Returning to the UK for Medical Treatment

[ScattyAnnie]

Has anyone who is British but a Cyprus resident returned to the UK for medical treatment and how did they go about it.

The OH needs to go back and get sorted as we cannot afford to have him fixed over here. We no longer have a residence address in the UK although we still own a house, neither do we have medical insurance in Cy but tbh, they would not deal with the issue so that's is irrelevant, he has Social Insurance paid here for the past year but as an employee.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated as I do not know how to proceed for the best.

I do not want him to be classed as a "health tourist" having paid into the system in the UK for over 40 years and never had occasion to use it before but I presume that won't be taken into account.

[trevnhil]

Sadly I don't think you are entitled to free treatment in the UK, in the circumstances you describe.
I do truly hope that someone else can give you a way around this health problem for your husband, and do send my best wishes.

Trev..

[ScattyAnnie]

Thank you Trev. He may have to say he's moved back to the UK, there must be a way round it somehow!

[lincoln]

Youi do not say how old your husband is. If he gets a state pension he is entitled to FREE health care treatment in the UK.

[trevnhil]

I guess that if he was retired then he would be able to use a medical card here and not be faced with any expense .

Trev..

[ScattyAnnie]

he's 58 but feeling about 98 at the moment.

[keving]

What date did you permanently take up residence in Cyprus?

[kili1]

Getting back into the NHS when you have been out of the country (UK) is difficult. It may help if you rent a flat first. Something you need for registering with the NHS is a UK address. It may also depend on which part of the UK you are intending to go to. For example in the SE of the UK the population is highest and NHS medical facilities and hospitals may be over stretched.

Alternatively, .it might also help if you both have EHIC cards as the UK is still in the EU as the Brexit hasn't yet started officially.

Sorry not to be more positive.

Dee

[Wee Stumpy]

I''m sorry Annie that I cannot help as I'm afraid there is no easy answer but I must pick Lincoln up on their statement that if you are a pensioner then you are entitled to health care in the UK. This is wrong! If you are resident here then you are entitled to the Health care here and only emergency health care in the UK on production of the EH1C card,

I believe although not sure that you need to have paid NI for two years before you qualify for free health care here but look into what you might have to pay for treatment at the General as it is far cheaper then private.

[Jim]

Some years ago a member (now diseased) went back to the UK with a serious heart problem, he was a Cyprus resident for some time, not at the age where you could get free healthcare here on the island, so he told his daughter when he went back to the UK to call for an ambulance, they duly arrived and took him into his local NHS hospital, they treated him freely, maybe extreme yes, but just a thought.

I do wish your hubby good health Annie..

[travellin'gal]

You may find this site useful. It shows which GP's are accepting new patients and how the practice is rated by existing patients.
http://www.nhs.uk/service-search/
Good luck.
Trisha

[olly]

You can register with a GP as a temporary resident , he will then examine you and refer you for hospital treatment if required.
My wife did this last year , no problem.
https://www.bma.org.uk/advice/employmen ... -practices

[Lynsab]

The UK NHS is free at source for those ordinarily resident in the UK, it NEVER has been dependent on how many years you've paid contributions, tax, state pensioner etc or owning a property in the uk.....just If you live permanently in the UK...

This information may help...

http://www.ageuk.org.uk/Documents/EN-GB ... ?dtrk=true

If as an expat if you are returning to the uk, you will get treatment immediately ....but you have to go thru a HRT test and register with a GP as in Cyprus, to access treatments in the NHS you need GP referrals...

Jim is correct, in any emergency A&E admission ( which is now very strictly emergency only) you will get immediate treatment as a visitor, but after treatment MAY run into cost...you may be only considered a 111 admission if not chest pains, accident or breathing problems...

But you don't need to rent a house or own one, just a permanent address which you will be asked to show bills for...register with council tax etc...

But it's not a long period of time IF you're ill and need the treatment, the UK is after all good enough for you to want that treatment?

My neighbours in Cyprus have had serious health issues in the last 18 months, both of them, they've been successfully treated in the UK, but they returned for over a year! ..they will both return to Cyprus in the new year, unfortunately her condition is incurable but she's got a prolonged diagnosis enough to be ever grateful to the NHS...they rented an apt for over a year, and got someone to watch over their place in Cyprus...

What's changed for them is they are now going to divide their time between both countries, as many end up doing in later life...

I hope you get treatment, but I'm slightly concerned that nowadays many who don't have a good word to say about the UK suddenly expect it to work for them....

