole criterion is UK residency! So it is your responsibility to plan for your care if you come to the UK for an extended period as a non-resident.

thinbrit

I'm curious how the NHS would know if you are a resident or not.
I don't ever recall being asked to prove residency before.

The legality aside, and speaking hypothetically. If I boarded a UK bound plane (shudders at the thought) and upon arrival went to my old doctor and booked an appointment, what would alert them to my US citizenship and non UK residency? During my swearing in ceremony I renounced my UK citizenship. I don't think HRH was informed, let alone the NHS

nun

Nothing would alert them and if you have an NHS number I can't imagine that the NHS would charge anything if you kept quite about your residency. Of course you'd have to live with your dishonesty.

FYI by becoming a US citizen you have NOT renounced your UK citizenship. You have sworn to renounce "allegiance and fidelity" to the UK, but only to the US authorities, the UK still considers you a citizen with the same rights and responsibilities as before. You have to apply to the UK Government to renounce UK citizenship.

Sally Redux

There might be a query of someone else is at your old address I suppose. If you've kept your old house they probably wouldn't know. A lot of people seem to do this.

thinbrit

Solemnly, freely, and without mental reservation, I hereby renounce under oath all allegiance to any foreign state. My fidelity and allegiance from this day forward is to the United States of America. I pledge to support, honor, and be loyal to the United States, its Constitution, and its laws. Where and if lawfully required, I further commit myself to defend the Constitution and laws of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, either by military, noncombatant, or civilian service. This I do solemnly swear, so help me God.

Now Liz may not recognize it, but I did renounce my allegiance. So if I'm still a Brit, I'm hoping she doesn't have me hung as a traitor

ian-mstm

Citizenship isn't determined by allegiance, ergo, you didn't renounce your UK citizenship.

Ian

nun

What you said to the US does not affect your UK citizenship. I took exactly the same oath as you and hold dual citizenship and travel with two passports. You can pretty much ignore your UK citizenship though as you don't have any requirements like you do with US citizenship ie tax filing and being banned from travel to certain countries. However, having a UK passport helps in travel around the EU and you can always live and work in the EU.