I'm looking for a good guide to comprehensive health insurance plans
for foreigners residing in the UK, so that I can help my employer, who
is transferring me to London, figure out which plan they should pay
for.

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Request for Question Clarification by politicalguru-ga on 04 Mar 2004 09:13 PST

Dear Doctorow, 

Are you (or the other "foreigners") EU nationals? (by your name I
guess you are Russian?) Do you have a work-permit in the UK?

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Clarification of Question by doctorow-ga on 04 Mar 2004 09:50 PST

I'm a Canadian (though yes, I am of Russian descent). I'm applying for
my UK work visa this week.

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Clarification of Question by doctorow-ga on 10 Mar 2004 16:24 PST

Is that true? Foreigners on a work-visa are covered by the NHS?

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Clarification of Question by doctorow-ga on 13 Mar 2004 14:04 PST

Foreigners employed by non-UK companies don't pay taxes in the UK,
according to my acocuntatn and immigration attorneys.

You won't actually need health insurance as you will be covered by the
public health service.

However, but two of the larger private health insurers are BUPA
www.bupa.co.uk, and Private Patients Plan www.axappphealthcare.co.uk.

Anybody who goes into a UK hospital for treatment is, as far as I am
aware, covered for free treatment for any malady covered by the NHS.
This has led to some complaints about "health tourists" who visit from
outside the European Community simply to obtain treatment.

However, there are sometimes considerable delays which is why many
blue-chip employers offer private medical cover to their staff.

Assuming your employer takes out a plan, and that you stay in the UK
long enough to be taxed here, the "cost" of the plan will form part of
your taxable emoluments and you will have to pay Income Tax on it.