Good health insurance (US based) for expat in London

Hi all,
I'll be moving to London in December and will not qualify for NHS care.  I'm looking for a good and reasonably priced insurance that will cover me if something should happen while I'm abroad.  Any suggestions?
I really appreciate your help!

Why wouldn't you qualify for NHS, if you don't mind my asking? I thought everyone did who was a resident here.

I'll be there on a 6 month tourist visa, so I won't be a resident 

I'll be there on a 6 month tourist visa, so I won't be a resident 

Oh I see. I'm sorry I don't have any further information, but hopefully someone else does. I just thought it might be a misunderstanding we could clear up.

Ah, so you're not moving there then...I think that's what threw people off.  Because if you were moving to the UK, then you'd be on a visa that would allow you to use the NHS.

If you are currently employed with health care, have you looked into COBRA?
http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/faqs/faq_consumer_cobra.HTML

Could you get away with Travel Insurance?  So that if something unexpected came up and you needed to see a dr/go to the emergency room, you could pay out of pocket and claim back later?

You will need to get travel health insurance.  I doubt you will be able to buy into private insurance, like BUPA, if you aren't a resident. 

Also, private insurance in the UK tends to only cover you for certain issues.  For instance, if you can get diagnosed with cancer on private insurance, but you will be covered by the NHS for your treatment.

I'm curious about this because, when I moved here 23 years ago, before I had ILR, I was still allowed to use the GP and things. I just had to sign a form at every visit. I was even able to get birth control.

Well 23 years ago is a long time.  Heck, four years ago I could have walked right into the country with my spouse and presented my marriage visa at the border as opposed to spending over 1,500 pounds to date. 

Very true LOL

I'm wishing I'd sent my citizenship app in when it only cost £250 and the price of a stamp. Evil, thy name is Procrastination   

Indeed!

I just came across this thread because I may be in a similar situation.  I have a Tier 1 visa and will be moving to London from the U.S. at the end of January, but will be looking for work and won't immediately be employed (and thus contributing to the national insurance).  I've assumed that until I am employed, I won't be covered by NHS, even though I will be a legal resident of the UK.  I'll be happy to be told that I'm wrong, but if my facts are correct, I will need health insurance until I'm eligible for NHS.  Does anybody know of a good but economical health insurance plan for someone in my situation?  I can pay for a plan provided upon my retirement from my US job (which I'll be leaving when I move), but I would have to pay out of pocket for any medical expenses, and then file a claim with them afterwards.  Needless to say, that would work much better with a doctor's appt. than with expensive hospital procedures.  I'm hoping for a plan that won't make me pay out of pocket first.

Again, if anybody can tell me that I would indeed be covered by the NHS the moment I become a legal resident, I will breathe easy.  But if not, I will need to find a good insurance plan before I move.

Thanks, everybody!