Ruthie_S

We are returning to the UK for a holiday in July - the first time since moving to the U.S. last summer. We will be staying in England and Scotland. Do we still have NHS entitlement in both countries? Thanks for any advice

Sue

I believe that free treatment on the NHS in England is based on residency, not nationality. So if you are not resident and you need to be treated you may be asked to pay for the services you receive.

http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/1086.aspx

MarylandNed

One piece of advice - do not skimp on travel insurance. There are many reasons (besides medical coverage) that you might need travel insurance (e.g. trip interruption, trip cancellation, repatriation, lost luggage, car rental loss/damage, help in other emergency situations, etc.)

A good place to start is http://www.insuremytrip.com/ which helps you find and compare travel insurance policies.

I recommend CSA - you'll find them at http://www.insuremytrip.com/ but they also have their own web site at http://www.csatravelprotection.com/. CSA, along with several other companies, offer trip cancellation "for any reason" as long as you purchase their travel insurance within a certain time from your initial trip payment. Otherwise, trip cancellation insurance is restricted to those reasons explicitly stated in their policies.

Yorkieabroad

We've used the NHS a few times over the years when we've been visiting, mainly when the kids were young. We have always had coverage via our main (us) medical insurance or via standalone travel insurance. I have always made sure that they knew at the time of treatment that we were non-resident, and that we should be paying for it, but we have never been charged. In my experience (which is all small town N Yorkshire - big city may be different) the doctors surgeries and small hospital we have used had no idea how to go about raising an invoice. On more than one occasion we were told that we didn't have to pay as I am British, even though I explained our situation. Just did not compute. Like I said, this was small town stuff- maybe a big city hospital/surgery will be more up to speed on the rules, but maybe not.....

hungryhorace

Wow. I would never do such a thing. Frankly, my higher (and top) rate taxes when I lived in the UK contributed to the NHS so if I ever visit the UK I will feel a total sense of entitlement that the NHS should treat me for 100% for free should I be unfortunate enough to require a hospital visit.

Though, I think your experience sums it up: the hospitals aren't exactly going to look to charge a British citizen for treatment. They're on the lookout for medical tourists, which you, I and British citizens here are clearly not.

Sally Redux

Yes they are. But anyone is entitled to emergency treatment.

SanDiegogirl

Visitors can get emergency treatment without being charged.

If one is on vacation, then I assume that you only visit the doctor/hospital if it is an emergency.

How one would go and see a GP for non emergency issues I don't know.

If treated at a hospital, one would be stabilised etc but any additional hopitalisation and ongoing treatment would be chargeable.

Always have good travel/medical insurance coverage to cover such emergencies.

Yorkieabroad

To be honest, whether you feel entitled or not doesn't really come into it. I'm still paying taxes and NI in the UK, but the eligibility is based on residency, not current or previous tax status, so I'm not entitled to it (although emergency is covered for all, as others have noted). Basically I tried to "do the right thing" but the facilities there weren't set up to handle it.

Speedwell

Eligibility is tricky. I was eligible for the NHS while on a Tier 2 work visa, but only in Scotland. I could have needed a medication refill while I was there, but it turned out I didn't. I'm still not sure how I would have signed up with a surgery.

Sue

Actually there are British citizens who use the NHS as "medical tourists"

Over the 13 years I've been on BE, I've known a number of British expats who have lived abroad for many, many years and yet despite not being resident in the UK go back for treatment and lie about where they live. I'm not referring to people who have only been abroad 5-10 years but people who left the UK in the 20s/30s and have been abroad 20+ years. It's more prevalent than you realize.

For example: In one case a husband and wife who were living abroad (not Europe) went back the UK to get treatment and even managed to get a council house (despite having property in their new country) and then when the treatment was finished and they were well again they went back to their home abroad.

Bob

Definitely want travel insurance. Repatriation costs are mega if you get thumped badly.

Anyway, ER would be good for emergencies, but wouldn't want to rely on it if you had a upset stomach.

Wouldn't also rely on the doctors office not being able to charge you any more. Sure, a lot probably won't, but there are a awful lot that do these days.

christmasoompa

You'd be surprised. My husband, British born and bred, was asked for proof of residency following a traffic accident and plastic surgery (on his hand rather than for vanity's sake!).

We didn't know why at the time but can only assume they found something from our time in Canada in his wallet.

He was also a higher rate tax payer and had paid taxes for 20+ years, but we wouldn't have taken NHS treatment for free if we hadn't been resident in the UK at the time. Surely if you do then you're also a 'medical tourist'?

nun

I hate the term "born and bred" and as has been pointed out it has no bearing at all on NHS eligibility. Also whether you pay UK tax at what ever level also has no connection to NHS eligibility.

If you are in the UK and need emergency treatment that is free at the point of service on the NHS, ongoing treatment is free at the point of service for all residents and is paid for from general taxation. Medical tourism takes up a very small percentage of the NHS budget, but is wrong no matter who is doing it. The NHS should err on the side of treatment, but I see no problem in requiring the patient to prove residency or show an NHS card.

christmasoompa

I know being 'born and bred' in the UK has no bearing on NHS entitlement, I was just responding to hungryhorace who said that NHS staff were on the lookout for medical tourists which 'British citizens here clearly are not'. My point was that being an obviously British citizen means diddly squat and they can still ask you for proof of residency.

And in case your second paragraph was also aimed at me and I didn't make it clear in my previous post, I totally agree. A medical tourist is a medical tourist regardless of nationality or taxes paid.

Sally Redux

The best bit is when they crow about living in their wonderful new country with lower taxes.