It is my current understanding that you must be permanently resident in the UK and returning ex pats must be here for 12 months before they will get NHS treatment for free again. Whilst it used to be the case that maintaining a UK home, as we will, would probably be sufficient not to draw attention to the fact that we were spending time in the Philippines things have changed. My doctor told me that Local Primary Care Trusts are now required to return to the centre files for anyone with whom they have not had contact for 3 months. I presume he means anyone who has an open and active treatment programme underway, otherwise that would include a lot of perfectly fit people! The UK border agency computers are also soon to be able to monitor all entries and exits and match them against NHS records so hiding your situation will become pretty difficult.
Whether this is fair or not is another question, but that is how I understand it. I am though seeking guidance on the issue to determine what steps I can take to mitigate the effect.
Quote Originally Posted by Gavanddal View Post
As far as I can see this is only relevant to EU members coming to live here. It states clearly in a separate section that free NHS treatment is "residency based" i.e. only valid whilst you are living here.

If you were of retirement age and claiming a pension in the Phils then trying to get NHS treatment would be hard. If you were below pensionable age and kept an address in the UK you could probably get away with still receiving NHS treatment by being perceived as still being resident in the UK.

Who decides where you're resident? If you cut all ties with the UK then clearly you're no longer resident. Seems best to keep a foot in both camps.