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Original poster

NHS bill for £1000

254 replies

ladle4455 · 17/11/2023 19:12

My dad, 80, came for a visit from overseas from overseas for three months. He is fit and healthy but its impossible to find health insurance at his age. Anyway, there was a health emergency and we went to A&E. Waited for 7 hours but after 15 minutes of diagnostic tests (x ray etc but no medicines) was told there was no problem. was hugely relieved. I thought there was no charge as it was an emergency but have now been sent a bill for £1000. Apparently the charge for overseas patients is 150% (there times the actual cost) and the test was done by another department not A&E. Any advise? I have to sell my car to be able to pay as I don't want dad to have a debt over him.

OP posts:
Teddleshon · 17/11/2023 21:06

My mother is 94 and has had no problem getting health insurance to visit the UK. I’m struggling to think of any other country which would treat an uninsured international visitor completely free of charge. Happy to be corrected.

TomatoSandwiches · 17/11/2023 21:07

Blueeyedmale · 17/11/2023 20:59

She did say at the start that he had tried to get health insurance and at no point did she say she should not pay

Show quote history

There is insurance available for a fit and healthy 80yr old, I used to work in insurance and at one time specifically for people over a certain age.

Either the ops father is fit and healthy but just didn't want to shell out for insurance or he is not as fit and healthy as she has said and the insurance is a significant amount ( which doesn't excuse not opting for it btw ) or he is that unwell he genuinely couldn't find a policy to accept him.

ghostestwiththemostest · 17/11/2023 21:07

Tbh, I'm really glad that they have charged him. We would get charged in any other country abroad. It is easy enough to get insurance if you are over 80. It's just more costly. The additional money will be administration costs and also because, it is hard to extract money from people if they have returned home. My in-laws came over from abroad, both had insurance, my mil became ill, had a lot of treatment, tried to pay for her treatment and was told not to worry about it by the Drs as they clearly couldn't be arsed with all the paperwork. Friends of theirs, also from abroad, were bragging online about how amazing our free treatment was when they visited and ended up in hospital. That galled me. So, I'm sorry that your father has such a steep bill. However, I am glad that finally the NHS is getting round to billing those not entitled to free treatment.

Mycatmax · 17/11/2023 21:10

It’s a pathetic excuse to claim he can’t get travel insurance. Of course he could.

He will have to pay by instalments.

clowningaround6 · 17/11/2023 21:10

Saschka · 17/11/2023 19:35

Your mistake was in saying he doesn’t live here. Just give your address and GP next time, they won’t check up.

Wow, are people really this dishonest and encourage it 🤯 no wonder this country is a mess

Redburnett · 17/11/2023 21:11

Those of us who work in the UK contribute via taxes and NI to the NHS. Someone who lives overseas does not, so there is no way he coudl reasonably expect free treatment. £1k is minimal in terms of medical treatment, pay up.

catskittens · 17/11/2023 21:13

Blueeyedmale · 17/11/2023 20:59

She did say at the start that he had tried to get health insurance and at no point did she say she should not pay

Show quote history

come on unless he lives in some 3rd world country he would have been able to get it and many have already said it is possible

people just expect to rock up here and get free treatment especially if they were born here tbh im glad he got a bill shame it does not happen more often

I can see why the UK is seen as a soft option,we cant afford ir we cant even give our own citizens a decent system at times we need to tighten the system up

Verbena17 · 17/11/2023 21:16

This seems strange - a spinal MRI at a private hospital is only about £300 and that included a pre and post consultation…. so £1000 for an x-Ray seems extortionate!

catskittens · 17/11/2023 21:17

the ops dad managed a 3 month stay so cant be that hard up as he would still have bills at home to pay then travel to the UK and also spending here for 3 months

he should pay the bill and be thankful he was seen and nothing serious found

jlpth · 17/11/2023 21:18

some mean posts here

the op posted for helpful suggestions, not to be berated

i think the best advice is to phone them up and tell them the situation and then most probably get an instalment plan

i do think that it’s a sad situation that an 80yo had to pay

it’s sad that an 80yo in an emergency situation gets billed 1000 for an x ray and 15 mins help - after a 7 hour wait as well. My mum has cancer all over and went for a scan appointment. the tech scanning told her he had to work the night shift as well. My mum asked oh, do they do appointments in the night? No says the guy, I scan drunks all night. Shit world.

Izzy54321 · 17/11/2023 21:18

I’m shocked the amount of people telling OP how to avoid paying the bill either now or the future. The NHS is not free we all pay for it. If you are not a UK resident you need to get insurance or pay the bill. I’m sorry OP but the bill should be paid.

Sharontheodopolodous · 17/11/2023 21:18

I remember about 25 years ago,my dd was a baby and was rushed into hospital

This woman,who's ds was in the bed next to us,was squawking about how she/ds had to pay for their treatment and how disgusting it was as the NHS was meant to be free (I seem to remember she had no insurance but can't remember why)

Turns out,she was visiting friends when her ds was taken ill-she was from Canada (so she knew she needed insurance!)

