Dual Canadian and British citizen - healthcare coverage in the UK?
I want to know if I am entitled to medical assistance in the UK while visiting for 3 weeks in June. I am travelling on my Canadian passport since my UK one is outdated.
Best Answer
From the NHS Information for visitors to England site:
The NHS is a residence-based healthcare system
....
Hospital treatment is free to 'ordinary residents' of the UK. But if you are visiting the UK – to stay with family, on business, as a tourist, or if you are living here without proper permission – then you are likely to be charged by an NHS hospital for the treatment you receive
As such, since you're a Canadian resident, you're not entitled to NHS coverage through the normal route. Citizenship doesn't help, it's the residency (and hence paying for it through taxes) that counts
There are quite a few countries with reciprocal healthcare agreements, under which residents of those countries can use the NHS while visiting, and UK residents can use their system when registering there. Unfortunately, Canada is not one of them.
As a British citizen, you're entitled to move to the UK. If you did, you could register with a GP, and start accessing NHS treatments. However, if you're just visiting, and don't qualify for one of the exemptions on this page, you'll need to take out travel insurance with a health component / arrange for your existing health insurance at home to cover you abroad.
Pictures about "Dual Canadian and British citizen - healthcare coverage in the UK?"
Does Canada have reciprocal healthcare with UK?
There is no reciprocal agreement on healthcare between the UK and Canada. In order to avoid the possibility of incurring expensive medical bills, it is therefore essential that you take comprehensive travel insurance prior to your visit to the UK.Is healthcare free for Canadians in the UK?
The National Healthcare System (NHS) gives UK residents access to full healthcare for free, plus subsidized dental and prescription coverage. But, how is it free? Well, it technically isn't; part of Britons' income tax pays for the NHS, so that all residents can benefit from the healthcare provided.Can dual nationals get an EHIC?
Dual nationals If you live in the UK and jointly hold UK and EU, Swiss, Norwegian, Icelandic or Liechtenstein citizenship, you will not normally be eligible for a new UK EHIC unless you: hold British citizenship through naturalisation.Does Canada allow dual citizenship with UK?
Both Canada and the United Kingdom allow Dual Nationality. This means that a person can hold nationality (and the passport) of both countries.True cost of US healthcare shocks the British public
More answers regarding dual Canadian and British citizen - healthcare coverage in the UK?
Answer 2
If you are receiving a Uk pension you are entitled to free emergency in hospital medical. ie if you go to emergency for treatment and are kept in then your treatment is free. You cannot just go for a hip replacement or something like that, it has to be as an emergency in patient.
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Ethan Wilkinson, visionart.av, visionart.av, hissetmehurriyeti