Until recently, 2.2 million British expats living in the EU, Switzerland or Norway, could coincide their visits “home” with a visit to their doctor too. However, new rules have been put in place to stop British expats from accessing the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) so easily.
NHS services used to be free for British expats who needed treatment during a visit home. However, new rules have made receiving free medical treatment in the UK impossible without a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) issued by their new country.
British expats will also be asked to declare their residential status in the UK if they wish to benefit from the NHS. If this is no longer the case (and they are not holding a valid EHIC), they will be forced to pay upfront for medical care, even in emergencies.
“Grace period” over
From the moment you leave the UK your health costs will no longer be covered by the NHS. This means the “grace period” in which former UK residents still had access to NHS after leaving the country no longer applies, confirmed the UK Department of Health. Many British expats are facing a health “black hole” as they are forced to either register with the health system in their new country (a bureaucratic nightmare in certain European countries), or take out private medical insurance.
A British expat living in Italy summed up her dilemma: “I haven’t registered with an Italian doctor yet as I haven’t got a residence permit in Italy yet, due to the kinds of bureaucratic delays that are typical in Italy. Without residency, I can’t register with the health service.”
Overseas British retirees have missed the firing line so far, as they are still entitled to free NHS as long as they have got a valid S1 form, issued in the UK.