nun

FYI the UK is now considering offering NHS treatment to UK expats depending on their NI record.

Lothianlad

I can confidently confirm that that will become the case in the very near future. Such has been the abuse of the UK NHS system over recent years - as in so called "Health and Benefits Tourism" - something the last UK Labour Government not only failed to deal with but actually encouraged it - that a complete overhaul of the entire system by at least the Conservative majority within the current Coalition Government has been deemed to be essential.

Stricter controls look set to come into play with regard to UK citizens now resident outside of the country, including those in EU countries, and this may well involve checks on previous NI contributions while resident in the UK prior to emigration.

I think many UK taxpayers will agree that this is fair, and when I look at my monthly salary payment slip which clearly indicates all deductions such as income tax and NIC's I have to say I think it fair, too.

We do rather resent being taken advantage of when the going is not so good or favourable in the countries they chose over their homeland.

Only saying.

Already we are over run with Eastern Europeans (and others) clogging up our doctor's surgeries, medical presciptions counters in all our chemist dispensaries, maternity wards and social welfare benefits offices.

civilservant

In which case you should all ensure that Cameron is retuned with a majority in 2015 to get the promised referendum on EU membership.

Not that a vote to leave would result in kicking all the 'foreigners' out of course.

Lanyu

Would be interesting to know where you got that information from? as I can't see how they are going to be able to afford to do that the system is already under strain

I have been unfortunate to have had motorbike accidents and emergency care is great but outpatients for treatment

4 months wait for removal of metal work
6 months for foot surgery (which was this week still in plaster)

We be interesting to know how she will go about it also

Gp-referral-scan-hospital-treatment possibly a year?

Isn't your healthcare reform happening right now? Preventative care becomes inclusive

Jerseygirl

It has been discussed in the MBTTUK forums....I seem to remember someone posting a link to the info.

NHS treatment seems to depend where you live. My MIL recently had a fall and went to the ER. The doctors noticed she had another health problem...she was booked in for a MRI, CT Scan and consult...all on the same day for the following week.

kins

If it was me I'd stay in the US and get as much treatment as I could.

However my experience is affected by watching my grandmother being treated by the NHS earlier this year. She died of cancer in May. It took weeks for her to get a diagnosis because of lack of funding. At one point they tried to send her home with no pain relief. She was suffering advanced bone cancer and had been in agony for months.

To the OP - I hope your treatment goes well wherever you end up.

DebzinUS

Health care reform is happening now. It's a joke and creating more issues than it solves.

nun

The biggest problem in the UK is not the NHS or the number of EU citizens legally resident, working in the UK and using reciprocity of health care services, it's the growth of Xenophobia.

I would keep eligibility for the NHS as it is but implement the residency rules more strictly. I would not link it in any way to NICs or taxation. Unfortunately the original caring ans socialist principles of the NHS are being lost.

Jerseygirl

I don't know why you have mentioned NI contributions...as the NHS is funded by income taxes. NI contributions fund for social services...child benefit, pensions etc.

Many of us have paid UK income taxes for decades...some at the higher tax rate...so why shouldn't we be entitled to NHS care if we move back to the UK?

Lanyu

When and if we ever make it over to the US we will have health insurance as my wife is in the healthcare industry, However if I end up in a situation where its just to expensive out of pocket I wouldn't be come back to the uk for the NHS I would look at private in south america, caribbean it would work out cheaper than coming to the UK for private especially converting $ to £


Jerseygirl
I agree with what you say although I haven't paid into it for decades its off topic from the original post and won't help the poster

Nutmegger

I agree with you absolutely, if someone moves back, they should receive the same care as any other resident under the NHS -- but is it correct for us to whip back to use the service and then return to whatever country we have retired to, when we had full knowledge of what kind of expense health care in that country entails? (Please note, I honestly don't know where I stand on that situation and am interested to hear viewpoints.)

scrubbedexpat099

You can not do Cancer treatment in a couple of weeks.

DebzinUS

Working in the healthcare industry is no guarantee of health insurance. I have worked in health care in the US for 25 years. It is a rare employer (yes, even healthcare employers) who will pay the full cost of an employees insurance premium. Its worse when you add family members.

Sally Redux

I would agree that the two situations are different but the proposed changes seem to be confusing.

Nutmegger

I was looking at the situation generally, not in a specific instance for a specific ailment.