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Q: Ongoing Medical Treatment in the UK ( No Answer,   3 Comments )
Question  
Subject: Ongoing Medical Treatment in the UK
Category: Health
Asked by: donhamish007-ga
List Price: $20.00
Posted: 25 Jun 2004 07:48 PDT
Expires: 25 Jul 2004 07:48 PDT
Question ID: 366153
Kindly assume the following: I am an American citizen that is also a
citizen of the UK. On a monthly basis, I receive in-home medical
infusion treatment for an immune system disorder. This treatment is
fully funded by my employer's HMO; the cost is approximately $1,500
per month.

I would like to move to the UK to complete a one year graduate program
(MBA) and then stay in the UK for an additional 5 years or so as a
proud tax paying UK citizen, before returning to the US.

Questions:
1) Is there anyway for my treatment to be covered by NHS in the UK?
Both during my studies (say, 12 months) and after while working.
- Say I was working as a UK citizen for a UK/European company
or
- I was working as a foriegner for a US based company
2) Would my current doctor be able to provide documentatin such that a
UK physician would perscribe the required treatment in the exact form
described by my current doctor?

Thank you kindly for your time.
Answer  
There is no answer at this time.

Comments  
Subject: Re: Ongoing Medical Treatment in the UK
From: probonopublico-ga on 25 Jun 2004 08:45 PDT
 
I certainly don't know the Answer but I do believe that some
medication that is available in the US is not always available in the
UK.

And, if it's THAT expensive there might be a problem.
Subject: Re: Ongoing Medical Treatment in the UK
From: donhamish007-ga on 25 Jun 2004 08:59 PDT
 
The cost of $1,500 includes the in-home delivery service charges. I'm
not sure of the exact cost of the product. It should be noted that the
infused product is not a medication per se, but a component of human
blood; to my knowledge, only one company in the US markets the
mixture.
Subject: Re: Ongoing Medical Treatment in the UK
From: owain-ga on 25 Jun 2004 10:46 PDT
 
Hospital treatment is free to people who ordinarily live in the United
Kingdom (UK). If you do not normally live here then you may be
required to pay for any treatment you might need. This is regardless
of whether you are a British citizen or have lived or worked here in
the past.
http://www.publications.doh.gov.uk/overseasvisitors/index.htm

However changes to the regulations are currently being considered.

Under the current Regulations, anyone who comes to the UK to pursue a
full-time course of study of not less than six months' duration, or a
course of study that is of any duration but is substantially funded by
the UK Government, will be fully entitled to free NHS hospital
treatment in England. This exemption will apply to your spouse and
children (under the age of 16, or 19 if in further education) if they
are living permanently with you in the UK for the duration of your
course.
http://www.publications.doh.gov.uk/overseasvisitors/study1.htm

National Health Service (NHS) treatment is free to students who are
studying on a course lasting more than six months. Overseas students
at Lancaster for less than six months will be covered by the UK
National Health Service for emergencies but not for other health care.
http://www.lancs.ac.uk/users/international/pre/healthcare.htm


(Free hospital treatment:) anyone engaging in employment where the
employer's principle place of business is in the UK or is registered
in the UK as a branch of an overseas company; or engaging in self
employment where the principle place of the employment is in the UK;
http://www.avert.org/freenhs.htm

It would be useful if your current doctor would provide a copy of your
notes for a British doctor, but an NHS British doctor will diagnose,
treat and prescribe in accordance with British practice. There are
some treatments which are not available on the NHS although they are
available privately. This can vary from area to area.

Owain

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