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I'm a Brit, husband's an American, and we live in the US. We're visiting my family back in London in a few months, and I've never been sure about this - can the husband, who hasn't yet gone through any immigration procedures for the UK, use the NHS when we're back or not? I'm talking emergency and non-emergency, but not completely routine stuff like a physical.
I know that I can as I've done it before, but I'm never sure about him. We're coming home for a few weeks and he's accident prone so something's bound to happen
Yes. The NHS is available for everyone. Best thing to do first is get registered with a GP, then you'll be given an NHS number.
Seriously? I understand the OP to say that they will be merely visiting the UK, not moving there permanently. Would he still be eligible for free care from the NHS without having legal residency in Britain?
To my understanding he is only able to access NHS if he has some sort of emergency need. The OP's husband is not a dual citizen and will only be "visiting".
Last edited by Morwyn_7; 08-31-2009 at 09:05 PM..
Reason: added
As a visitor, your husband can use the NHS for A&E but he may be billed for it so he needs travel insurance. He cannot register with a GP - foreign citizens need a visa for that.
You probably need to take out travel insurance for him then if anything should happen he will be covered ...i was on holiday in the UK and had to see the Doc. they charged me money upfront then i had to claim from the insurance...they may treat him in an extreme emergency but thats about all.
Thanks for the replies everyone. It just occurred to me, I was de-registered by my UK GP because I hadn't been there for so long and they updated all of their systems. I know where my NHS card is in my parents' house, can I just register when I'm back with a GP for the period we're home? I'll need some prescription refills and also possibly some general care. I still have my UK passport and everything and am still very much a UK citizen.
Thanks for the replies everyone. It just occurred to me, I was de-registered by my UK GP because I hadn't been there for so long and they updated all of their systems. I know where my NHS card is in my parents' house, can I just register when I'm back with a GP for the period we're home? I'll need some prescription refills and also possibly some general care. I still have my UK passport and everything and am still very much a UK citizen.
Thanks!
As you are not a resident you will probably have to pay the full ammount for your prescriptions ...I was also on a UK passport but was charged full ammount at the Pharmacy , i claimed it back later from the insurance...you must keep all the receipts.
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