S G K Health Insurance FIASCO - Urgent

[stoop]

Well done! I hope this sorts it all out for everyone.

[Paul Brock]

You need to send request on this page:

http://www.info.doh.gov.uk/contactus.nsf/memo?openform

Need to click on option :

How would you like us to reply to your enquiry? and select post

Might need to modify request as some people are not as yet on a state pension.

[Rindaloo]

Thanks for that Paul!!

[Paul Brock]

Thanks to Lynda for all her chasing of the Consul in izmir and to Rindaloo.

Now we just have to wait to get our letters from Dept of Health and hope that when we present them to SGK in Fethiye that this will be sorted out finally - fingers crossed.

[March girl]

Well done Linda,

[neesie1171]

Hi there, just wondering if anyone has received their letter from the Dept of Health.  We received one today but I'm not sure how much use it is going to be.  Copy of text below:

Dear Mr Leighton,

Thank you for your email of 28 October to the Department of Health about access to NHS treatment for UK citizens living in Turkey" I have been asked to reply.

I should explain that the Department is unable to provide any document
confirming that a person is no longer a UK resident as it does not have access to that information. I suggest that you show this letter to the authorities in Turkey, possibly supporting this with any documents you have showing that you are no longer resident in the UK.

The UK has a residency based healthcare system, and entitlement to free NHS hospital treatment in England is based on whether someone is ordinarily resident in the UK, not on British nationality or the past or present-payment of National Insurance contributions or UK taxes. 'Ordinarily resident' means, broadly, living in the UK on a lawful and properly settled basis for the time being. Those who have moved their sole residence to Turkey will not be considered ordinarily
resident in the UK and will therefore not be automatically entitled to free NHS hospital treatment in the UK on visits home"

Anyone who is not ordinarily resident here is subject to the National Health Service (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Regulations 201 1. These regulations place a responsibility on NHS hospitals to establish whether an overseas visitor to the UK is exempt from charges under one of a number of exemption categories or liable for charges.

Those persons in receipt of UK state pensions who choose to live in another country, either pennanently or for more than six months each year on a regular basis, are exempt from charges for any hospital treatment the need for which arises while they are staying here, as long as they previously lived here for at least ten continuous years in the past. This would include if they fell ill or were injured while on a visit here, or if they needed urgent treatment of a pre-existing
condition. However, it would not include pre-planned treatment or routine treatment of a pre-existing condition"

Anyone who takes up, or resumes permanent residence in the UK becomes fully entitled again from day of return, including for pre-planned treatment.

In all cases,the decision on whether someone is ordinarily resident, exempt from charges, or chargeable, lies with the NHS trust providing treatment. They must make that decision based on the evidence provided by the patient and in accordance with the charging regulations.

I hope this reply is helpful.

Not sure what to do next now!

[Rindaloo]

Its a farce all together.  I went to Mugla yesterday (Monday) and had a consultation on Bag Kur.  On way home I called in on Yucelen Hospital in Ortaca and they asked if I had had trouble with Bag Kur, but I had had no problem.  They said someone on Bag Kur had had it refused just as they were about to have an operation yesterday (Monday).

Today the Ortaca hospital has emailed me to say I am now 'Red Flagged' as having no cover.  They are working their way through everyone they knew and "everyone has a red flag".

I know Willy is trying to sort something out for us, but I also know he is at a big meeting in Istanbul.  I am hoping the meeting might (in my dreams) include this subject.  This will cause suffering to many people.  It is truly unfair for us to be put in this position when we have dived through hoops to comply with SGK requirements and they have now done this to us WITHOUT NOTIFICATION (have any of us had a letter from SGK telling us they were going to do this?).  It's all down to a lack of cooperation and communication between SGK and NHS and its a poor show.

[shutterbug]

Maybe what we need to do is enlist the help of an investigative reporter in the UK as well as one in Turkey..big papers...to look into the situation and make a big fuss in the papers. Age concern might also be helpful. Having said that, in light of the letter recieved, just a simple letter stating that if we could prove that we are ordinarily resident in Turkey, we have no rights or access in the UK. Simple as in keep it simple stupid. That should be enough for the Turks.

[March girl]

I received a letter from Dept Of Health to say that as I am now a perminant resident in Turkey I am no longet entitled to any NHS service. My doctor also wrote to me to say I am no longer on his books so am not entitled to NHS Health Care. I was at Antalya University Hodp yesterday and encountered no problems nor the week before when I had a Pet Scan.

[quackers]

We still have our Bagkur and i used it yesterday at Esnaf with no problems.Hubbie also got his 3 month recete(prescription)for his free medication from local clinic with no problem.Not red flagged yet by the look of it.