Before you travel or expatriate, it’s essential to understand how the healthcare system works in your destination country. The good news is that England has a strong health system, the National Health Service (NHS), which offers free access to a wide range of medical care for residents. But what about the French, whether traveling or expatriates?
The British healthcare system
The UK benefits from a universal healthcare system funded mainly by taxes. This is the National Health Service in England, or NHS. It provides free access to public health care for all residents. Patients are only required to pay a deductible for certain types of care. As a French permanent resident in England, you can benefit from this system. You have access to the National Health Service, NHS. As a French expatriate, you need a visa valid for at least 6 months.
Please note: following the Withdrawal Agreement, anyone who has been resident in the UK since before December 31, 2020 will continue to benefit from their entitlements.
What treatment is covered by the National Health Service?
The National Health Service covers
- consultations with general practitioners and specialists,
- hospitalization and rehabilitation care,
- dental and ophthalmological care considered necessary,
- glasses and contact lenses,
- prescription drugs (in pharmacies),
- transportation costs (e.g. ambulance),
- preventive care and long-term care.
The private healthcare system
There is also a private healthcare system, i.e. private insurance companies (AVIVA, AXA, Medicare International, etc.). Residents and expatriates are free to choose whether or not to subscribe to these supplementary plans. They offer greater coverage and better reimbursements.
By taking out private health insurance, patients can also have access to care in private establishments. However, they do not cover maternity, optical and dental care (which must be taken out as optional extras). And as with the public system, you must go through a GP to book an appointment with a specialist (and you will only have access to doctors in the insurance network).
How do I get medical treatment in England?
There are two options for seeking medical treatment in the UK.
If you need non-emergency care, you can visit a General Practitioner (GP). This is called “non-emergency care”, because you’ll need to make an appointment, and you may not be able to get there the same day (especially in big cities like London, where waiting times for specialists and GPs can be very long).
Also, be aware that you need to be registered before you can see a GP or book an appointment with a specialist. You’ll need proof of identity and proof of address (it takes 2 to 3 weeks to register). Registration then generates a 10-digit NHS number, which is unique to each patient. That said, this number does not always mean free access to all services. As we said, certain types of care sometimes require the payment of a deductible.
Generally speaking, anyone present in the UK can register with a GP. The other option is to go to a walk-in center, which is open to everyone, whether you’re just passing through the country, a resident or an expatriate. It’s free, and you don’t need a card, papers or an appointment. The only thing is that, without an appointment, you may have to wait several hours before being taken care of.
Care reimbursement
On vacation in the UK
Before the Brexit, any European traveler could apply for their European Health Insurance Card. The EHIC, which is valid in all European Union countries and Switzerland, allows you to benefit from reimbursements on the spot, or to be reimbursed once you return to France. Free of charge and valid for two years, it is still valid in the UK if you applied for it before January 1, 2021, and until its expiry date (note, however, that this is not necessarily the case with the provisional certificate).
When moving abroad
As an expatriate, you can benefit from the national healthcare system with a visa valid for at least 6 months. You can also ask your employer to subscribe to a private complementary health insurance plan. This is the most common option for expatriates. Private supplementary insurance provides broad coverage and better reimbursements than the public system for medical treatment in the UK. It also provides better access to care (public hospitals are often overcrowded, and poorly equipped compared with private establishments).
Impact of Brexit on the healthcare and insurance systems
The Brexit has profoundly altered the rules governing access to healthcare and insurance for European Union nationals, including the French. Here are the main changes:
- European Health Insurance Card (EHIC): As mentioned, the EHIC is no longer valid for new travelers to England. Expatriates must now take out private insurance or be covered by the NHS if they meet the eligibility criteria (minimum 6-month visa).
- Additional costs for expatriates: With the Brexit, EU nationals moving to the UK must pay an Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), an annual tax that enables them to access the NHS. This tax amounts to around £624 a year for adults and £470 for students and children.
- Reduced access to healthcare: Post-Brexit expatriates no longer benefit from bilateral healthcare agreements as before. It is therefore crucial to take out international health insurance to guarantee optimal access to care and reimbursements within reasonable timescales, especially in the case of specialist care.
Taking out private international insurance
Whether you’re traveling or expatriating, we strongly recommend that you take out private international health insurance. This will enable you to benefit from comprehensive medical cover, not only in England, but also in other countries. You’ll avoid queues and have access to a wider range of healthcare professionals, including in private establishments.
Visit our website Santexpat.fr to find out more, and to discoverinsurance offerstailored to your experience and to England.
