Scotland Expat Forum

Nannersone
Joined 2016
Posts: 7

7 years ago

Comprehensive Health Cover

7 years ago

I will be retiring to Scotland, and exercising EU treaty rights as a "worker" - I hope to be working, but will have my private pension to cover expenses if needed. (We'll see how Brexit shakes out!) I do not have credits in the EU for insurance, so there is no chance of any sort of reciprocity. While I know I will be able to use the NHS, I am told the UK immigration people want to see proof that I have "comprehensive cover" medical insurance to be eligible to apply for the equivalent of permanent residency in 5 years.

I wonder if anyone can give me an idea what the UK considers "comprehensive" cover? (I have the option for a few policies from my current employer, as a retiree, and one of them is at no cost, but has a $3,000 deductible, after which it's a 20% copay up to a cap of $6K spent in any given year, when the plan pays 100% of charges. The premium savings from not choosing one of the other employer-based plans would equal that out-of-pocket amount in a year, so I'm inclined to choose that option as I'm in generally good health.)

Can you recommend a specific company there in the Scotland for personal medical insurance coverage? (Possibly to get a "top up" plan to cover any gaps the government might not like, or for a plan outright without considering my employer's free plan.)

Can you give me a ballpark estimate for cost for such coverage for someone around 60, with whatever provisions for coverage that the UK government requires? I know that it will depend on deductibles, what features the plan has, etc., but I'm just trying to get some sort of idea what something that meets the government's requirements might be. (I can't find anything online that delineates what plans meet their expected standards, nor what their standards might be.)

Thanks for any advice you can offer!

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