RetireJapan

Once when I went back to the UK for a visit, I went to my regular doctor for a minor ailment. I told the receptionist I had been working outside of the UK so that is why my records may not be on file. I was seen without issue. I didn't tell them I was only back for a visit. My attitude is:
1) I continue to pay my National Insurance contributions from Japan, some of which goes to fund the NHS.
2) [redacted]

From my experience very much depends on how the GP or more importantly the person at the reception interprets your residency. I have been charged once and had it for free- and it was at the same Doctor's surgery.

Voluntary national insurance contributions don't count- residency is the most important factor.

For what it costs it's probably worth getting travel insurance. Your credit card may include insurance or you can get it for a few thousand yen.

As a non-resident GP visits and treatment at A&E are free but you'd probably be on the hook for anything else.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/healt ... om-abroad/

TBS wrote: ↑Sun Oct 24, 2021 2:35 pm There is an entry on the wiki suggesting it might be possible in Scotland: Eligibility for NHS treatment.

The conditions from the linked pamphlet are:

If you work anywhere outside the UK you can get health care from the NHS in Scotland if you lived in the UK legally for more than 10 years before moving abroad, and:
- you have worked abroad for less than five years, or
- you have worked abroad for five years or more, and:
- you have come back to the UK for a visit at least once every two years, or
- your contract of employment allows you to visit the UK at least once every two years, or
- your employer will pay for the cost of your return to the UK at the end of your contract.

The pandemic will not have helped many who would have otherwise qualified via points 2&3.

Ooof. I went back this past Christmas but looking at my travel dates that was 2 years and 1 day in Japan. Sod's law. Saying that - I did get treatment on the NHS when I was back, I just stated I was on an extended holiday if they asked where I was. Not sure what the implications of that were, but it seems I'm still registered with my GP so it seemed like a very tangled web of bureacracy I didn't really want to get into or sort out.

fools_gold wrote: ↑Sat Oct 30, 2021 12:09 pm As a non-resident GP visits and treatment at A&E are free but you'd probably be on the hook for anything else.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/healt ... om-abroad/

A&E is free but "not including emergency treatment if admitted to hospital".

Source: https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/visitin ... om-abroad/

I'm looking into this now. My credit card seems to only cover emergencies, which are already (mostly) free in the UK. Has anyone used medical insurance to cover basic GP visits and treatment while in the UK? Planning to go back for a month this summer. I don't think I'm eligible anymore and neither are my family.

Rezz wrote: ↑Tue May 17, 2022 3:52 am I'm looking into this now. My credit card seems to only cover emergencies, which are already (mostly) free in the UK. Has anyone used medical insurance to cover basic GP visits and treatment while in the UK? Planning to go back for a month this summer. I don't think I'm eligible anymore and neither are my family.

Public health insurance can also cover the cost of medical treatment abroad: https://www.city.tachikawa.lg.jp/hokenn ... n/006.html

RetireJapan wrote: ↑Tue May 17, 2022 4:51 am Public health insurance can also cover the cost of medical treatment abroad: https://www.city.tachikawa.lg.jp/hokenn ... n/006.html

Very interesting. I tried searching for some more information on this. My city has it on their website in Japanese too. I also found it on the English version of the Shigaku Kyosai website:

https://www.shigakukyosai.jp/en/s_term/ ... ess09.html

Most websites say 70-90% of the expenses will be reimbursed, but the Shigaku Kyosai site warns that it may be as little as 10%

Rezz wrote: ↑Wed May 18, 2022 12:44 am

RetireJapan wrote: ↑Tue May 17, 2022 4:51 am Public health insurance can also cover the cost of medical treatment abroad: https://www.city.tachikawa.lg.jp/hokenn ... n/006.html

Very interesting. I tried searching for some more information on this. My city has it on their website in Japanese too. I also found it on the English version of the Shigaku Kyosai website:

https://www.shigakukyosai.jp/en/s_term/ ... ess09.html

Most websites say 70-90% of the expenses will be reimbursed, but the Shigaku Kyosai site warns that it may be as little as 10%

Personally I would get commercial travel insurance (especially if travelling with kids) but this is an option if all else fails

I was an NHS nurse, working in A&E and the rules are basically this.
GP/Hospital services for long term illness where you present to a medical institution, they can indeed bill you, because these would not be deemed as an emergency.

However, if you are not a UK national/Non UK resident and you turn up with an Emergency at A&E or are admitted into the hospital as an emergency, then discharged then all treatment is free at the point of delivery, however, any follow up care can be charged.

We caught a ton of patients bringing family members over, who were not entitled to care, and although their initial care was free, (cause they basically walked off the plane and came to A&E) they were then charged for any follow up care they received. But generally most patients didn't need follow up care as their stay was so short and they'd be on the plane back home.