The benefits gap between British expats living in the European Union and those living farther afield is starting to widen.
Expats retiring destinations such as France and Spain continue to benefit Britain’s membership of the EU.
Although some state benefits are diluted, such as the winter fuel allowance for pensioners, most EU pensioners and expats would agree they can still access state benefits and tax breaks that are unavailable to those living outside the EU.
Now hundreds of thousands of expats living outside the European Economic Area (EEA) could lose their right to free care under the National Health Service if they are caught in a medical emergency while on a trip back to the UK.
The EEA comprises all the countries in the European Union plus Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein.
Treatment charges
With official estimates of more than 5.5 million British expats living overseas – and with more than half of them living outside the EEA – this could mean a considerable expense for health tourists who return home for medical treatment for free on the NHS.
The Department of Health will still offer short term acute care in an emergency, but expats will have to show a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) issued in the country where they now live to access free treatment.
The government is considering adding a 50% hike in treatment charges for expats.
Among the better off will be countries with reciprocal state benefit payment agreements with the UK – such as Australia, which is home to almost 1.5 million expats.
Will be around 2.8 million expats living in the USA and Canada, which do not have benefit agreements with the UK.
Second-class citizens
As a rule of thumb, expats from countries where British state pension payments are index-linked will continue to have free or reduced price access to the NHS.
This will leave expats already feeling they are at a disadvantage after paying into the British national insurance system in a worse financial situation.
A spokesman for the Department of Health said: “Anyone is entitled to use the National Health Service, but we expect those from outside the EU to pay for the treatment they receive. As costs and demands on the NHS increase, we consider charging visitors is only fair and reasonable.
“Expats should know when they move abroad what the benefit and financial consequences of their move means as it is clearly explained before they go.”
