Medical care for visitors

Hi Forum,

Need some advice on how to handle medical care for my parents who would be visiting us from June to November this year, on a visitor visa.

My mother has an existing medical condition, due to which we reckon we might have to have some tests done once in a while (blood tests, CT scan etc) when they are here.

Now if I am not wrong, they wont be covered under NHS. I am not sure how non-NHS works in the UK, so some inputs on availability, feasibility and costs would be welcome.

Any similar first hand experiences and suggestions would help as well.

Regards

Three options:

1) Attend a private GP and hospital - pick up the bill

2) She takes out insurance that covers her for NHS bills while she's here

3) She goes to the NHS and pays the bill.

I've never found a list of NHS charges on the web. There's this advice from the CAB though: http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/you ... abroad.htm

All visitors are entitled to emergency treatment free of charge (e.g. A&E).

On the private option - I can tell you that, for example, a single appointment with a consultant will set you back in the region of £250. Blood tests could range from £100-£1000 depending on how many. If it gets into CT/MIR scans or hospital stays - then you're talking scary money.

M.

For pt#2, insurance may be a tricky one for visitors when having a preexisting disease.
Insurance companies ask for preexisting one, and when it comes to pay bill there are many a 'conditions apply**'.

Visitors also have free access to:

- Treatment for some infectious diseases
- Compulsory psychiatric treatment
- Family planning services.