NHS cover on visit to UK

[MacManiac]

My darling wife wishes to visit the UK in the next few months for a short visit. I suspect she is not eligible for NHS care but her pre-existing conditions may make health insurance prohibitive. Can anyone suggest the best way to proceed?

[souniman]

Your wife can apply for an EHIC European Health Insurance Certificate. You can get a from from the citizens advise center. This allows for emergency cover from the NHS. It does not cover for Private treatment.
HTH

[souniman]

More info here
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... tudent.pdf

[MacManiac]

I am very much obliged for these helpful postings. Thank you, Souniman

[Kili01]

However, to actually get it, you may be asked to,provide a UK address, when your application has arrived in the UK. Since Brexit some procedures have changed.

[PolemIan]

However, to actually get it, you may be asked to,provide a UK address, when your application has arrived in the UK. Since Brexit some procedures have changed.

Why? It’s a card issued for residents of European countries. Available by appointment at Citizens Service Centres.

Ian

[galexinda]

Also the S1 form has a provision for people for using NHS facilities so worth contacting the relevant department (S1 issuer) in the UK.
We have an EHIC card issued by the UK as part of the S1 package.

From the link below: ''Getting treatment in the UK
Some former UK residents do not have to pay for NHS treatment when visiting England. This includes:
... UK nationals living in the EU on or before 31 December 2020, once they have a registered, UK-issued S1''

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/healthcare- ... -in-the-uk

[WHL]

However, to actually get it, you may be asked to,provide a UK address, when your application has arrived in the UK. Since Brexit some procedures have changed.

Not correct.

[souniman]

I have a card issued in Cyprus valid for 5 years. If you have one issued in the UK unless you have a UK address it is not valid

[Kili01]

I applied to the UK for an EHIC card last year but was told I wasn't eligible unlessI I had a UK address. Blame Brexit.
However I have been told that the NHS will provide emergency care, but bearing in mind the curren t state of the NHS and the very long waits for anything concerning health treatment, I wouldn't rely on it.

A friend living in the UK wanted to get an appt with-her GP, but there would be such a long wait to see any doctor there, she has opted to go private. Even then this doctor offered an appt after 2
weeks.

Not good.But I'm telling it like it is.

[souniman]

To make this clear here is a paste from the EEC website clearly stating that the card can be used in the UK
https://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?ca ... &langId=en

A free card that gives you access to medically necessary, state-provided healthcare during a temporary stay in any of the 27 EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland or the United Kingdom under the same conditions and at the same cost (free in some countries) as people insured in that country. The benefits covered include, for example, benefits provided in conjunction with chronic or existing illnesses as well as in conjunction with pregnancy and childbirth.

Here is a link to the form and how to obtain card
https://www.moh.gov.cy/Moh/MOH.nsf/All/ ... C%2020.pdf

I too have heard from friends who have had problems seeing a GP or specialist in England although relatives in Scotland do not seem to have the same problems
I think it much depends on where you live.

[PolemIan]

I applied to the UK for an EHIC card last year but was told I wasn't eligible unlessI I had a UK address. Blame Brexit.
However I have been told that the NHS will provide emergency care, but bearing in mind the curren t state of the NHS and the very long waits for anything concerning health treatment, I wouldn't rely on it.

A friend living in the UK wanted to get an appt with-her GP, but there would be such a long wait to see any doctor there, she has opted to go private. Even then this doctor offered an appt after 2
weeks.

Not good.But I'm telling it like it is.

Don’t blame Brexit, blame the fact that you are a resident of Cyprus so not eligible for a U.K. issued version of the card.

If you would like one, Cyprus will issue you with one. All it takes is one call to make an appointment (22 3091 00) at the Citizens Service Centre of your choice and filling in one form which anybody who knows their own name, DOB, gender and the address of where they live should be ok with. Others have clearly explained this is in earlier posts on this thread. Do you read them, or just type?

There are definitely some things I would, and have, used a professional for, this isn’t one of them. To quote a friend who’s got one “an absolute doddle, no more difficult than going to the post office to post a parcel.”

Ian

[Firefly]

If you want a non urgent appointment with your GP here (i.e. the UK) you might have to wait a week or so, but if you need an urgent appointment, my surgery at least, will arrange for a doctor to call you, usually within an hour, and take it from there, if they need to see you, they will arrange an urgent appointment that day.

It's not all doom and gloom here, as some would have you believe!

[Kili01]

Polemi Ian,
I DID initially ask the Citizens service centre about getting this card, the reply was we don't issue these to British Citizens. I was told to apply to the UK.

I resent your other quite un necessary remark.

[galexinda]

The Republic of Cyprus and EHIC

In the Republic of Cyprus, all citizens covered by the General Health System (GHS) are entitled to the European Health Insurance Card.
These cards are issued at local Citizen Service Centres and District Offices of the Postal Services Department.

https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/new ... nce%20Card.

UK resident in Cyprus with a S1 form issued from the UK
If you have the S1 form issued to people who receive the UK state pension (and certain other benefits from the UK) you apply to the UK for your EHIC card. (This is what I did as soon as I got my S1 form).

[galexinda]

Polemi Ian,
I DID initially ask the Citizens service centre about getting this card, the reply was we don't issue these to British Citizens. I was told to apply to the UK.

I resent your other quite un necessary remark.

Polemi Ian was simply stating that it can be done and how to do it.

Likewise I have just posted some informaton but it is now up to you to take it further.

[Kili01]

Many thanks, Dominic.I'll try the UK again.Hope for better luck this time!