Author Topic: Medical insurance  (Read 50139 times)

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Offline hamilton

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« Reply #290 on: January 25, 2012, 10:49:35 AM »
A few questions.

Is a current NHS registration card proof of qualification of being a patient in the UK?

If you are in receipt of a UK state pension are you qualified to receive NHS treatment, even if you are abroad for 6 months abroad?

If you are retired and receiving a UK pension are you permitted to join the Turkish NHS?

If you are not permitted to join the Turkish NHS do you have to register?

A high % of expats living in Turkey are doing so in receipt of UK State pensions. Does Turkey really want to accept the medical care of this ageing population?

Some of the retired expats would opt to join the Turkish NHS rather than pay into far more private expensive schemes, will they be allowed?



Offline Diverbaz 1

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« Reply #291 on: January 25, 2012, 11:41:49 AM »

Hamilton,
Your first questions about the NHS, the answers are yes, if you are in the UK, you will have no NHS cover whilst in Turkey.

Offline quackers

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« Reply #292 on: January 25, 2012, 11:54:16 AM »
I am a retired expat receiving a UK pension and I joined over a year ago and they knew I was retired as it says so on my Residency.

Offline Chinook

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« Reply #293 on: January 25, 2012, 12:01:16 PM »
Hamilton Further to Diverbaz's post your card will technically cease to be valid if you have been in Turkey for more than 3 months. In reality it prbably depends whether your GP has taken you off his list.
On your second point the answer is no . This only applies if you reside in an EU country like Spain

Offline hamilton

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« Reply #294 on: January 25, 2012, 12:33:10 PM »
quote:
Originally posted by Chinook

Hamilton Further to Diverbaz's post your card will technically cease to be valid if you have been in Turkey for more than 3 months. In reality it prbably depends whether your GP has taken you off his list.
On your second point the answer is no . This only applies if you reside in an EU country like Spain


I think you will find that UK retired residents can stay abroad (no stipulation as to where) for periods over 6 months(there appears to be no time limit) and still be entitled to UK treatment on return. The 3 months applies to normal residents.
An interesting point though if you carry a valid EU medical card that might entitle you to treatment within the EU? including the UK
If you are retired own a property in the UK, pay your council tax, tax on your pension in the UK, exempt for NI as you are fully paid up, why should you not be entitled to UK NHS regardless of how long you are out of the country?

Offline LeeGlo

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« Reply #295 on: January 25, 2012, 13:01:50 PM »
quote:
Originally posted by Pauline Smy

This may have been covered already.  But i have just registered and it was very easy, in and out in a few minutes.  There is a form pinned up on the notice board there to assist you in filling in your form.  Some people had to leave and get correct documentation, so please take the original translation of your marriage certicicate and kimlik number.  You also need to write your telephone number on the form.  A copy of your passport and residency. You do not need a ticket, just join the queue for the foreigners section which is a small office on the right as you go in the door.



Thank you Pauline for this useful information. Can I ask what sort of time you went as you were done and dusted so quickly? We collected our forms on Tuesday mid morning and the place was packed.

Offline quackers

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« Reply #296 on: January 25, 2012, 13:06:37 PM »
Sounds good but what if: You are taken seriously ill, have an accident ect and are unable to travel or get permission to travel back to UK for treatment ,have no private medical insurance or the money here to pay for treatment/operation.

Offline mercury

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« Reply #297 on: January 25, 2012, 13:16:30 PM »
There is a Murdur office on the right as you go in Lee. Thats why it only took us less than 10 minutes at 2 p.m. today. All our paperwork was sorted before we went in including the form which someone gave us before we went but it will only take 5 mins to that.

Offline Highlander

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« Reply #298 on: January 25, 2012, 13:19:46 PM »
quote:

An interesting point though if you carry a valid EU medical card that might entitle you to treatment within the EU? including the UK



Apparently not...
 http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcareabroad/movingabroad/Pages/Livingabroad.aspx

Offline Ovacikpeedoff

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« Reply #299 on: January 25, 2012, 13:43:15 PM »
Hamilton you are wrong. There are time stipulations. In England is being outside the UK for 182 days,in Wales and Scotland it is 6 months.

The definition of residency has between defined through common law. You cannot be ordinarily resident in 2 countries.Ilearned this doing my accountancy exams many years ago.I am no expert on the law but taking out residency in Turkey could be seen as declaring you are ordinarily resident in Turkey. Those who have opted to have their pensions taxed under Turkish law are certainly in a dubious position.

As Quackers point out how much of this discussion is really relevant. The most likely case of needing healthcare is when you collapse with a stroke or a heart attack. You will not be in a position to return to the UK.

If you live in Turkey and apply for the EU card it is illegal.Why is it we are very quick to have a go at foreigners for trying something illegal but we are happy to do it ourselves.




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