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sheeba
Joined: 17 Jun 2004
Posts: 1123
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 Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2007 3:05 am Post subject: Teacher's NHS benefits(UK) |
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I found some interesting info today that is OK for me now but in a couple of years could be of concern .
You can receive NHS hospital treatment for free if:
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| You�ve been working abroad for no longer than 5 years, but have lived legally in the UK for ten continuous years at some point. |
Now I have been here in China for 3 years . In 2 more I'm going to be outside this 5 years limit and am a bit concerned about what will happen if I need an operation . Of course I hope that won't be the case but I have been told that at some point I will need one on my ear .
The website http://www.avert.org/freenhs.htm says that if you are working in the UK you get free hospital treatment .
Do you think it would be easy to just pack up , go back to England and get any old job in order to use the NHS ?
I'm not even sure that I should worry so much about the NHS . Perhaps I'd be better off saving some cash in case of emergency and having an operation (if needed) in China or perhaps somewhere else in Asia .
I also note that working for the British Council enables you to have free NHS hospital treatment and I think working in Europe or countries that have bilateral healthcare agreements with the UK offer services .
Any thoughts ? |
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kaw
Joined: 31 Mar 2003
Posts: 302
Location: somewhere hot and sunny
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| Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2007 7:20 pm Post subject: |
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I've been out of the UK for a while but am registered as living at my parents address for elections/medical stuff etc. I've also had the same doctor for about 20 years and so far he hasn't said anything.
While the NHS is free - is it really worth having to wait a week or so for a doctors appointment. Since I've been over here I have had to pay for things but get to see doctors/specialists straight away. I think I'd rather pay for a better service than pay nothing and have to be on deaths door before anything is done. |
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CoolThailand
Joined: 08 Jun 2007
Posts: 18
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| Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2007 4:35 am Post subject: |
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I have always planned to return to the UK for medical treatment, providing I'm able to get on a plane.  |
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SueH
Joined: 01 Feb 2003
Posts: 1022
Location: Northern Italy
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| Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2007 7:51 pm Post subject: |
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| It depends on your personal history. Haven't you "lived legally in the UK for ten continuous years at some point"? If not your circumstances may be more complicated than I'd be prepared to comment on, but for most people they should be OK. It doesn't say you had to be a tax-payer during that 10 years, does it? |
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sheeba
Joined: 17 Jun 2004
Posts: 1123
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| Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2007 8:21 am Post subject: |
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| I've also had the same doctor for about 20 years and so far he hasn't said anything. |
But if you needed an operation(non-emergency) would you qualify ?
Sue . I was born in the UK , lived there until I was 29 . I did a few months work on a campsite in France at 24 . I'm now 32 . I'm not worried about the fact that I've lived there 10 years . It's more the fact that if you have been overseas 5 + years from what is suggested in my original post I may not qualify for an operation in a UK hospital .
I am for tax purposes a UK resident I think but not sure about what happens (as far as who is entitled to free NHS hospital treatment )after you've worked away 5 years + after looking at this website . It's not so clear .
Of course I'm not planning my future misfortunes but I want to be clear what the situation will be in the near future . |
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billybuzz
Joined: 05 Jan 2006
Posts: 219
Location: turkey
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| Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2007 11:34 am Post subject: |
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| Couldn't help myself on this one , just got to say it , what a sad sorry bunch of cheapskates you must be to seriously consider this idea of throwing yourself to the tender mercies of the British National health service . what on earth are you lot thinking of ? Does the place you happen to live and work in be in such a bad way they have no medical standards or hospitals ? Don't you chumps have private medical insurance ? |
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SueH
Joined: 01 Feb 2003
Posts: 1022
Location: Northern Italy
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| Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2007 11:34 pm Post subject: |
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So what lends you to that conclusion bb? Have you had bad experiences of the NHS, or do you have some experience of Chinese medical care, or the (international?) medical insurance that one can afford on a Chinese teacher's salary? I know I don't, but the OP seems to.
The care my Mum in the UK has had recently has been good and timely, as has treatment I've had in the past. If one is eligible for UK health care on the basis of the taxes one has paid, why look further?
Incidentally sheeba - I missed the critical "no" in the original post, so I'm not quite sure. If you are a UK tax resident, NI number and UK address I'm not sure it would ever be picked up. |
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sheeba
Joined: 17 Jun 2004
Posts: 1123
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| Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2007 1:08 am Post subject: |
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Couldn't help myself on this one , just got to say it , what a sad sorry bunch of cheapskates you must be to seriously consider this idea of throwing yourself to the tender mercies of the British National health service . what on earth are you lot thinking of ? Does the place you happen to live and work in be in such a bad way they have no medical standards or hospitals ? Don't you chumps have private medical insurance ?
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'tender mercies of the NHS' - The NHS has given me an extremely high quality of care in the past - I've had about half a dozen operations with them (and people I know - My friend's mum has just had lung cancer removed successfully )
As for the place I live in . Billy - you seem a bit naive . I invite you to come to my city in China (actually most cities ) and let a Chinese operating team open you up . I think you'd be the biggest 'chump' mate .
Private medical insurance in my instance is just the travel type that deals with emergencies . I wouldn't get an ongoing problem sorted out (which I have ) and wouldn't want to have operations here as a first choice . Billy - What makes you think that a TEFL teacher in China gets any kind of private medical insurance that would offer such a perk . What world are you living in ? I'd love to have BUPA private medical care but I think a request like that for a standard TEFL teacher here would result in quite a few laughs in our administration office . Perhaps you have such a cover but we're not all so fortunate and its a little naive to think that everyone is .I can't even think of many in the UK that have such private contracts these days . Maybe you could actually contribute and suggest some affordable private coverage for people in places like China that would cover you for operations (non emergency) back in the UK ?
