In March this year my wife and I went back to the UK for a visit. Within a week I was taken down by illness which at first was diagnosed as pneumonia. It became worse and after being finally decided that I actually had Avian Tuberculosis,a very nasty though non-infectious cousin to normal TB. I am still receiving treatment (14 pills daily plus 3 Amakaycin infusions via mid line every week.
It is this treatment which prevents me from returning to Fethiye for another six months or more.
Anyway, the point to this that I am aged 69 and in receipt of a full UK Government pension. Shortly after my admittance to hospital (I spent the first 11 weeks in there), I was asked about my residency and openly admitted that it was in Turkey.Given that answer the hospital Admin Office people asked for proof of my pension.
My wife phoned the Pensions people and the very same day they faxed to the hospital that I was indeed in receipt of the pension. The Admin person returned and said that as I had a full pension, under the NHS rules, I would not be charged for any treatment.
Considering the amount of x-rays, scans and other treatments I have had, and still am receiving, I cannot imagine what the cost would have been.
If this had happened in Turkey, without SGK or private Insurance cover I dread even more to think of the cost!!
Anyway,that is my experience of an expat non EU resident and the NHS. Everybody's experience will differ.
It will be at least another 6 months before we can even think about coming back to our apartment in Tuzla, Fethiye and everybody we know are sadly missed.
TC