NHS treatment for ExPats

[Poppy]

When I first saw this I thought it was a wind up but now not so sure? If it is true then this will surely put more pressure on the Cypriot Health system as I know many people living in Cyprus go back to the UK for medical treatment.
Ex-pat pensioners denied NHS treatment

by TIM UTTON, Daily Mail

British pensioners living abroad for more than half the year are to be denied free Health Service treatment.

Such ex-patriates will now have to pay for NHS care back in Britain no matter how much they have contributed in tax and National Insurance over the years.

The Government move will hit thousands who have retired to the Spanish costas or southern France.

Although ex-patriates stand to lose out, the move is largely a response to abuse of the Health Service by asylum seekers and illegal immigrants.

Thousands of so - called 'health tourists' enjoy free treatment, putting a huge strain on the NHS and making British patients wait for beds.

Ministers have pledged to crack down on this fraud, using a rule made in 1989 that those who have spent three months abroad have to pay for treatment in the UK.

The Department of Health has no figures for the number of people who have been made to pay under this rule - evidence that the legislation has not been enforced.

The period abroad is now being extended to six months - but officials will start to vigorously enforce it and pensioners will have to pay in advance for care. Non-pensioners living abroad will also be denied free NHS care, but the 'disqualifying' period has not yet been set.

An Age Concern spokesman said: "Pensioners are going to be very concerned about this because of the implications it has, particularly for long-term health care or those who have terminal illnesses and need to be near family members back in Britain.

"It will also force them into making choices about whether they have treatment in Spain - which ironically would be free under European Union law - or come back home to their family and be forced to pay."

Up to 500,000 British pensioners are thought to live in other EU states.

In May, the Centre for Policy Studies revealed that abuse of the NHS by asylum seekers is so widespread it is becoming known as the 'International Health Service'.

The influential think-tank warned that some 'health tourists' have even run up bills for treatment of £50,000 which the taxpayer is left to shoulder.

The total cost of HIV treatment and care in 2001 was

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/artic ... z54HayRNm4
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[ApusApus]

I think it will depend on your personal circumstances! For example, my Wife & I have Cypriot medical cards so can access the Cypriot NHS, & we also have Cypriot issued EH1C cards so are covered when we travel in the EU ................ and the UK at the moment but I don't expect that to change!


Shane

[Mrblobby]

This from uk gov , December 2017 .

6.3.The following exemption categories may apply to those who are not ordinarily resident in the UK:

Regulation 13 – UK pensioners resident in the EEA: UK pensioners who are resident in another EEA member state are exempt from charge for all NHS hospital treatment, including elective treatment, provided that they have registered an S1 document in that member state. See Chapter 9 for more about this exemption .

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... pdf#page50

[JimX]

They call these health travelers, over the years of my old forum no ex-pats of a certain age were refused treatment in the UK even if they did not own property, this has always been muted on forums but the facts are usually you will never be refused medical treatment, on this just think how many Cypriots use the NHS, nearly a million live there I belive, at some point unless they can pay privatly they would need the NHS, that is why Cyprus health covers those old enough to recive it, this is not the case for all Cypriot's living in the UK, they will receve free treatment, the UK and Cyprus have a reciprocal agreement as you will know.

Good health to all.

[outasite]

Surely a simple answer to these "health tourists" would be a charge of say 50 - 70% pre payment as the cost should be known if only approximately. , Not emergency cases like accidents or similar, but those who deliberately come to the UK for treatment but never pay the bill. And even those involved in accidents or similar should be billed at least.

[Dominic]

That's the problem. Hospitals seem unwilling to do the billing.

[galexinda]

It is strange how in other European countries when going to a state run hospital that as part of the registration process it is routine to take down the patient's details and establish how the account will be settled before the patient can see a doctor. EG For some an EHIC was sufficient, others such as Spain take down the EHC details but you have to settle the bill and then claim back the cost from the UK. Even here in Paphos last year when I took my husband to A&E the doctors did a preliminary examination and then waited for me to produce the labels before continuing with the tests and treatment (appreciate that it is different if a high risk emergency admission).

[Alewfin]

At the last presentation given by the UK High Commission in Cyprus the question was asked about British Expats getting NHS treatment in the UK.

The UK High Commission was absolutely clear that British Expats are entitled to exactly the same treatment as a UK Resident.

A British Expat has the right to be seen by any NHS hospital in the UK.

The UK High Commissioner is doing the rounds in March and I will ask the question again.

[josef k]

This news article is "fake news" to use the current phrase.

1. UK ex-pats in the EU can use the NHS. See the regulation stated above.
2. Asylum seekers with an outstanding application for refuge in the UK are entitled to use NHS services without charge.
2. Illegal immigrants don't use the NHS as this would bring them to the notice of the authorities, and risk arrest.

Remember, the Daily Mail has it's own political agenda and is not impartial.

[trevnhil]

We have not lived there since 2006, but my wife received treatment in December without having to show an EHIC card. We did tell them we lived in Cyprus..

[Rita Sherry]

I too received treatment in University Hospital, Southampton on 29th December2017 until 3rd January 2018 without having to produce any documents. They did ask for the address where I used to live in London and established a bona fide National Health Number but there was never any indication I had to pay for the treatments I received - and excellent treatment it was too. I also informed the doctor involved I lived in Cyprus. As Domonic says it seems hospitals are afraid or not inclined to present bills to those who clearly are not entitled to use the NHS - a start could be made there.

Rita

[Poppy]

I think your Cypriot doctor was wrong Lloyd. We had been out of the UK for 10 years when we returned and had no problems at all in accessing the NHS. We had no UK address when we left and had advised our Doctors we were leaving the country. I think it was easier because we still had our NHS ref no' s but they would have found us anyway. In fact I was amazed that all our old records were still on the system.

[Rita Sherry]

Dominic Apologies for misspelling your name in my previous post.

Rita

[emgee]

Dominic

I get the impression that hospitals only want to treat people, not be revenue collectors for HM Government.

Alan

[trevnhil]

Thanks Trev. Just out of interest, did you have to set up with a GP first?

It was treatment at a doctor's drop in centre that Hilary had. We just had to book an appointment in the morning for the same afternoon.. North West UK..

[Uncle D]

My wife used a drop in Centre around 3 years ago, they ask who your last doctor was in the UK and they just checked it and she got treatment.

[PaphosAL]

In my honest opinion, if you were born in the UK, worked there, paid all your NI contributions, then retired on State Pension to another EU country, then of course you should still be entitled to free HHS care when back in the UK. Until you croak.

Otherwise, what were the NI contributions in your working life supposed to be for?

[Dominic]

I thought your NI contributions were to pay for the current pensions. I 100% agree with what you say viz entitlement, but that's what I thought NI was for.

[WHL]

Go over to the USA and walk into a Hospital, and then try to get free treatment....for what its worth I think everyone should have an ID card...with today's technology, it could be used for a Hospital card/Driving licence/Travel etc etc...just produce it at a Hospital, quick swipe will tell the staff if your entitled or not?

[trevnhil]

It has always puzzled me how ex pats who actually live here can go back to the UK and have free treatment, even replacement surgery... And yet I know it has happened in the past, and still occurs.