Sue - as for if it would get picked up . Well maybe not but my doctor knows exactly the situation I am in so I don't know . I guess I need to really speak to him rather than consult this board but still it's interesting to see if anybody actually knows the situation . A lot of you guys are in Europe where I think the situation is different . |
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jammish
Joined: 17 Nov 2005
Posts: 1704
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| Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2007 2:04 am Post subject: |
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| billybuzz wrote: |
| Couldn't help myself on this one , just got to say it , what a sad sorry bunch of cheapskates you must be to seriously consider this idea of throwing yourself to the tender mercies of the British National health service . what on earth are you lot thinking of ? Does the place you happen to live and work in be in such a bad way they have no medical standards or hospitals ? Don't you chumps have private medical insurance ? |
Is there any need to be such a c_unt? |
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billybuzz
Joined: 05 Jan 2006
Posts: 219
Location: turkey
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| Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2007 7:33 am Post subject: |
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I live and work in Turkey ,have done for the last 15 years or so continuously ,therefore according to the op I may or maynot be able to receive medical treatment in the land of my birth for free or at a reduced cost . This is despite the fact I have paid taxes for more than 25 years ,oh well what do I do then ?
I made the decision to work for a private university that offered private medical cover as part of its employment "package" mind you apart from a midday meal and the monthly paycheck there is little else ,are you telling me that kind of gig is rare to find where you are ?
According to one poster I may be a cee u next tuesday but at least I'm not a stupid one !
Some people still think Turkey is third world ,you lot must be on another world ,if its that bad get off ! The last thing I would do is travel back to the U.K for medical treatment and I live a lot closer to it than you lot ,I don't think its worth the air fare not when everything I need is here ,you just have to pay for it , thats all ,like most things in life! |
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guty
Joined: 10 Apr 2003
Posts: 365
Location: on holiday
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| Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2007 7:37 am Post subject: |
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I'd be interested to open this up a little.
I have tefled in several countries, and mostly, whenever I worked legally, I was covered to receive health care in the local system. I think that perfectly reasonable as I was paying taxes into their systems. I have also worked where it is compulsory to pay into a private health insurance scheme.
However, should UK citizens, who aren't paying into their system, continue to be able to use the NHS? Should birth in the UK entitle you to a lifetime of free health treatment, or is it reasonable that there is a cut off point?
I assume that this is only an option for UK citizens as those citizens of countries which require payment to private schemes would not pay them whilst living abroad.
So, is there any moral issue with taking from a system that you are not paying into? |
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billybuzz
Joined: 05 Jan 2006
Posts: 219
Location: turkey
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| Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2007 7:51 am Post subject: |
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Thanks Guty , I think there is a moral issue here as well but I wasn't going to touch on it !
I have been lucky health wise so I can't speak from personal experience about any system in Turkey or the U.K but the " tender mercies " comment came from those who have and who have less inclination to rush back for more of the same ,I do get the chance to read English newspapers surely I don't need to tell forum members what a mess the N.H.S is in ? |
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dmb
Joined: 12 Feb 2003
Posts: 8397
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| Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2007 8:07 am Post subject: |
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| a couple of years ago I needed an operation. I spoke to a doctor back in the UK and he said there would be waiting times(about 6 months) for various consultants, etc.(I've not lived in the UK for almost 15 years). Private here in Turkey they said ok have the op tomorrow. I didn't need to think too much about it. |
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mondrian
Joined: 20 Mar 2005
Posts: 658
Location: "was that beautiful coastal city in the NE of China"
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| Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2007 11:32 pm Post subject: |
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| guty wrote: |
However, should UK citizens, who aren't paying into their system, continue to be able to use the NHS? Should birth in the UK entitle you to a lifetime of free health treatment, or is it reasonable that there is a cut off point?
I assume that this is only an option for UK citizens as those citizens of countries which require payment to private schemes would not pay them whilst living abroad.
So, is there any moral issue with taking from a system that you are not paying into? |
Few UK citizens who are currently working abroad have NOT, at some earlier time in their lives, contributed through their National Insurance contributions.
AND by living abroad they are not a continuing burden on the UK NHS system!
Their pension rights may be frozen, but it is not withdrawn. |
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sheeba
Joined: 17 Jun 2004
Posts: 1123
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| Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2007 5:53 am Post subject: |
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| therefore according to the op I may or maynot be able to receive medical treatment in the land of my birth for free or at a reduced cost . This is despite the fact I have paid taxes for more than 25 years ,oh well what do I do then ? |
and
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| However, should UK citizens, who aren't paying into their system, continue to be able to use the NHS? |
Billy - 25 years of paying into that tax system and then 5 years away and you can't use that system . The moral question- Well what about those that enter the UK in employment and have paid practically nothing into the system . They automatically benefit from the system whilst you billy even after 25 years of tax payments have lost that right .
So enter the UK for 25 days and have free use of the NHS . Pay 25 years of tax and only 5 years allowed abroad . That does not sound right to me but I may have my facts mixed .
Whether you like the NHS or not I don't think that's the point here . To be fair guty raises a good point . I haven't paid 25 years of tax perhaps I shouldn't feel so strongly about my benefits .
I'm not saying that I need to run back to the NHS but when faced with decisions that could be a matter of life and death I just want to be thinking about the benefits I am giving up . |
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