NHS and Travelling back to the States to Visit...

I've been all over the NHS website trying to answer this question myself, but I haven't really found anything.  Also only went back about 10 pages on here before I figured I'd just ask.

I'm here on a Tier 4 which means I'm covered by the NHS.  I'm not insured back in the States, and my mom has recently begun to worry about whether or not I should get some kind of coverage for when I return home for visits.  Obviously paying regularly for insurance for a country I don't currently reside in is a waste of money, and I'm trying to tell my mom that, but she's still worried about it.

So how does this work?  Does the NHS cover you when you are in the States or do you have to take out some kind of travel medical insurance?

I'm sure this has been asked a billion times, so I apologize...
Thanks in advance!

THe NHS does not cover you in the US.  YOu need travel insurance.

The NHS only covers you while you're in the UK - it's not like an insurance policy, it's just a government service offered to people who are present in the UK and is paid for by their taxes... like the police or fire department.

If you want to be covered for medical issues while in the US, you'll need to take out a travel insurance policy before you leave the UK.  A lot of insurance companies will only cover you if you're settled in the UK (i.e. have ILR), however, STA Travel offers travel insurance for people under 65 who have been in the UK for at least 3 months (no restriction on visa type).

As others mentioned, you'll need travel insurance.

One thing to keep in mind - travel insurance may not cover pre-existing conditions.  My fiance says that his mom sometimes has problems finding decent travel insurance that covers pre-existing conditions; I could ask him what she uses if that would be of interest?

Thanks everyone, I assumed it was something like that.  I'll look into STA since I'm certainly nowhere near an ILR holder.  Looks like it won't be anymore than about £40 or £50, which isn't so bad.

The only pre-existing condition I have is asthma that hasn't surfaced for about 10 years, so you don't have to bother, Aquila.  But thanks for the offer! 

How old are you?

Assuming your mother has health insurance--if you're a student and under a certain age (the age cutoff may vary by state), you could be added as a dependent under your mother's US health insurance.  Add to that a high deductible and your status as being intermittently present in the US, and you might get a better rate as a dependent on your mother's insurance than on your own.

Travel insurance to cover you for going home to your home country could potentially be dicey.  If something seriously goes wrong that lasts several days or weeks that could financially wipe you out (ex. long-term intensive care stay or surgery), travel insurance is primarily designed to get you home.  If you're listing the UK as your "healthcare insurance home" for your travel insurance, the coverage may therefore entail having you brought back to the UK if you require the kind of long-term care that would make it impossible for your to continue your studies and keep your visa.

In short, if something catastrophic happened to you, you had to leave school, and had to stay in the hospital/long term acute care for months, where would you want to be?  Your answer to that question is what travel insurance will help you get to.  As I don't know the answer to that question for you, I cannot advise you as to whether or not you should obtain US or UK based travel insurance.

It may be more financially viable for you to forego insurance during your stays in the US while you're a student...or it may not.  Other than being a nice thing for all people to have, can you tell us a little more about why it's important in your case to have health insurance during your visits in the US?  Do you have pre-existing conditions, either active or in remission?  Are you receiving ongoing treatment for any conditions?  Or are you looking for coverage for emergencies?  Is healthcare access your (mother's) concern, or paying the bill at the end?

Despite the fact that I am a student, I'm definitely not covered under my parents' insurance age-wise.  That would be a pretty obvious choice if that were an option.

I'm only buying the travel insurance so that my mom won't worry about "if something happens".  Normally, I'd take the risk of not having it, but if it will make my mom more at ease then it can't hurt to get some travel insurance.

I'll weigh my options as to whether or not to get US or UK based.  Thanks!

I'm interested in hearing what you discover with regards to obtaining UK-based travel insurance for travel to your home country.  If you encounter any problems with it, I'd be grateful if you could let me know.  If it works for £50/year, you may have just  found a way to solve America's health insurance crisis.

I'm interested in hearing what you discover with regards to obtaining UK-based travel insurance for travel to your home country.  If you encounter any problems with it, I'd be grateful if you could let me know.  If it works for £50/year, you may have just  found a way to solve America's health insurance crisis.

It's only for the allotted time of your trip, so that £40 or £50 covers me for 12 days, and that's a lower price because I'm under 35.  The 12 month plans (from one company, STA) run anywhere from £240-£500 depending on your age and the amount of coverage. Sadly, I don't think I've solved the health insurance crisis, but I'll let you know how it goes anyway!

It's only for the allotted time of your trip, so that £40 or £50 covers me for 12 days, and that's a lower price because I'm under 35.

I took out STA under 35 insurance earlier this yearfor a trip to the US and South America - it cost me £102 for 2 months (it was a premier policy though because I needed to be covered for trekking in the Andes and extreme sports).

I'm only buying the travel insurance so that my mom won't worry about "if something happens".  Normally, I'd take the risk of not having it, but if it will make my mom more at ease then it can't hurt to get some travel insurance.

It isn't worth the risk since travel insurance is relatively easy and inexpensive.  I now get travel insurance through my bank, it is free with the monthly bank charges and applies to me and my BF.  If we ignored all the other benefits we got and only focused on the bank charges, it works out that travel insurance about £6.50 per month per person.  It is a darn good policy as well.

I have none people who needed travel insurance including a woman who unexpectedly needed emergency gall bladder surgery while in the US.  It was a $60k hospital bill -- completely covered.

We always take out travel insurance, and we always seem to have to use it! Whether its chicken pox on holiday, infected mosquito bites, strep throat....we always have to make a claim on our return! the insurance costs us like £150 a year. Totally worth it!

Definitely get travel insurance. The one year we didn't get insurance and travelled to the US I broke my leg. You can imagine what that cost us.....

My mom would probably love to hear that she's being proven right by all of you.  No worries, I'm planning on getting it. Thanks everyone.