I for one,was bloody glad she was being charged-the nhs was on its knees then

I hope they hunted her down and made her pay it

MrsHarrisAParis · 17/11/2023 21:19

Verbena17 · 17/11/2023 21:16

This seems strange - a spinal MRI at a private hospital is only about £300 and that included a pre and post consultation…. so £1000 for an x-Ray seems extortionate!

Quite - the 'etc' and random 'emergency' are doing a lot of heavy lifting in the OP.
But considering he would be able to get insurance and OP has said he couldn't - I'm not sure how reliable any of the information is. Well, except the fact that OP would quite like to 'find' £1000 before Christmas.

Houseplanter · 17/11/2023 21:19

I'm shocked and delighted in equal measure. I honestly didn't think the nhs charged those who were ineligible.

murasaki · 17/11/2023 21:20

He needs to pay. My 76 year old dad snapped his achilles tendon in Vienna last month (dancing with my mum, jesus parents, it's not strictly) but he had insurance (ghic) so it was free. He's clumsy, but not a freeloading idiot. They always check the insurance before travelling.

TomatoSandwiches · 17/11/2023 21:22

Personally I don't think you should be able to travel without insurance.
The amount of irresponsible people who know full well that insurance is a must yet don't bother and then cry wolf and set a gofund me up after they get caught out is ridiculous.

jlpth · 17/11/2023 21:23

Houseplanter · 17/11/2023 21:19

I'm shocked and delighted in equal measure. I honestly didn't think the nhs charged those who were ineligible.

This isn’t very helpful to the op

MaggieFS · 17/11/2023 21:23

I'm sorry your Dad is in this situation, but why would you think he wouldn't have to pay if it's an emergency? Who should pick up his bill?

PumpkinFence · 17/11/2023 21:23

Unfortunately just as if you were to have travelled to your fathers country, you would have to pay. A review by a doctor, basic blood tests and an X-ray can easily come to £1k. The debt is his not yours and he can pay it. But if he wants to leave and re-enter the country again then he needs to pay it. Health insurance is expensive, which I’m guessing is why he didn’t want to get it, but at only 80 you can get it. We got it for my terminal relative on oxygen, yes it cost as much as the holiday but it’s always possible.

TiredCatLady · 17/11/2023 21:24

I’m glad your dad is ok - that is the main thing. Re your post about the bill:
a) travel insurance is a thing even for 80 YO unless they have something very specific or have been refused insurance before. (I’ve a parent with a complex health background and yes their insurance costs a fortune, but that’s the way the cookie crumbles)
b) the nhs still used resources to ensure your dad was ok.
c) nhs is not a charity and you fibbed to them about where he lives it seems?
d) it’s £1000. If you were in the US then you could multiply that by 100.
Your dad needs to pay, not you. And in the future don’t ever travel without insurance again.

CommemorativeWeddingSausage · 17/11/2023 21:24

I haven’t read the full thread but I work in an NHS acute trust as a senior manager and have detailed knowledge of this.

it is the acute trust that is billing him but the rules about how much to charge are set by the Department of Health (the 1.5 x). As are the rules about who is eligible or not. The trust is obliged to raise a bill to anyone they find is not entitled. Put simply, the NHS is a Residence-based system. If he doesn’t ordinarily live here he’s not entitled to free care beyond the A&E department (and very limited exceptions relating to infectious diseases and public health), regardless of nationality, whether he’s lived in the Uk in the past, or paid taxes here in the past. There are a few exceptions (people serving abroad in the British army, for example) but otherwise people who are resident overseas have to pay if they have NHS care.

The acute trust will agree a payment plan so he can pay over time. Just contact the credit control department, say it can’t be paid in one go and agree how much can be paid going forwards. You won’t need to sell your car, you can pay over a period of time. Be aware that if he just goes home and disappears, and no one pays the bill, the trust has to report his details to the UK Border Agency and he may not be able to enter the country again in future without paying.

Dacadactyl · 17/11/2023 21:25

Yeah I think your dad should cough up tbh! He must've known travelling without insurance was a massive risk at his age!!

PumpkinFence · 17/11/2023 21:25

Verbena17 · 17/11/2023 21:16

This seems strange - a spinal MRI at a private hospital is only about £300 and that included a pre and post consultation…. so £1000 for an x-Ray seems extortionate!

I need to move to you. You might be able to get a spinal MRI here around £400’ but a consultation before and after would be £150 each way.

Redlorryyellowlorryblue · 17/11/2023 21:25

I’m sorry your father became unwell. He knew he needed health insurance to travel but decided to take a gamble. He needs to pay for his treatment.

JudgeJ · 17/11/2023 21:25

i do think that it’s a sad situation that an 80yo had to pay

Why? Because he's 80? I'm in my mid 70s and wouldn't dream of travelling overseas with no travel insurance! As a country we've spent too long being the go-to place for those seeking free health care.

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