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Britons abroad could enjoy NHS access for longer

26 February 2010 Breaking News

Britons who travel abroad for extended periods will enjoy extended entitlement to free NHS treatment under new government proposals.

A consultation launched by the Department of Health today suggests that the length of time UK residents can spend abroad without being potentially liable for charges should increase from three to six months.

The change has been recommended in recognition of the fact that people have "increasingly mobile lifestyles". A survey suggests that there are around 1,500 instances per year across the NHS where repeat absences between three and six months of the year are found, and most hospitals err in favour of the patient so only around a third of patients are charged. Exempting this group from charges will cost the NHS less than £800,000 a year.

The consultation also proposes the introduction of health insurance for visitors to England in order to make payments to NHS hospitals more likely and to deter people from acting as "health tourists". This could either be compulsory or recommended for visitors.

Under existing rules, people living in the UK for part of the year, while also spending significant periods of time abroad, risk losing their entitlement to free NHS treatment. This includes people on repeat extended holidays or visits to relatives abroad and retirees living part of the year abroad, particularly those below state pension age and / or living outside the European Economic Area. 

Exemptions apply to certain groups including people working abroad for up to five years (who have previously resided in the UK for ten years) and those who have previously resided in the UK for ten years and are living in a country with which the UK has a bilateral healthcare agreement (for treatment of needs arising during a visit to the UK). People returning from abroad to resume permanent residence are immediately entitled to full free treatment.  

Intermediaries have warned expatriates about the difficulties of returning to the NHS for treatment. International medical insurance can provide access to private treatment in the UK, as well as in the expatriate's new place of residence.

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