People living abroad but still using our NHS

Maya1

I will try again to post letter.

I know this is an old thread, but I've only just seen this.

I visited Addenbrooke's 27 times between 29 April and 25 October.

Each time I was sent an online questionnaire, which I submitted, and it was never challenged. I was also asked my name, date of birth, phone number, contact details of next of kin every time, but that was it.

I noticed that you're in a different NHS trust from me, so maybe that's why. It does seem strange.

Daddima

growstuff

PS. I don't currently have a valid passport and I don't own my house, so it's probably just as well!

I very much doubt that owning your house is a criterion for receiving treatment. Surely proof of address is sufficient, be that mortgage or tenancy agreement?

Exactly! The criterion for receiving free NHS care (apart from a handful of exceptions) is based on residency - three months, I think. Strictly speaking, if somebody is leaving the UK for more than three months, he/she should let the GP know and they will be deregisterd. It doesn't matter whether you pay tax in the UK, how many years you've paid NI or how many UK properties you own.

All true, except that whilst we are a diminishing band, I don't think those of us with Withdrawal Agreement S1 forms represent "a handful of exceptions" just yet.
Of course if the UK ever comes to its senses and rejoins the EU then the S1 form will flourish again. 😊

In other countries there are systems in place to discourage this.

For example in the Scandinavian countries I have lived in you have a single i/d civic registration number that combines residency, registration with the tax office and access to services such as healthcare, education, benefits etc. If you de-register for taxes then you may lose your eligibility.

Or - if you are in the country and have an emergency condition you need insurance or a European health card - but they will not treat a non emergency or chronic ailment.

I remember over a decade ago howls of protests from a British tourist that had not bothered to get an EU healthcard because they were charged 2000 Swedish Crowns in A&E as an uninsured non-resident. In the UK nobody checks - when we went to a GP for an emergency we produced all of our paperwork and details from Sweden nobody was even interested.

My husband and I live abroad.,We have both paid into NI for the full no of years required. We have not drawn any benefits, allowances, pensions or other government money. Money we have in UK is taxed. We are still citizens of UK, only residents where we live. We haven’t cost the government a single penny. I do not think it unfair if we were to use the NHS. We have paid into the system but have never taken anything out. Not even a pension. I have no objection to my taxes and contributions being used to fund people in UK.

However RedHotPolkaDot- you are only allowed to do so in an emergency, or if you have S1 exemption, eg if you are resident abroad after UK pensionable age, and were resident abroad before Jan 2021. That is the Law.

The NHS is residence based. If you go and live abroad, you have to de-register from your GP. For many reasons- 1 to release a space on their list for someone else, and 2, because you are no longer allowed to use NHS or have free prescriptions, etc, etc. Even with S1, you are not allowed to be on a GP's list.

I understand that ex-pat's resident in France and liable to tax there are still taxed by the UK on any public sector pension they receive. Does that not mean they should be entitled to some UK services including NHS?

Grantanow

I understand that ex-pat's resident in France and liable to tax there are still taxed by the UK on any public sector pension they receive. Does that not mean they should be entitled to some UK services including NHS?

I have a very small UK pension, I under £500 per month but as the Uk / French laws stand, I must not put it on the UK tax form but must put it on the French tax form

Perhaps the rules have changed mokryna. I was thinking of some friends about ten years ago.

I have to declare my public sector pension on my French tax form. My husband has just had to pay 1000 euros french tax on an NHS lump sum.

sodpop. I made it clear to the French authorities that my lump sum (not claiming for several years) was from the Uk’s public system not a private pension one.

That's interesting mokryna we have someone to help with our taxes so maybe she got it wrong too.

I doubt the loss to the NHS from occasional ex-pat use is worth bothering about when you consider the waste created by UK residents not turning up to GP and other appointments.

I agree with you OP. They arent contributing to the society in this country, so they shouldnt get free healthcare here either 😡

Those who are allowed to use the NHS, when living abroad, are those with S1 cover. They are of official state retirement age, on UK only pensions. That is the Law.

To be fair, who would come to the UK to use the NHS in the current state of affairs- when they are covered/registered for cover where they live in the EU with my better services and no waiting lists.

