Retiring in the Phils

[Terpe]

Good information there Terpe!

I think healthcare is the biggest issue with retiring out there. If you can afford to keep a UK address (even if you rent it to family on the side), then at least you'll get NHS care when something nasty happens, which of course is normal when you get closer to the end... sorry to be negative but this is the reality).

Trefor, you'd better do some research on that assumption of qualification for NHS .

[Rosie1958]

Trefor, you'd better do some research on that assumption of qualification for NHS .

Anyone who is deemed to be ordinarily resident in the UK is entitled to free NHS hospital treatment in England. “Ordinarily resident” is a common law concept interpreted by the House of Lords in 1982 as someone who is living lawfully in the United Kingdom voluntarily and for settled purposes as part of the regular order of their life for the time being, with an identifiable purpose for their residence here which has a sufficient degree of continuity to be properly described as settled.

Anyone who is not ordinarily resident is subject to the National Health Service (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Regulations 2011. These regulations place a responsibility on NHS hospitals to establish whether a person is ordinarily resident; or exempt from charges under one of a number of exemption categories; or liable for charges.

Nationality or past or present payments of UK taxes and National Insurance contributions are not taken into consideration when establishing residence. The only thing relevant is whether you ordinarily live in the UK.

Been there, done that and got the tee-shirt. The only way that I could ensure that my very sick brother could qualify for free NHS healthcare was for him to return to live permanently in UK and I had to provide evidence of this. I was also told by the hospital that if he subsequently leaves the UK, the costs of his treatment will then become payable.

[Terpe]

Anyone who is deemed to be ordinarily resident in the UK is entitled to free NHS hospital treatment in England. “Ordinarily resident” is a common law concept interpreted by the House of Lords in 1982 as someone who is living lawfully in the United Kingdom voluntarily and for settled purposes as part of the regular order of their life for the time being, with an identifiable purpose for their residence here which has a sufficient degree of continuity to be properly described as settled.

Anyone who is not ordinarily resident is subject to the National Health Service (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Regulations 2011. These regulations place a responsibility on NHS hospitals to establish whether a person is ordinarily resident; or exempt from charges under one of a number of exemption categories; or liable for charges.

Nationality or past or present payments of UK taxes and National Insurance contributions are not taken into consideration when establishing residence. The only thing relevant is whether you ordinarily live in the UK.

Been there, done that and got the tee-shirt. The only way that I could ensure that my very sick brother could qualify for free NHS healthcare was for him to return to live permanently in UK and I had to provide evidence of this. I was also told by the hospital that if he subsequently leaves the UK, the costs of his treatment will then become payable.

Very informative Rosie
Yep, I know you've been there etc etc. You certainly understand the NHS eligibility now.

I was surprised that you were told that if your brother leaves UK then the NHS costs become payable.
Talk about Sword of Damocles

[Trefor]

Trefor, you'd better do some research on that assumption of qualification for NHS .