Uk Nationals Residing In Thailand Permanently

[citizen33]

Not seen anything about a person 65 and over,that can get free treatment by just returning to the Uk for an op/treatment.

It isn't quite that straightforward but there are different rules for pensioners. Look at links on left too

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/Entitle...sable/DH_074384

Edited March 7, 2010 by citizen33

[scotsman]

So what is happening now is that its ok for the British government to steal money from your pension every week, or month in income tax and all the NI you have paid and you get nothing in return So its OK for us to lie and cheat to get N.H.S treatment when we return to the uk. I think there will be a test case in the courts very soon about this unfair treatment to British Citizens who find they can't pay the N.H.S bill and they will win.

Regards

Scotsman

[trevoromgh]

Aargh how do I delete a post once submitted? Found someone had answered my question already. Thanks

Edited March 10, 2010 by trevoromgh

[chiang mai]

It seems that the Dept of Health is re writing guidelines on this subject this week and will publish them shortly, according to the DH a UK citizen who has lived overseas for more than six months is not eligible for free NHS treatment other than for first line emergency care. However, that situation changes if the person can confirm that they are returning to the UK to live after a period of absence - the onus is on the officer responsible for non-residency issues at each hospital to make a judgement and that may require the patient providing proof of their permanent return, sale of overseas property and proof of shipping of household goods are two forms of proof mentioned on the DH website, immigrants and asylum seekers are covered from day one.

Sorry, no I can't provide the link to the DH website, I came across it a few days ago as a result of reading an article in the UK press and became curious, shouldn't be that difficult to find and confirm though.

Tried to find the 'official' DoH guidelines but to no avail so any other clues to the web location of the current regulations would be useful? There are lots of informal references on other websites such as the UK Citizens Advice Bureau and Age Concern websites but they seem to be still mentioning the 3 month limit so need to find some definitive proof that things are changing and when.

I'm interested as I may well be coming to live in Thailand for 6 months of the year but as I have a heart condition I'm concerned about this daft rule. With the upcoming election now is a particularly good time to embarrass both political parties into doing something about this so suggestions welcome?

You didn't try very hard, see here http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/Entitle...sable/DH_074376

The relevant phrases in the words of the D of H is as follows:

"Under the current Regulations, anyone who is taking up or resuming permanent residence in the UK is entitled to free National Health Service (NHS) hospital treatment in England. If your intention is to live permanently in the UK you will be exempt from hospital charges from the date of your arrival in the country but you should expect to be asked to prove your intention and that you are legally entitled to live here. This exemption applies to your spouse, civil partner and children (under the age of 16, or 19 if in further education) if they are living here with you on a permanent basis".

Now, as far as your heart condition is concerned: I also have similar and have received excellent treatment at Bumrungrad Hospital in Bangkok where the cost of angioplasty was £2,400 versus £15,000 +++ at Bupa/Spire in the UK. But forget the costs for a moment, I sure as heck know where I'd rather be if I needed coronary care and the letters NHS don't figure into the picture.

[chiang mai]

It seems that the Dept of Health is re writing guidelines on this subject this week and will publish them shortly, according to the DH a UK citizen who has lived overseas for more than six months is not eligible for free NHS treatment other than for first line emergency care. However, that situation changes if the person can confirm that they are returning to the UK to live after a period of absence - the onus is on the officer responsible for non-residency issues at each hospital to make a judgement and that may require the patient providing proof of their permanent return, sale of overseas property and proof of shipping of household goods are two forms of proof mentioned on the DH website, immigrants and asylum seekers are covered from day one.

Sorry, no I can't provide the link to the DH website, I came across it a few days ago as a result of reading an article in the UK press and became curious, shouldn't be that difficult to find and confirm though.

Tried to find the 'official' DoH guidelines but to no avail so any other clues to the web location of the current regulations would be useful? There are lots of informal references on other websites such as the UK Citizens Advice Bureau and Age Concern websites but they seem to be still mentioning the 3 month limit so need to find some definitive proof that things are changing and when.

I'm interested as I may well be coming to live in Thailand for 6 months of the year but as I have a heart condition I'm concerned about this daft rule. With the upcoming election now is a particularly good time to embarrass both political parties into doing something about this so suggestions welcome?

You didn't try very hard, see here http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/Entitle...sable/DH_074376

The relevant phrases in the words of the D of H is as follows:

"Under the current Regulations, anyone who is taking up or resuming permanent residence in the UK is entitled to free National Health Service (NHS) hospital treatment in England. If your intention is to live permanently in the UK you will be exempt from hospital charges from the date of your arrival in the country but you should expect to be asked to prove your intention and that you are legally entitled to live here. This exemption applies to your spouse, civil partner and children (under the age of 16, or 19 if in further education) if they are living here with you on a permanent basis".

Now, as far as your heart condition is concerned: I also have similar and have received excellent treatment at Bumrungrad Hospital in Bangkok where the cost of angioplasty was £2,400 versus £15,000 +++ at Bupa/Spire in the UK. But forget the costs for a moment, I sure as heck know where I'd rather be if I needed coronary care and the letters NHS don't figure into the picture.

[trevoromgh]

You were very fast. As you can see from my edited post I found the answer soon after I posted my missive. Have visited the Bumrungrad BKK as an out-patient before and found them very good but wouldn't like to be in an ambulance with a dicky heart trying to get there through the rush hour/s. Anyway was hoping to live in Chiang Mai so maybe you have some suggestions for heart hospitals in that locale please?

[chiang mai]

You were very fast. As you can see from my edited post I found the answer soon after I posted my missive. Have visited the Bumrungrad BKK as an out-patient before and found them very good but wouldn't like to be in an ambulance with a dicky heart trying to get there through the rush hour/s. Anyway was hoping to live in Chiang Mai so maybe you have some suggestions for heart hospitals in that locale please?

