Question of NHS health insurance?

[Kim and Nath 0]

My parents recently asked if British citizens have some sort of health insurance while they're over in the US. The US has the worst health care system, and I'm worried about Nathan going without health insurance for too long. Is there any truth that somehow the NHS still takes care of Brits when they're abroad? I have no clue about this.

Thanks!

[MargotDarko 0]

Unfortunately, no. He would need to obtain travel insurance for shorter visits and would need short-term US insurance for when he moves if you're not able to add him to your insurance. Here is what my husband used when he moved to the states - http://www.imglobal.com/ I would recommend it to anyone without any current medical problems. It's mostly really to keep you from going bankrupt if something happens. Once he has a job with medical benefits, he would be covered by that.

[TayRivers 4]

My parents recently asked if British citizens have some sort of health insurance while they're over in the US. The US has the worst health care system, and I'm worried about Nathan going without health insurance for too long. Is there any truth that somehow the NHS still takes care of Brits when they're abroad? I have no clue about this.

Thanks!

The NHS does not cover British Citizens living abroad, They don't even cover British Citizen who do not permanently live in the UK, so if I go home for a visit I am not covered by the NHS other than emergency care at an ER.

[Laura+Tom 2]

I heard somewhere that travel insurance may not cover, not sure why, but you but you can get special immigrant insurance. If you google it it comes up with loads of options.

Edited December 17, 2008 by Laura+Tom

[MargotDarko 0]

I heard somewhere that travel insurance may not cover, not sure why, but you but you can get special immigrant insurance. If you google it it comes up with loads of options.

Right. Travel insurance only works when it's a trip, not immigration. With travel insurance, you have to provide a return date, which you couldn't truthfully do when immigrating.

[rebeccajo 14]

My parents recently asked if British citizens have some sort of health insurance while they're over in the US. The US has the worst health care system, and I'm worried about Nathan going without health insurance for too long. Is there any truth that somehow the NHS still takes care of Brits when they're abroad? I have no clue about this.

Thanks!

The NHS does not cover British Citizens living abroad, They don't even cover British Citizen who do not permanently live in the UK, so if I go home for a visit I am not covered by the NHS other than emergency care at an ER.

The NHS will cover citizens who do not live permanently in the UK in an emergent situation - ie you are back home visiting and the UK citizen has a serious accident, etc. "Emergent" doesn't mean coming home for a visit and let's say "accidentally" needing a kidney transplant from a long-standing condition.

[TayRivers 4]

My parents recently asked if British citizens have some sort of health insurance while they're over in the US. The US has the worst health care system, and I'm worried about Nathan going without health insurance for too long. Is there any truth that somehow the NHS still takes care of Brits when they're abroad? I have no clue about this.

Thanks!

The NHS does not cover British Citizens living abroad, They don't even cover British Citizen who do not permanently live in the UK, so if I go home for a visit I am not covered by the NHS other than emergency care at an ER.

The NHS will cover citizens who do not live permanently in the UK in an emergent situation - ie you are back home visiting and the UK citizen has a serious accident, etc. "Emergent" doesn't mean coming home for a visit and let's say "accidentally" needing a kidney transplant from a long-standing condition.

The NHS considers Emergancy care to be treatment provided at a Emergancy department of a hospital, it does not include in-patient care, drugs, non-life saving surgery or x-rays/MRI/Scans.

So if you are traveling home for a visit make sure you have medical insurance to cover the cost of any treatment under the NHS.