NHS care for spouse on UK visits

[Johnny Spangle 0]

I've been a happy holder of a green card for some time now, but I visit my family regularly and my wife (who is a US citizen) usually accompanies me. Sometimes our trips over are for a couple of weeks. To my shame, I have never looked into how I may be able to ensure she receives *free* NHS care should she need it during any of our visits.

Now I realise she has not contributed to National Insurance in the UK, and is not a UK resident, but I have contributed to NI for decades and I have rarely got any of that money back (basically healthy person with no kids) so I have no qualms about hoodwinking the NHS into providing my wife free-at-the-point-of-use care if she needs it.

Anyone been in my situation and made it work for them? Do I need to get an NHS card for my wife (I've seen the GMS-1 form but not sure if ti applies)? If so, what's the best plan?

Any help gratefully received.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Moved from Off Topic to the UK Regional Forum as you are more likely to get the answer you need here

[Johnny Spangle 0]

Moved from Off Topic to the UK Regional Forum as you are more likely to get the answer you need here

Oh, cool, thanks.

[lovelyalex 99]

I know of some people that have registered their spouse at their (old) doctors surgery in the UK, as a temporary patient, and just used as needed. When I lived in Europe and came back with my daughter and she needed her jabs, I just registered her as a temporary patient and then make appointments for her as necessary. We later ended up moving back for a while before we came to the States and just signed her up as a permanent patient. The 2 forms we filled out were pretty basic and no one asked any questions.

[Kirsten UK 2]

The NHS is still very bad at charging non-UK residents for care at the point of delivery, however, this is starting to change and if she is in the unfortunate position of needing hospital care whilst in the UK, be warned that they may well put their hand out for payment via insurance or some other means. As long as your wife can obtain an NHS number she should be ok. I myself have insisted at times that people who are not eligible for NHS care that is free at the point of delivery pay (as a former NHS employee). She would need to register with a GP upon arrival in the UK, many GP's are so overwhelmed by foreigners that they know how to play the system to get people the required NHS number so as to get them out their door ASAP. It is a sad state of affairs that people such as yourself are so willing to cheat the system and even brag about 'hoodwinking' on here. Just because you paid your NI for years does not make it ok for your wife to obtain free healthcare. The NHS is dreadfully underfunded and is a wonderful resource that needs to be protected to ensure its future so that it may keep UK residents/citizens healthy.

The easiest and most honest thing to do is simply take out travel insurance before you go, that way if she gets sick shes covered, no problem, and it won't cost very much at all if you do some research.

[English Muffin 59]

There's some information here.

[amykathleen2005 441]

I was visiting the UK as a study abroad student. Although I had traveller's health insurance as specified by the school when I tried to go to a medical center for swimmer's ear I was told because I could even be seen I had to pay them 80 pounds to see the doctor and would be reimbursed later. I was like WHAT! Forget it. I ended up going to a walk up center that saw me immediately with a nurse who gave me the medicine I needed for my ear.

So basically in my experience it depends on where you go.

Edited January 2, 2010 by amykathleen2005

[featherB 1]

Never mind your wife - I'm pretty sure YOU are no longer eligible for free healthcare on the NHS (and yep, I speak as a green card holder who paid my own NI for many years until moving here), as you're no longer resident there. Your wife most definitely isn't. Just cough up for some travel insurance for the pair of you, it's really not that expensive!

[Johnny Spangle 0]

Ok great, thanks all. Sorry, I do disagree with those claiming it is immoral to expect a favor from the NHS in return for many, many years of investment (to reverse the position, we do not think it 'immoral' that parents with a half dozen kids get out far more than they ever put in) but we can debate this endlessly. I believe I'll be ok in a pinch as I have proof of address and an NI number that matches my name, it's my wife I am concerned about. Over the long run, health insurance can prove costly and I am always nervous of the loopholes sought by insurance companies (we have experienced US insurers, so I know).

[NotworkSte 19]

Wife had to visit Casualty today (not the ER as she calls it ) in Livingston. A rather nasty bit of cold/flu symptoms from too much Northern Ireland I think in a bad winter! Called NHS24, they put an appointment on, 2 hours later she's done. £50 for the privilege, not bad I guess.

[Johnny Spangle 0]

Wife had to visit Casualty today (not the ER as she calls it ) in Livingston. A rather nasty bit of cold/flu symptoms from too much Northern Ireland I think in a bad winter! Called NHS24, they put an appointment on, 2 hours later she's done. £50 for the privilege, not bad I guess.

Not bad, and fifty notes is fine. Hope she's feeling a lot better now!

[NotworkSte 19]

Not bad, and fifty notes is fine. Hope she's feeling a lot better now!

She has now been introduced to the joys of lemsip!

Got to add that to the thnigs I will miss when I go. Lemsip, soda bread, potato bread, anythnig with the word tayto on it...

[Welshcookie 17]

If you are visiting the UK with your wife you need to take out adequate insurance just as you would if you were travelling elsewhere in the world. Your wife is not entitled to be treated for free under the NHS...in fact, YOU are not entitled either.