For'ners Corner

[TheShipsCat]

I have a question for some of my fellow foreign nationals who might spend months at a time in the UK due to boating addiction.  I think there's more than one in this forum.  Thought I'd open a thread for sharing.

 

What do you do for medical insurance in the UK?  Do you have stories to share about seeking treatment while on the cut?

[David Mack]

An overview here:

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/visiting-or-moving-to-england/how-to-access-nhs-services-in-england-if-you-are-visiting-from-abroad/

But as a non EU citizen you will need medical insurance (or deep pockets).

[DandV]

Reciprocal arrangements between NZ and the UK gave us emergency only  care, in the UK but not any longer term care or any emergency repatriation.

For this we effectively self insured which could have even required us to sell our house in an expensive area of the country. Certainly would have heavily dented our retirement funding. 

Fortunately our only health expenditure in the UK was for some paracetamol and some "free"  eye checks and spectacles at Specsavers.

Optical supplies are much more competitively priced in the UK then here. Or are they VAT free in the UK? Here 15% GST is levied on near everything. 

 

Edited December 23, 2025 by DandV

[TheShipsCat]

I fully intend on carrying medical insurance in the UK, to the hilt.  I am aware that NHS is unavailable to me.  I am of an age that "self insuring" is asking for big trouble.

 

To put a finer point on my questions, who are the more trusted and responsive of private insurers with plans designed for foreign visitors?

 

And what policies are most widely accepted, especially by smaller providers like village surgeries, etc? I really don't want to get turned away if I get in medical trouble.

 

It happens.  I got sick in Edinburgh and went to the nearest clinic, told them I was a visitor without NHS coverage and would pay them directly, and they told me they couldn't help me, go away.  I was not being demanding or rude, honestly.  I just straight-up explained my situation truthfully.  I'll do what it takes to not have that experience again. 

[David Mack]

1 hour ago, TheShipsCat said:

To put a finer point on my questions, who are the more trusted and responsive of private insurers with plans designed for foreign visitors?

And would such insurers be British or (in your case) American?

1 hour ago, TheShipsCat said:

I got sick in Edinburgh and went to the nearest clinic, told them I was a visitor without NHS coverage and would pay them directly, and they told me they couldn't help me, go away.

In theory they should help anyway (although the rules in Scotland may be different to England). But as a small clinic may see very few overseas visitors, particularly those self funding rather than going through an insurer, it may be that the paperwork and admin involved is onerous (and unfamiliar to the staff) so if you are not seriously ill, they would rather turn you away than attempt to take your money.

Have you tried asking the question on US expat forums where there may be more people with direct experience?

[Phoenix_V]

Since the tories ran our nhs down there are numerous "private" doctors surgeries now.

[Peanut]

You need to sort it out with your health insurance provider before you leave, and notify them when seeking treatment, as they may well have preferred providers, and not pay out if you don't. You should find it in their t&c's.

[TheShipsCat]

1 hour ago, David Mack said:

And would such insurers be British or (in your case) American?

I would be looking for a British insurer, or an international company (perhaps European) with a strong market in the UK.

 

I have coverage in the US, and it does reimburse for health expenses when traveling... supposedly.  When one has a lifetime of experience with US health insurance, the words trust and security are not the first to come to mind.

 

Plans for frequent travelers to the UK definitely exist. (e.g.  https://www.axaglobalhealthcare.com/en/short-term-global-health-insurance/)   I just wondered if any other international boaters had experience with them.  Perhaps there aren't enough of them here to say.

1 hour ago, Phoenix_V said:

Since the tories ran our nhs down there are numerous "private" doctors surgeries now.

Indeed.  There's a phone app for travelers that will direct one to them.  If I'm in a scrape I'll take whatever access I can get.

 

"Sickens" me how the NHS has been run down.  I dearly hope for the sake of all UK citizens a future regime doesn't pull the plug on it entirely.  Privatization of health care serves only the privateers.     

[roland elsdon]

I think you need insurance in country you reside in not visit, since the glorious brexit European and uk insurers  have diverged.

 Uk’s  being in a race to the bottom.

i have used world  nomads from Australia and from Uk when travelling in America and the east.

As a british citizen but foreign resident I was initially declined healthcare in the Uk at one point, in spite of paying tax in Uk , ( worldwide earnings ), 35 years of national insurance contributions, and a reciprocal health care system. 

I had to be somewhat assertive with the GP guarding rottwiller   , wouldnt work unless you were very sure of your right.

 

A Gp appointment with Nhs is like a unicorn, even if you are resident. You need to go 100% private. In my last 24 months Uk residence I was unable to see my Gp inspite of requests by the practice , to make appointments by text, phone calls to make appointments were met with there arnt any for 30 days and you cant make one for over 30 days.

Really been destroyed.

[TheShipsCat]

11 minutes ago, roland elsdon said:

Really been destroyed.

I hope you don't end up like us.

[roland elsdon]

No we gave up. After 25 years in nhs got recruited out to Australia. Got stuck in Uk due to covid restrictions ( were doing 5 months uk on boat , 7 in australia. )

Gave up on Uk in september  sold boat. Uk was  deliberately destroyed by govt.

Back in rural australia. 

[Peanut]

From the insurers point of view, any claim is a loss, and they employ staff to mitigate their losses.

A lady I knew, who worked for a large insurance company, became disillusioned with them, and described her work as the, "Go away girl."

If someone made a claim,  then she had to check if they were covered under the policy,  and as important, if they had followed the correct claims procedure.

 

She said, "These people have taken out insurance, and think they are covered, and we find reasons to refuse them."

 

I gave up taking on insurance work,  my experience was that, they don't want to pay, pay in part, or pay late. I charged the patient, and told them to claim back from their insurers.

That way I wasn't out of pocket, or had to deal with the unpaid for administration. It does work, but not in all cases.

[Jon57]

1 hour ago, roland elsdon said:

No we gave up. After 25 years in nhs got recruited out to Australia. Got stuck in Uk due to covid restrictions ( were doing 5 months uk on boat , 7 in australia. )

Gave up on Uk in september  sold boat. Uk was  deliberately destroyed by govt.

Back in rural australia. 

You could come back by rubber dinghy everything is free then 😡😡😡