Spending more than 3 months abroad - NHS Entitlement

Highgrove

Does anyone know what NHS services you are entitled to if you spend between three to six months living in a non EU country? I was lucky enough to spend last winter in Florida. Now have a hospital appointment and they are asking me to fill out a form stating if I have a passport and whether I have spent more than three months in the last twelve out of the country. Wondering if they will refuse to pay for the treatment? Have tried looking online and cannot find anything definitive. Grateful for any advice.

Sorry if this is the wrong thread. Was not sure where to post it

1jim

I would phone the hospital finance dept, they will be able to tell you

qetu1357

Highgrove wrote: »

Does anyone know what NHS services you are entitled to if you spend between three to six months living in a non EU country? I was lucky enough to spend last winter in Florida. Now have a hospital appointment and they are asking me to fill out a form stating if I have a passport and whether I have spent more than three months in the last twelve out of the country. Wondering if they will refuse to pay for the treatment? Have tried looking online and cannot find anything definitive. Grateful for any advice.

Sorry if this is the wrong thread. Was not sure where to post it

Suggest you rob a train, kill the driver, escape from prison, go to Brazil and then come back.

Then it will be free.

PinkLipgloss

Highgrove,

Please let me know if you discover an answer to your question. I have a personal interest since I've lived in a non-EU country for 5 years.

Lipgloss

knightstyle

You may find answers on Expat forums.

kalaika

Highgrove:
From how I understand it, spending more than 3 months abroad will mean that you're not automatically entitled to free NHS treatment (as you're not classed as fully resident any more), however I think a one-off holiday of more than three months will be ignored (although they will probably investigate to ensure that it was a one off and not something that you do every year).

Have a look at the Department of Health website at http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/Entitlementsandcharges/OverseasVisitors/Browsable/DH_074386 to see if it helps.

PinkLipGloss:
If you've lived full time in another country for the past 5 years then you're definitely not automatically entitled to free NHS care (it’s not based on nationality but residency), but have a look at the above as there may be an exemption that applies to you that means that you won't have to pay.

Oldernotwiser

PinkLipgloss wrote: »

Highgrove,

Please let me know if you discover an answer to your question. I have a personal interest since I've lived in a non-EU country for 5 years.

Lipgloss

Isn't Scotland in the EU?

Highgrove

kalaika wrote: »

Have a look at the Department of Health website at http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/Entitlementsandcharges/OverseasVisitors/Browsable/DH_074386 to see if it helps.


Thanks for this link kalaika, I searched for ages yesterday and couldn't find it!

Thanks to everyone else for their contributions. It is frustrating because we still have to pay our income tax and national insurance here :mad:

PinkLipgloss

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Isn't Scotland in the EU?

I have recently returned to Scotland having lived in Japan for past 5 years.

PinkLipgloss

Kalaika,

Thanks for the link - it seems I am entitled :-)

BFG_2

What are you all worried about?????!!!!!!!!!!!

Simply lie on the form.....it's what everyone else does.

Lets face it, things are stupid

Live in Spain - entitled to WINTER FUEL ALLOWANCE

Polish in UK - entitled to Child Allowance......for kids still living in POLAND

Summer In UK, winter in [second, undeclared home in big property in] Pakistan, S Africa, Spain or India.....don't say a word and keep claiming your DLA, IS and AA....

No wonder there are massive queues at Calais, it's this sort of stuff that makes Britain GREAT [Great Britain...geddit???]