Confused...

Ok, I've been pouring over these threads all night, and I'm sorry if this was answered definitively elsewhere(some of the posts were years old), but I seem to be reading conflicting opinions about qualifying for the NHS. If I come over on a work permit, am I eligible right away for NHS??

If not, is BUPA affordable??


This is very important for me to find out! Thanks!

If you are living and working in the UK, then you will be eligable for NHS.  

Thank you! That's great news!

Just adding a "ditto" for some extra reassurance.

Thank you, too!!!! What a relief! Is this from day one?

Yup!

Sorry to dig up this old thread, but now it looks as though I will go over on a Fiance Visa, not  a work permit.  Do I qualify for NHS the minute I arrive to stay with him?

I'm pretty sure you do.

You qualify for NHS if you arrive on a settlement visa, which a Fiancee Visa is.

Some GP's aren't so familiar with this right, though, and with NHS trying to crack down on "health tourists," you *might* run into some trouble trying to register with your local GP.  Keep your ground and let them know you are entitled to NHS.

Just preparing you - I had no problem registering with our GP, but I've heard of some people living elsewhere who have.

Ok! Thank you!

You qualify for NHS if you arrive on a settlement visa, which a Fiancee Visa is.

Some GP's aren't so familiar with this right, though, and with NHS trying to crack down on "health tourists," you *might* run into some trouble trying to register with your local GP.  Keep your ground and let them know you are entitled to NHS.

Just preparing you - I had no problem registering with our GP, but I've heard of some people living elsewhere who have.

I had problems registering with a GP a couple of years ago even though I am British, because I didn't know my NHS number (um, hello, why would I know it, been going to the doctor here since I was a baby!?)! I showed her my passport as ID and at the time I was travelling a lot for work so had 50 000000 stamps in my passport to various conrners of the globe and the doctor refused to treat me ,she said I didn't appear to live in the UK and was trying to "get round the system." Snupy, make it a priority to register with a local GP when you get here, within a few weeks you will get a little purple card in the mail telling you your NHS number.  Most GPs are not horrible like that one I went to and you shouldn't have any problem registering but it is good to get that little card with the number.

One thing to keep in mind is that if in some event you are not able to register with a GP, the A&E is always availble...if there is an emergency they are not going to turn you away.

I've found that the health care system is pretty decent there as well...and not much different than that of a military hospital system, if you are familiar with those...

If you're lucky, you'll never have to find out "1st hand" the ins and outs of the NHS.

Good luck!!!!