I lived in CM for a number of years and I found CM RAM hospital to be very good in many respects and the cardiologist there performed my first angiogram, no complaints and I can highly recommend him. But CM RAM fell down on the cost front when it came to doing the angioplasty, RAM wanted close to 350,000 Baht whereas Bumrungrad was much less costly. Not surprisingly the cost difference was mostly down to the use of medicated vs bare metal stents and Dr Aram, my cardiologist at Bumrungrad, set out the arguments against medicated stents quite clearly - his fee by the way was only 15,000 Baht. Whilst these types of decisions are not down to cost alone I found that Bumrungrad had the edge on a number of other fronts also which made it a clear winner.

But there's another aspect to all of this which I would urge you to strongly consider: you have a heart condition and you are considering moving to Chiang Mai. The air quality, or rather lack of it in CM for several months out of the year is very poor, farmers burning their land in advance of the monsoon season make it a very unhealthy and dangerous place to live for someone who has respiratory and/or cardio problems, that's why I moved away and have now lived in Phuket for the past three years, pollution levels can become very dangerous. I would urge you to do your own research on this subject in advance of your planned move, much information exists here in this forum but you'll need to pick through it all to understand the true picture. Good luck and feel free to PM me if I can add any detail you might require.

[Sheryl]

The best quality care in CM area would be at Sripat, part of CMU. A few of the specialists at Sripat also have hours at CM Ram so IF you don't mind paying a great deal more in exchange for less wait time/more English speaking and IF you have clearly found such a doctor, might be able to get your care at the Ram.

Do not use the Ram except for a doctor you have specifically identified as well qualified , which would usually mean affiliated with CMU. Over the years I have seen manty reports of sub-standard care eminating from the Ram, some of it really bad. So do not take pot luck or let the hospital recommend a doc to you. (Actually that advice holds for anyplace but most especially here).

Most TV members in CM prefer to use Sripat by all accounts.

[trevoromgh]

The best quality care in CM area would be at Sripat, part of CMU. A few of the specialists at Sripat also have hours at CM Ram so IF you don't mind paying a great deal more in exchange for less wait time/more English speaking and IF you have clearly found such a doctor, might be able to get your care at the Ram.

Do not use the Ram except for a doctor you have specifically identified as well qualified , which would usually mean affiliated with CMU. Over the years I have seen manty reports of sub-standard care eminating from the Ram, some of it really bad. So do not take pot luck or let the hospital recommend a doc to you. (Actually that advice holds for anyplace but most especially here).

Most TV members in CM prefer to use Sripat by all accounts.

OK many thanks for the advice on CM hospitals. I am now thinking of travelling around Thailand to try and find the best location to put down roots so any recommendations of places I should visit would be gratefully received.

[theoldgit]

So I can see the headlines in The Daily Mail now, I have paid National Insurance premiums for nearly 50 years (and yes I know entitlement is nothing to do with previous contributions) I still pay £500 a month on my occupational pension, I return to my homeland in despair and am refused NHS treatment, whilst the next person, who happens to be an illegal immigrant who is seeking asylum, is able to enjoy the full benefits of the NHS.

What's next then, no state pension for those living overseas?

[sleepyjohn]

The best quality care in CM area would be at Sripat, part of CMU. A few of the specialists at Sripat also have hours at CM Ram so IF you don't mind paying a great deal more in exchange for less wait time/more English speaking and IF you have clearly found such a doctor, might be able to get your care at the Ram.

Do not use the Ram except for a doctor you have specifically identified as well qualified , which would usually mean affiliated with CMU. Over the years I have seen manty reports of sub-standard care eminating from the Ram, some of it really bad. So do not take pot luck or let the hospital recommend a doc to you. (Actually that advice holds for anyplace but most especially here).

Most TV members in CM prefer to use Sripat by all accounts.

Of course you know I agree with you Sheryl

......with the caveat that the Sripat may only be marginally cheaper on treatment per se, but I believe considerably cheaper for medications if it's that type of illness (though for outpatient treatment I have often taken my Ram prescription outside never a problem).

cheers John

[scotsman]

So I can see the headlines in The Daily Mail now, I have paid National Insurance premiums for nearly 50 years (and yes I know entitlement is nothing to do with previous contributions) I still pay £500 a month on my occupational pension, I return to my homeland in despair and am refused NHS treatment, whilst the next person, who happens to be an illegal immigrant who is seeking asylum, is able to enjoy the full benefits of the NHS.

What's next then, no state pension for those living overseas?

Yes this will happen its called state theft If we could pay no income tax and use that extra money to pay for Heath insurance or to help provide for a pension then I would say that the excuse of entitlement on Previous contributions would hold more say, but we do still pay so its not a fair law its state Theft and it is against my human rights as a British citizen.

Regards

Scotsman

[crazydrummerpauly]

Posted 2010-03-12 14:08

QUOTE (theoldgit @ 2010-03-11 14:25:49) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>So I can see the headlines in The Daily Mail now, I have paid National Insurance premiums for nearly 50 years (and yes I know entitlement is nothing to do with previous contributions) I still pay £500 a month on my occupational pension, I return to my homeland in despair and am refused NHS treatment, whilst the next person, who happens to be an illegal immigrant who is seeking asylum, is able to enjoy the full benefits of the NHS.

What's next then, no state pension for those living overseas?

Yes this will happen its called state theft If we could pay no income tax and use that extra money to pay for Heath insurance or to help provide for a pension then I would say that the excuse of entitlement on Previous contributions would hold more say, but we do still pay so its not a fair law its state Theft and it is against my human rights as a British citizen.

Regards

Scotsman ^{ABSOBLOODYLUTELY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!}