Certainly so in Sweden, Cold. A Swedish friend who returned to a Stockholm after many years in the U.K. told me she could do nothing - inc. getting a mobile phone contract - until she’d got her official ID, which took quite a while.

High time time we had similar here. It’d be expensive at first, but would surely save money in the long run.

Yes Grantanow my occupational pension is Local Government and taxed at source in the UK. Husband's company pensions and our state pensions are taxed in France. I add my gross pension to our other revenues and get the tax paid in the UK deducted from the total (we are taxed as a household in France). We also have to calculate the rate of exchange for the money we have transferred to France each month. We keep it all on a spreadsheet!
Our health cover is not dependent on that though, the S1 form comes from our entitlement to state pension from the UK.

I think if people have paid into the system here all their lives they should be entitled to the care they need... after all most will not have used the NHS much. Its in later years that they reap the benefits of having paid in.

My friends partner is French and pays taxes in both countries and is entitled to use the NHS but she returns to France to get her health care.as she gets almost immediate care.. not only immediate but a though check up of bloods etc She has had two hip ops in France recently and when I hear about the level of care she got, I wish I was French too. Own room in the hospital and then taken off to what sounded like a luxurious spa for 2 weeks convalescence with Physio every day and doctors on hand... and delicious meals.

I had a hip op here a while ago and they couldn't wait to get rid of me back home... no aftercare at all and for physio I was a handed a leaflet with a few instructions for my recovery. A district nurse came once to the house to change the dressing, that was it. No follow up apart for a phone call.

There is little to criticise in the French system. When I had a gall bladder issue, I went to the GP on Monday, saw the hospital specialist on Tuesday and had the Op on Friday after I was asked if that was a convenient time for me. Then had a district nurse coming to the house for 12 days to change dressings and give injections. To be honest my head was spinning with the speed of it all. My only criticism is they are very task driven so bedside manner left a bit to be desired at times.

Looks like one of those ‘they come over here and get free housing’ urban myths.

"If you're permanently moving abroad, an S1 form entitles you to the same state-provided healthcare cover as a citizen of that country."

"Can I use NHS if not living in UK?
If you're not ordinarily resident in the UK and you need to pay for NHS hospital treatment, you'll be charged at 150% of the national NHS rate."

"Does NHS check immigration status?
What happens when an immigration status check is made. The NHS will make an enquiry to the SVEC service by completing a form that contains some information about you which allows the Home Office to correctly identify you. The information might include: full name (first name and surname) 5 Apr 2019"

The above were taken from NHS websites. They show that as a resident in an EEA country your healthcare is paid for by the UK. The form was issued to retired people (in receipt of a UK state pension) moving to the EU permanently from the UK. It's the reason why we, who as we get older are more likely to need health care, can have it.

Some friends who retired to France below the retirement age had to pay health insurance - not just the top up. They have now reached the UK state pension and, being resident in France were able to get an S1.

Finally a former neighbour resident in France had cancer. Her French wasn't too good and so she flew back to England for treatment. She was told that she could be taken to court because she wasn't resident in the UK but they would overlook it that time. She moved back to the UK.

The above would suggest that those of you who think you can access the NHS whilst being resident in another country have got it wrong. If you are resident in the EEA you can apply for an EHIC card (from your country of residence) which can be used in the UK.

Normandygirl

There is little to criticise in the French system. When I had a gall bladder issue, I went to the GP on Monday, saw the hospital specialist on Tuesday and had the Op on Friday after I was asked if that was a convenient time for me. Then had a district nurse coming to the house for 12 days to change dressings and give injections. To be honest my head was spinning with the speed of it all. My only criticism is they are very task driven so bedside manner left a bit to be desired at times.

I completely agree. I had an emergency op to remove an umbilical hernia last autumn. A nurse came in every day to check my wound and to eventually remove the staples. My only moan was the quality of the food which was dire. A room of my own which was lovely.

Sure we nearly all know what is wrong with the NHS ... may I add I would happily pay into it, if it was to help my family , may I add genuine people aswell ... I know people , even perhaps on here wouldn't agree with me ... I also pay into a private medical scheme ... no not rich at all ... last time used well over 6 years ago

May I add ... NOT FREE NHS ...it is what people have & still paying into