6 Mo Fiancee Visa and NHS?

Soon, I will be arriving in the UK under a 6 mo Fiancee Visa.  Does NHS cover any medications or GP visits during this 6 mo visa? 
(After we marry, I will be living in the UK permanent and seeking employment as well). 
From what I understand you have to reside there 1 year to qualify or be employed.  Under the Fiancee Visa, they don't allow you to work until you're married; what I was told, so what can you do about normal checkups at a GP and medication in between times?

Thank you kindly,
Karen

You are entitled to NHS treatment with a fiance/e visa.

From what I understand you have to reside there 1 year to qualify or be employed.

That is only true for people coming to the UK on a Tier 1 Highly Skilled work visa. All other visas that are valid for more than 6 months allow you to use the NHS from the day you arrive in the UK (e.g. Tier 4 student visa, fiance/spousal visa, Tier 2 work visa etc.)

 

Under the Fiancee Visa, they don't allow you to work until you're married; what I was told, so what can you do about normal checkups at a GP and medication in between times?

Your fiance visa is considered to be a 'settlement' type of visa because you will be on the path to to settlement as the spouse of a UK citizen once you are married, therefore you are eligible to use the NHS from the day you arrive in the UK. All you need to do is register at a GP surgery and then make appointments with your doctor for check-ups and medication.

Some surgery receptionists will try to insist that you are not eligible to register until you have been in the UK for 6 months, but this is not true and you are allowed to register and use the NHS from day one.

what everyone has said is true. I came over on a fiancee visa when I was 6 months pregant, and my first week back here, I went to the hospital for my scan and had to show the finance department my visa. 

If any receptionist give you any grief,speak to someone in charge. A lot of receptionists at surgerys try and act like they know everything from medical stuff to immigration.

Thank you to each of you that replied.  This all gets a bit confusing when it comes to NHS and that time you live there prior to marriage.  I'll be making the move over in February 2011.

Just a word of warning: you may not be able to get routine annual checkups as you would in the US. That's nothing to do with your visa -- that applies across the board.  But the NHS will provide for any illnesses you may have.

Good luck for your move!

I know this is an old thread, but can you give me a link to an official gov't site that explains fiance visas are eligible for NHS care?  I've got a stupid GP receptionist who insists I can't register until I'm married with FLR (despite the clinic being open to enrolling new pts). 

I know this is an old thread, but can you give me a link to an official gov't site that explains fiance visas are eligible for NHS care?  I've got a stupid GP receptionist who insists I can't register until I'm married with FLR (despite the clinic being open to enrolling new pts). 

Here you go: http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/1087.aspx?CategoryID=68&SubCategoryID=162

From that page:

If you move to the UK, you will not be charged for NHS hospital treatment from the date that you arrive, as long as:

-    you intend to live permanently in the UK, and
-    you have the right to live permanently in the UK or have a ‘route to settlement’ that will allow permanent residence in due course

You’ll be expected to prove that you meet these requirements.

and in terms of registering with a GP:

Under current rules anyone can register with a GP practice in England and receive free primary care.