You will get priority in any emergency, apart from that, like any resident in the UK you will stand in the queue...if there's one in your region, in my region there's not..as it's Wales.

I was treated on my UK return four years ago within weeks as I was seriously ill, I owe the NHS my life, its misused because it's free and so good.....so they are tightening up...

The rules are the rules...but IMO you can return...get your treatment and move back again....most expats I know that have done so though, tend to settle back into the UK to recieve the treatment, health is more important...

As I left my condition too long when I lived in Cyprus, I'm one who doesn't underestimate the need to get treatment sooner rather than later, what's six months or a year of your life IF that's what it takes...

You get free healthcare IN CYPRUS as a uk state pensioner, paid for by the UK NHS....without that how many uk state pensioners would be able to live in the eu with what would obviously be very expensive health insurance? It's this fact which makes life abroad far easier...

If Cyprus cannot treat your husband another route ( the one my nieghbour took ) was a referral from consultant in Cyprus? That is a proper route, although she initially was told treatment in Israel, it eventually was the UK...

Hope that helps...

[jennieJ]

A close friend of mine went back 2 years ago , he arrived in the UK the next day went to a doctors who saw him as he was very unwell, he had all the tests he needed and treatment still on going with no problems, he is under 60 and out the UK for 8 years.
J

[galexinda]

People Living In An EEA Country Or Switzerland.

As is the case already, most people, who live or work in another European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland will continue to get free NHS care using a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) issued by the country in which they live. This means the NHS can reclaim healthcare costs from the original country of residence.

UK state pensioners who live elsewhere in the EEA will now have the same rights to NHS care as people who live in England. This applies to all pensioners who receive a UK state retirement pension and registered for healthcare in Europe with an S1 form.

However, people who live elsewhere in the EEA or Switzerland who are not working and are under the UK retirement age should either use their EHIC if they’re entitled to one, or make sure they have health insurance if they need NHS care when visiting England. Otherwise they will have to pay for their care. This includes former UK residents.

People Living Outside The EEA

People who live outside the EEA, including former UK residents, should now make sure they are covered by personal health insurance, unless an exemption applies to them. Anyone who does not have insurance will be charged at 150% of the NHS national tariff for any care they receive.

[lincoln]

I''m sorry Annie that I cannot help as I'm afraid there is no easy answer but I must pick Lincoln up on their statement that if you are a pensioner then you are entitled to health care in the UK. This is wrong! If you are resident here then you are entitled to the Health care here and only emergency health care in the UK on production of the EH1C card,

I believe although not sure that you need to have paid NI for two years before you qualify for free health care here but look into what you might have to pay for treatment at the General as it is far cheaper then private.

UK pensioners living in another EEA country


UK pensioners living in another EEA country
9.57 In April 2015, there was a change in law which means that all UK pensioners who are living in the EEA or Switzerland and have registered an S1 form from the UK with the local authorities in their EEA country of residence, and their family members also with a UK issued S1, are entitled to not be charged for secondary healthcare, just like someone who is ordinarily resident in England. However, they will need to pay any charges which also apply to UK residents, such as prescription and dental charges. Individuals who have registered a UK S1 in another EEA country should be asked to provide some evidence confirming this. If they present a UK-issued EHIC, their EHIC information should not be entered into the portal for reimbursement. Regulation 13 of the Charging Regulations concerns this category of patient.

[galexinda]

Just found the link that shows Dependents of UK State Pensioners are also covered - see paragraph 2

Exemption removed and replaced with a new exemption for UK country pensioners living in EEA countries with a registered S1 form which includes all care, including elective. UK pensioners living in EEA countries and with an S1 document registered in that country will be exempt under a new exemption which imitates the effect of the UK joining Annex IV of EC Regulation 883/2004 and extends the entitlement of UK state pensioners residing in the EEA to not be charged for elective healthcare on the NHS in England. There is no requirement for former residence or employment, merely receipt of a state pension or other qualifying benefit, and having a registered S1 form.

From April 2015, all pensioners in receipt of a UK state pension who are living abroad in the EEA or Switzerland and have registered an S1 form from the UK with the local authorities in their EEA country of residence, and their family members, will be able to access all healthcare in the UK as though they were ordinarily resident and should not be charged for treatment.

Worth reading this document as it covers all apsects of eligiblity to NHS treatment

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... FZ2Sg.dpuf

[Nigel-Howarth]

Has anyone who is British but a Cyprus resident returned to the UK for medical treatment and how did they go about it.

