Pre-Existing Conditions & NHS

I read somewhere that the NHS won't cover preexisting conditions. Is this correct? If so, if I'm on NHS and need to be treated for one (say a herniated disc in my spine), how would they go about charging me? Does it cost virtually the same as it does here?

I've never heard that before.  I had no problems being treated for a chronic condition.

I've never heard that before.  I had no problems being treated for a chronic condition.

Yeah, I went back to look through all the material I was reading when I thought I read that (confusing!), and I couldn't find it again. Perhaps it was a figment of my imagination?

As far as I'm aware, the NHS is there to treat everyone - it is a universal healthcare system providing the same level of medical care to everyone, regardless of medical history. I don't think they are allowed to turn you away if you have a pre-existing condition.

I am a Brit and have been using the NHS since the day I was born (well, I have no other choice really, as I have no reason to need private treatment for anything) - so for me there's no such thing as a 'pre-existing condition', since everything I have ever had has been diagnosed and treated by the NHS.

that would be scary!

You may be thinking that they may not treat the chronic condition the same way as in the US.  That could be true, as its based on costs and individual PCTs.  Bring your records from the US and work out the options with your own GP.  You should get treated just fine.

The NHS treats pre existing conditions it has never been any different. I came over and am disabled and I have been treated for what ever problem I have (I have to say I do not have many) just one lol.

Indy

Today I went to the Student Wellbeing talk, where they discussed registering for a GP and using the NHS. The speaker said that as a student you can be treated, but will have to pay for prescriptions and any pre-existing conditions! ACK! 

Today I went to the Student Wellbeing talk, where they discussed registering for a GP and using the NHS. The speaker said that as a student you can be treated, but will have to pay for prescriptions and any pre-existing conditions! ACK! 

Not sure what they meant by paying for pre-existing conditions- but as far as scripts- most people do have to pay some money per script, like £5/script or £7/script or so, depending on where you're located, etc.  Some scripts are free though- for chronic conditions, birth control, etc

The speaker said that as a student you can be treated, but will have to pay for prescriptions and any pre-existing conditions!

Wow..I'm kind of shocked about the pre-existing condition thing!  I would expect it from private insurance, but not the NHS...it seems so hard to enforce, too...I mean, how exactly do they establish what is and what isn't a pre-existing condition unless the patient tells them or brings their old files over?  Couldn't someone just go in and say this problem developed overnight and they've never had it before?  Clearly, that is not an ideal situation, as to get the best care possible, a patient would want to share what care they had previously, but I may want to think twice about handing over my old files if this pre-existing condition rule is true! 

This is what my undergraduate university health centre says in terms of charges for foreign students:

Consulting the doctors and nurses at the health centre for normal healthcare and illness is free to all students from any country with a prospective stay of over 6 months. Foreign students staying for less than 6 months will be seen for free at our discretion, but only for acute illness or supervision of ongoing conditions, not for second opinions for problems that have been investigated in other countries.

Treatment in hospitals and by specialists is free as above but students staying under 6 months and their visiting foreign relatives may incur charges. Again, this area is complex because EU residents are treated free and also people from certain countries with which the UK has a  'reciprocal' agreement is free. There can be long delays in seeing a hospital specialist under the NHS so if you have private health insurance please tell us -we can refer you for [quicker] private treatment.

This is what my undergraduate university health centre says in terms of charges for foreign students:

Consulting the doctors and nurses at the health centre for normal healthcare and illness is free to all students from any country with a prospective stay of over 6 months. Foreign students staying for less than 6 months will be seen for free at our discretion, but only for acute illness or supervision of ongoing conditions, not for second opinions for problems that have been investigated in other countries.

Treatment in hospitals and by specialists is free as above but students staying under 6 months and their visiting foreign relatives may incur charges. Again, this area is complex because EU residents are treated free and also people from certain countries with which the UK has a  'reciprocal' agreement is free. There can be long delays in seeing a hospital specialist under the NHS so if you have private health insurance please tell us -we can refer you for [quicker] private treatment.

This doesn't sound right to me, when I was a student here I registered with a regular NHS doctor and saw one when I needed it. I have suffered from a herniated disc and have had private physio, which I paid for...the NHS physio wasn't nearly as good as the private physio was (is)

students who are here for 6 months+ have full access to the NHS, there shouldn't be a question about that.  The stuff that ksand posted is in regards for students who are here for under 6 months (ie on a semester study abroad or short course), which sounds right. 

When I studied in the UK for under 6 months back in 2005, I was required to have private medical insurance in case I needed a lengthy hospital stay or something like that, but I could also access basic treatment at the university health practice for free (even though it's an NHS practice I'm assuming the university contributed to the costs of treating foreign students who were here for only a few months, who aren't entitled to use of the NHS.)  When I came back to the UK to study for a 12-month masters degree, I registered at a regular GP practice with no issues and had full access to any NHS service I might have needed.

Yeah, I went back to look through all the material I was reading when I thought I read that (confusing!), and I couldn't find it again. Perhaps it was a figment of my imagination?

It was probably on Fox News! 

Do not worry.  There is no such concept as a "pre-existing condition" (I'd never heard the phrase until I started reading about healthcare in the USA) in the NHS - its not trying to make a profit - you turn up to your GP ( or student medical centre) , tell them your problem, how long you've had it and they will treat you.  End of story.

Also, I don't believe students pay for prescription charges.