I've been going to the hospital will they bill me?

I wasn't referring to dannygirl's first question.  I was replying to the subsequent responses.

And I never said dannygirl should not have prenatal care.  What I said was that she should pay for the care she gets until she has her visa status sorted.  That's the law.

Sweetpeach, your point is mute.  She's living here, she's pregnant, she is going to establish residency.  She gave the right answer.

I know you meant moot

I said she gave the correct answer.  It's the hospital that didn't ask her to be more specific about when she was establishing residency and what her legal status was.

"The Regulations place a responsibility on individual hospitals to determine whether, in accordance with the Regulations, a patient is liable to be charged for treatment or not. In order to establish entitlement, hospitals can ask you to provide documentation that supports your claim that you intend to live permanently in the UK. It is for you to decide what to supply, however examples of evidence could include:

documentation to prove you are entitled to live in the UK such as British Passport, permission from the Home Office;
documentation that proves your intention is to reside here permanently such as sale of goods/property overseas, receipts showing shipping of goods, looking for work, application for benefits, children are attending school. "


I'm still confused about whether dannysgirl is  married or not. She says she hasn't gotten a fiance visa yet, but refers to her spouse.

Nobody said she should not receive prenatal care. Just that she should pay for it.  (By the way, I don't see anything wrong with not paying right away, but letting the hospital bill you and then paying after the bill is received.  US doctors and hospitals do this all the time.)


"If you do not have an automatic right to take up permanent residence but have applied to the Home Office for leave to enter/remain on a settled basis, you will be chargeable for any hospital treatment up to the point your application is granted."


I think that is pretty clear.

I know you meant moot

I said she gave the correct answer.  It's the hospital that didn't ask her to be more specific about when she was establishing residency and what her legal status was.

Well, since neither you nor I has a complete transcript of exactly what was said between Dannygirl and the hospital I think it's more than a bit silly say what 'should and shouldn't' have been said. 

And whether or not she's married is not really our business, is it?  She says she intends to establish residency.  That's quite clear.

I wasn't referring to dannygirl's first question.  I was replying to the subsequent responses.

And the subsequent responses ALL said you might be billed, sort your visa out and the hospital is not going to refuse treatment.  NOTHING for you to get riled about. 

The responses you are so upset about are all answers to ANOTHER posters question. 

I think you need to calm down and reread it. 

I know you meant moot

Taken from sweetpeach's guide on How to Win Friends and Influence People.   

You know - she can intend to establish residency all she wants.  (We all know the road to "heck" is paved with good intentions...)  But the fact is she hasn't.  And it's up to the Home Office/British Consulate if she'll be allowed to.  And if the NHS did actually extract payment from those NOT ENTITLED TO USE IT AT THE TIME THEY USE IT then maybe it wouldn't be in such a crappy state as it is.

But that's just my maybe-not-so-eloquently stated opinion.

Personally, I never would have expected to get free treatment of any sort - prenatal or otherwise - if I were just visiting.

If those who have been UK citizens all their lives and then move to Spain for their retirement years can be charged for NHS services when *visiting* the UK - even though they've paid into it themselves for years - then why should someone who is technically a visitor and nothing more expect to get it for free?

Dannygirl - go to the US and get your visa straightened out.  Then there's no question or *controversy.* 

I am sorry that I called him my spouse he is my fiance.  We have already applied for a fiance visa and I know I have to go back to the US but I am just wainting for that point to come up.  I have my mother sending things over from address in the US to allow me to be here with my fiance.  And we have no problem paying the bill but it just seemed strange to me that they were not as pushy about their money like they are in the US.  I told them that I was going to be a permanent resident soon.  I am not trying to get over on the NHS because I would rather have private health care because it is better.  Which we plan on doing when he gets paid soon.  I was just really curious.  I have sickle cell anemia which is causing me to have more problems in my pregnancy than I had expected.  I just don't want to have anything happen to my baby.  And there is no mistaking that I am American, I have a southern accent and it is very noticable.  So they knew and asked where I was from.  Sorry for the confusion.

The responses you are so upset about are all answers to ANOTHER posters question.  

I already said they were.  Did YOU re-read?

My best friend used Cocoa butter on her bump when she started to get REALLY BIG -- and it worked -- no stretch marks and her tum was S O F T.  I wonder why the baby didn't grow up to be all sweet smelling and soft?!  She's 19 now -mouthy, knowITall, and thinks her Mother doesn't know Bo Diddley squat!  I told my friend she should have traded her in when she had the chance -- but nooooooooooooooooooo she didn't want to.   

I am sorry that I called him my spouse he is my fiance. We have already applied for a fiance visa and I know I have to go back to the US but I am just wainting for that point to come up. I have my mother sending things over from address in the US to allow me to be here with my fiance.

Okay - I know this is going way off topic...but I just have to ask.

You say you've already "applied" for your Fiancee Visa - yet you are still here in the UK.  Does that mean that you're here without your passport?

Yikes, I've just come back to this subject and it seems some responses have triggered a heated debate.

For the record, I don't think that I or any other person has ever suggested or condoned abuse of the NHS.  Indeed, I'm in favour of a NHS entitlement card to clear up exactly who is and isn't entitled.  Such a system may even improve the perilous financial status of the NHS.

On a general point, I consider one of the main purposes of this forum is for people to share actual experiences, hence my question of whether people actually get billed.  I hope that Dannygirl, as a newcomer, hasn't been put off UKY by the tone of some of the ensuing responses!

Dannygirl, good luck with the pregnancy!

Indeed, I'm in favour of a NHS entitlement card to clear up exactly who is and isn't entitled. Such a system may even improve the perilous financial status of the NHS.

I am so with you on this - except that there already are NHS cards distributed and I should think it would be pretty simple to put into place a "show your card" scheme. 

I already said they were. Did YOU re-read?

ye-ess, I did. 

I'm actually surprised that some people have acted as if not getting a bill is perfectly acceptable and that dannygirl should just go about her business.  She's not entitled to NHS care until she has her settlement visa.  Encouraging her to just continue right along, IN MY OPINION, is shocking and irresponsible. 
 

 

Excuse me, but that looks very much like you are taking issue with the responses TO Dannygirl. 
 

I am so with you on this - except that there already are NHS cards distributed and I should think it would be pretty simple to put into place a "show your card" scheme. 

I'd be in favour of that!
I used to carry my card with me until i realised no one was ever going to ask me for it...

Except not everyone has a card. I never had a card while I was growing up here. It was only after I'd been living overseas and came back and re-registered that I got a card.