expats returning to UK not entitled to NHS free care ? - Page 2

Hi Andrew, some people in Spain wait 12 months , it seems to depend on which area you live in ..If you look on the thread 'knee operation ' you will see lots of info there

Hi this is an interesting and rather ironic thread, I have worked for the NHS for 27 years and I work with people from around the globe who have kept it from falling over. 

I find some posters suggesting anyone can get treated and “Johnny Forigner” being to blame is simply not true.

I also find it ironic that those who are not oridiary residents of the U.K. feel they have such entitlement to pick and choose which system to use.

I have seen government white papers for post Brexit and things will be changing and sadly many retirees may need to think where they want to live if they wish to pick and choose thier healthcare.

As for know here’s a helpful guide in the images 

Current NHS rights due to be adjusted 2019/2020

Last page

Hi Scott,

I am unable to read this on my iPad. Could you possibly send a link to the webpage.

Many thanks,

Sheila

Hi Scott, thanks for your reply , but I could not read all the pic , can you enlarge it ?    it would seem I would be ok as I lived only in UK  for 77 years and paid national insurance for 50 years so any treatment I need in UK or Spain is , I feel , pre-paid for !! especially as I never had one days sick pay in my life , nor claimed any benefits , or ever had redundancy pay or went to Doctors unneccaserily , If any private insurance company tried to ''weasel out'' of the deal they would soon be in big trouble .

I think the clue is in the first paragraph quote does not normally not will not be treated,they have landed at BHam airport and thier families take them straight to the hospital if you have Aids TB etc they have to treat you and will treat you we spend millions treating overseA visitors and don’t try to claim a penny back people need to stop burying thier heads in the sand and only look after those who have paid into it

Before I moved to Spain in Nov 2015, I rang the authorities to find out about healthcare. I was told that from April 2015 the rules had changed and that if I preferred to have treatment or an operation in the UK then I could do so. The following quote from the GOV UK website confirms this.

'GUIDANCE ON OVERSEAS VISITORS HOSPITAL CHARGING REGULATIONS'

'HOLDERS OF A VALID S1 FORM LIVING IN AN EEA COUNTRY O SWITZERLAND'

'If you are in receipt of a UK pension and have registered a valid UK S1 form with the relevant authorities in your country of residence, and your healthcare is paid for by the UK by virtue that S1 form, then you are entitled to return to England to receive free NHS hospital treatment, just like someone who is ordinarily resident in England.'

This is an update posted on 8th December 2017. If you look on the government website is will confirm what I have written. Let's hope Teresa May will ensure that this rule carries on after Brexit. (Non EEA residents have to pay 150% of the cost)!

It is therefore very important that pensioners here have registered their S1 forms.

Hope this helps you to decide what is the best option, Retief99

How can expats who I have spoken to complain about health tourism and the NHS feel they have the right to do the very same thing, if you have made the decision to make Spain your home then use their system.

Thank You Sheila , very informative , I want to stay in Spain and have the operation here , but fear I may have to wait such a long time it would be very detrimental . as I'm sure it wont be just an ordinary knee op , ( I had arthritic knee for a very long time and never let it bother me too  much ) but now it's entirely different .. So when the S1 finally arrives (I think it's been sent by carrier pigeon ) I'll go see Doctor .