Yes. We bought a flat in the UK a couple of years before we moved to Cyprus and registered with the local GP. (We spend a couple of months there in the summer.)

I've had several checkups while in the UK + flu and pneumonia jabs + free prescription meds + screening for bowel cancer and aortic aneurysm. I've also had four operations at the hospital, 6-monthly checkups and a CT scan.

Some of these checkups, etc were done before I reached retirement age.

The GP and the hospital know that we're resident in Cyprus - it doesn't bother them.

(We still have our medical cards).

Regards,

[juliesewell]

I can't comment on the treatment you will get in UK as a Cyprus resident....

However, what I can say is that even if you turn up at A+E in UK you will still be asked for your address where you "normally" reside in UK and the address of the GP / Clinic where you are registered in UK.

My mother (a permanent UK resident) was required to provide this information at the Registration desk at the Emergency clinic on both occasions when my father was admitted when he was staying at the nursing home.

In Cyprus, to obtain free medical treatment if not a retired person (subject to payment of registration & prescription fees) you need to have a valid medical card. The laws were changed shortly after the banking crisis and the issuing of the card was then based on 3 years of Social Insurance contributions and subject to earning less than a certain amount (I think it was around €15,000 - €16,000 per annum).

However, if your husband has been paying into the SI system and is still working and continuing to pay into it, I think before you do anything else it may be worth checking how you stand with the One Stop office where they issue the medical cards. They know all the criteria and it may be your husband is entitled to free treatment or may have to pay something towards it, rather than the whole costs.

Good luck with it....

[Amanda]

Also check if your husband is likely to get treated for this condition under the NHS and how long he is likely to have to wait. I've heard nothing but woes from people needing treatment recently. The last time I tried to get treatment from the NHS (3 years ago) for a troublesome and painful, but as yet not life-threatening, condition I was told it wasn't available. But the same consultant then asked me if I wanted him to do it privately!

[Wee Stumpy]

Galexinda - I have read all the links provided but it still seems to indicate to me that if you are a non resident of the UK then you are only entitled to free necessary treatment whilst you are in the UK( the emphasis being on necessary) - it does not seems to suggest that you can just decide to go to the UK specifically for treatment.
Maybe I am reading it wrong?

[Dusty]

When we moved back we just went to a GP and registered with him and no problems whatsoever. You will have to give a UK address though.

[galexinda]

Galexinda - I have read all the links provided but it still seems to indicate to me that if you are a non resident of the UK then you are only entitled to free necessary treatment whilst you are in the UK( the emphasis being on necessary) - it does not seems to suggest that you can just decide to go to the UK specifically for treatment.
Maybe I am reading it wrong?

Here is one reference from the document

UK pensioners living in another EEA country

9.57 In April 2015, there was a change in law which means that all UK pensioners who
are living in the EEA or Switzerland and have registered an S1 form from the UK with the
local authorities in their EEA country of residence, and their family members also with a UK
issued S1, are entitled to not be charged for secondary healthcare, just like someone who is
ordinarily resident in England. However, they will need to pay any charges which also apply to
UK residents, such as prescription and dental charges. Individuals who have registered a UK
S1 in another EEA country should be asked to provide some evidence confirming this.

[Wee Stumpy]

Yes I read that but not sure what they mean by secondary care? Any ideas?

[galexinda]

The NHS is divided into primary care, secondary care, and tertiary care.
Primary care is often the first point of contact for people in need of healthcare, and may be provided by professionals such as GPs, dentists and pharmacists.
Secondary care, which is sometimes referred to as 'hospital and community care', can either be planned (elective) care such as a cataract operation, or urgent and emergency care such as treatment for a fracture.
Tertiary care refers to highly specialised treatment such as neurosurgery, transplants and secure forensic mental health services.

https://www.nhsproviders.org/topics/del ... der-sector

[Firefly]

Annie

We were faced with a similar situation five years ago as I needed surgery to fix a serious problem caused by a Cyprus hospital, which they told me they could do nothing about. We left then Cyprus to return to the UK, it depends on how you look at it, we hated leaving Cyprus, but in the end, had no choice. Once back in the UK, I was operated on twice, within two years of returning, and my problem is now resolved.

As for your original question, I don't think what you ask for is possible without a UK address. Is the property you own rented out ? if not, then can't you use this address ?

Whatever you decide, good luck.

Jackie