NI38 Social Security abroad - HM Revenue & Customs

Health care when
living or working in
a non­EEA country
Access to the
National Health
Service (NHS)
31
NI38 Social Security abroad
Health care is not always as comprehensive as in the UK and you
may have to pay a proportion or all of the cost of treatment.
The expense of bringing someone back to the UK in cases of
illness or death is never covered so make sure you have adequate
private travel insurance wherever you are going.
If you are moving to one of the countries listed on page 3 to work
or live, information about health care may be obtained at
www.dh.gov.uk/travellers
The NHS provides health care for people who reside in the
United Kingdom. If you move abroad you are not automatically
entitled to use the NHS free of charge regardless of having paid
NICs and taxes in this country in the past.
If you are going abroad for three months or more you should
inform your general practitioner (GP) of both your departure date
and proposed return date, if known, in order to avoid your records
being withdrawn unnecessarily.
If you go to live abroad you will be able to get emergency
treatment under the NHS at a GP’s surgery or the Accident and
Emergency Department of a hospital if you become ill or have an
accident on a visit back here.
But if you come back specially to get hospital treatment or a
check­up under the NHS for an existing illness, you will
normally be charged the full costs unless you have been referred
by your new country of residence and they have agreed to cover
the costs.
If you return to live in the UK you will again be able to receive
health care treatment under the NHS. You should register with a
GP as soon as possible after you return. This will enable the GP to
retrieve your records before you have need of their services and
avoid your records being destroyed in error.