Does national healthcare start your moment off the plane?

Or do you need to buy travel health insurance to cover the time until it starts?

I believe as a EU citizen you have to reside in the UK for at least six months before it kicks in. Though, I've no idea how it works if you're on a Visa or some such... 

I'm sure someone will be able to answer your inquiry though.

Depends on what kind of visa you are on.

Tier 2 General Work Visa...long term post in Scotland.

It should be from the moment you step off the plane then.

- People on visas valid for less than 6 months are not eligible for free NHS treatment at all.

- Most people on visas valid for more than 6 months are eligible for NHS treatment from the moment they arrive.  One exception used to be people on Tier 1 General visas who are not yet working and have been in the UK for less than 12 months, but since the Tier 1 General visa is now closed to applicants outside the UK, that's not really an issue anymore.

- People on visas valid for less than 6 months are not eligible for free NHS treatment at all.

Not necessarily--everybody no matter what their immigration/visa status is entitled to free emergency care courtesy of the NHS.

Not necessarily--everybody no matter what their immigration/visa status is entitled to free emergency care courtesy of the NHS.

This may be technically true, but "emergency" care is rather different than some places.  The moment they send you somewhere other than the A&E, you are then responsible for paying, I believe. Often you go to the emergency, only to be sent over to an out of hours GP office.  Or you might be admitted and kept in for longer, in which case, you'll be hating life without insurance.  So yes, there is technically some access to the NHS, but nobody who is wise would rely on it. 

All a moot point though as the OP qualifies.

This may be technically true, but "emergency" care is rather different than some places.  The moment they send you somewhere other than the A&E, you are then responsible for paying, I believe. Often you go to the emergency, only to be sent over to an out of hours GP office.  Or you might be admitted and kept in for longer, in which case, you'll be hating life without insurance.  So yes, there is technically some access to the NHS, but nobody who is wise would rely on it. 

All a moot point though as the OP qualifies.

Well considering the NHS covered & paid for all of my medical costs and never even bothered to ask about American insurance after my car accident outside of Leeds, I think from experience as a foreigner this is true.

Again, the NHS covers EVERYBODY no matter what the status in regards to emergency care. True story.

Just because that was your experience does not mean it's the rule.  Cadenza is correct: the rule is that treatment is only free within the A&E department.  Emergency treatment outside of A&E is not.  The individual hospital that is treating the patient determines who is eligible for free treatment.

All treatment given by staff at a hospital or by staff employed by a hospital may be subject to a charge with the following exceptions; which are free to all;

• Treatment given in an accident and emergency department (excludes emergency treatment given elsewhere in the hospital);
• Treatment given in a walk in centre providing similar services to those of an accident and emergency department of a hospital;
• Treatment for certain communicable diseases (excluding HIV/AIDS where it is only the first diagnosis and connected counselling sessions that are charge free);
• Compulsory psychiatric treatment.
• Family planning services

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/Entitlementsandcharges/OverseasVisitors/Browsable/DH_074374

And at the end of the day, the fact remains. The NHS covers emergency care for anybody in the country, regardless of immigration status. End of story. And thank god the country has that compassion.

What sort of care did you get after your accident?

And at the end of the day, the fact remains. The NHS covers emergency care for anybody in the country, regardless of immigration status. End of story.

Saying something over and over again doesn't make it true.

I know this is an old thread, and I'm sorry for resurrecting, but I thought that someone ought to point out to schquaggle that he may get into trouble if he tries coming to the UK with this situation hanging over his head now that the UKBA are cracking down on NHS bills. It may be worth looking into.