International Healthcare - Staying healthy abroad proves problematic

A recent case involving an expatriate British woman living in Turkey who sought treatment under the NHS has highlighted the fact that, once you move abroad and make your permanent residence somewhere outside the UK, you lose your automatic right to free care and treatment under the NHS.

However, other expats have experienced a different scenario. Some expatriate forums suggest ways in which Brits can get around government rulings that ban the free treatment for non-resident Britons.

A recent judicial review of people’s entitlement to NHS treatment took place after a failed asylum seeker in the UK was given free care under the NHS. The findings of this review are relevant to expatriate Britons.

All patients, regardless of their status or nationality are subject to the same basic screening process. They should be asked the following questions about their residential status as part of the hospital registration procedure:
• Where have you lived for the last 12 months?
• Can you show that you have the right to live here?

A person who has not been living in the UK for the last 12 months is subject to the NHS (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Regulations and can therefore expect to be asked further questions such as:
• On what date did you arrive in the UK?
• What is the basis for your stay in the UK?

Patients who are unable to provide answers to these questions, or whose answers indicate that they may not be eligible for free hospital treatment, should be referred to the NHS trust’s overseas visitors manager. They will conduct a full interview with the patient to establish whether he/she is chargeable.

From this it is clear that anyone who has been non-resident in the UK for a year or more loses their right to automatic free treatment on the NHS. They will however still be treated, but they are liable for charges for their treatment.

The British woman had been living in Turkey for five years and had returned to the UK for essential treatment for liver and heart problems. She received the treatment but was charged for it. Many feel that this is an unfair situation as the woman in question, and her husband, had worked all their lives in the UK and had made national insurance contributions during that period of time. However, fair or unfair, the ruling stands – once a person becomes permanently non-resident in the UK they are no longer entitled to free treatment under the NHS.  This loss of entitlement is understood to come into effect 12 months after the person leaves.