More than 600 Britons have been able to use an EU directive to get their surgery abroad funded by the NHS.
The EU Directive on Cross-Border Healthcare gives British patients the right to receive some treatments anywhere in the EU and then reclaim the cost from the NHS provided the treatment is medically necessary.
It is necessary to be a UK resident in order to quality, and this would apply to a number of expats.
Costs usually have to be paid upfront and then reclaimed from the NHS afterwards, and it is not possible to claim travel or accommodation costs associated with the trip.
The refund is based on the lower cost of either what the NHS cost would have been or the actual cost incurred abroad. Prior authorisation may be required, especially if there are ongoing or complex conditions. A full list of situations where prior authorisation of treatment is necessary can be found at www.nhs.uk.
But as costs in other countries are often lower, the NHS may save money. It also enables patients to cut through long waits if there is an NHS waiting list. Private hospital treatment is included.
The legislation came into effect October 2013. Out of 855 patients in England who have applied, 621 have been successful. Total cost has been £833,491, or an average of £1,342 each, according to the Department for Work and Pensions.
For a guide to the rules on residence, cut and paste this link:
http://www.pwc.com/jg/en/publications/uk-statutory-residence-test.jhtml
