Restrictions on access to the National Health Service are set to be eased next year for expatriate Britons living outside the European Economic Area.
Under recently unveiled Government plans, Britons with ties to countries such as Canada, America, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand “may be absent from the country (UK) for up to six months a year before being considered for charges for NHS treatment”.
The move doubles the period in which these expatriates may spend abroad without losing NHS eligibility. Since 2004, expatriates outside the EEA have been allowed a period of absence of only three months if they wanted to use the NHS without paying.
The change is due to take effect “as soon as possible in 2010″ – albeit subject to consultation this autumn. It will put thousands of Britons in big expatriate communities such as Cape Town and Perth on the same footing as Britons who split their time equally between UK and a Mediterranean home……..Read More (Telegraph)
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