NHS to charge health tourists

[rudds1]

Just heard on radio from today the hns is to start charging so called health tourist for some treatments is this too little too late or harsh?

[geared]

They already do??

[stifflersmom]

They do already charge - but after treatment. This change is to try and make a charge upfront. Although it makes great headlines in the Daily Mail, health tourism costs only 0.3% of total NHS spend (https://fullfact.org/health/health-tourism-whats-cost/), and there are some concerns that the new measures will actually cost the NHS more (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/10/21/fears-nhs-scheme-stop-health-tourists/) As now, GP and A&E visits will be free of charge, and much to the dismay of Daily Mail readers, asylum seekers will remain exempt from charging. Interestingly, expat Brits who return for treatment should be charged as the test for charging is not based on nationality but whether you are "ordinarily resident" in the UK.

[El Cid]

Expanded pilot scheme follows move at St George's Hospital in London to make pregnant women prove their right to use health service before giving birth.

 

The story is from Tuesday 17 January 2017

 

How do other countries do this? Perhaps a requirement for health insurance would be better?

That wouldn't be a big deal.

 

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/nhs-hospitals-20-forced-show-passports-id-health-tourism-crackdown-healthcare-jeremy-hunt-government-a7530931.html

[GLASGOWOODS]

I know someone who’s job it is to chase up payments, so, nothing new.

[Puggie]

How do other countries do this?

 

The rest of the world use physical ID cards or other digitally embedded systems to protect their taxpayers and prevent the abuse of welfare. Of course there's absolutely no reason why Britain couldn't pursue something similar, but ultimately the barriers which prevent us doing so are political in nature rather than technical.

 

In the private sector for example its a completely different story. They've been successfully harnessing the power of modern technology to build elaborate systems that automatically prevent fraud and freeloading, and in many sectors of the economy it has become a fine art.

[Padders]

There was a programme on the tele some while back about this very subject.

a lady came from some under developed country, and gave birth to premature triplets, she had a lengthy stay in hospital, and sadly one baby died. on top of that she received a bill for something like £250.000 . obviously she could"nt pay. so the NHS just wrote it of.

[JBFRED]

hmmm difficult one to say. I'd rather help people who couldn't afford it, no matter what country their from. If you can prove your not well off then I'd say no charge. Trouble is, people can also hid their wealth. Difficult one.

 

Maybe if they can't afford it, make a financial contribution. Very difficult and can't please everyone.

[Resident]

The rest of the world use physical ID cards or other digitally embedded systems to protect their taxpayers and prevent the abuse of welfare. Of course there's absolutely no reason why Britain couldn't pursue something similar, but ultimately the barriers which prevent us doing so are political in nature rather than technical.

 

In the private sector for example its a completely different story. They've been successfully harnessing the power of modern technology to build elaborate systems that automatically prevent fraud and freeloading, and in many sectors of the economy it has become a fine art.

 

They tried to introduce them but the tinfoilers scared everyone into rejecting the idea.

[lottiecass]

I know someone who’s job it is to chase up payments, so, nothing new.

 

Did they mention how much success or not they are having?