Weight loss surgery abroad is on the increase. Morbidly obese patients that want to have weight loss surgery abroad are among the growing number of medical tourists. While many people are embarking on this journey, they sometimes are unclear of what NHS will pay and what will be out of pocket. Most importantly: why does NHS pay less or more and what are the requirements to getting your weight loss surgery abroad covered? A patient that is under the National Health Service (NHS) of the United Kingdom enjoys some benefits than those that are yet to be signed up.
However, there are restrictions to such patient’s sojourn for bariatric surgery outside the U.K.
On the other hand, talks are rife that the United Kingdom will take leave of the European Union before the end of the first quarter of 2019. This will bring about some changes in the NHS coverage. A patient that is not signed up to the service should waste no time to do so. For existing users, there are some important points worthy to note.
While NHS funds patients’ treatment, there are guidelines that can disrupt the chances of getting coverage for the desired service. If you’re at a loss on the type of medical treatment funded by NHS, here are things you should know about the service, (which includes bariatric surgery at Weight Loss Riga!)
NHS Does not Fund Every Treatment
It had become practice among patients to jet out of the U.K to other countries for medical treatment. Most times, these patients are covered under NHS. When they return from their medical tourism, they often expect a refund of the expenses incurred during their treatment.
While NHS pays off a percentage of these bills, there are specific treatments that are not in the service list. In addition, there are circumstances by which a patient has to pay for his or her entire treatment. The point is that NHS does not support some medical treatments. Having this in mind will help the patient get prepared to pay his bills or follow procedure of getting the treatment with NHS coverage.
It is noteworthy to mention that NHS does cover bariatric surgery at Weight Loss Riga!
Dental Service is not free
It is worth noting that NHS has dentists signed up to the coverage plan. However, dental services are exclusive to children. Adults that want to get the treatment have to pay a portion of the cost out of pocket. NHS dentists do not offer free treatment to most adults. In addition, adults that want private dental care have to pay more.
The three band treatments (band one to three) come with separate fees. For instance, band one that features medical advice, scale and x-ray costs £21. The second band which includes teeth removal and fillings cost £60. A patient has to pay more to get the last band (band three).
The point here is that dental care services under NHS are not totally free for most adults. If after paying for any of the bands and then to have an extra treatment, no out of pocket payment is necessary, however, a patient pays more if he wants a higher band.
Some Scans are not covered
Patients only get scans recommended by the doctor or GP free. Private scans (especially those not deemed necessary) necessitate payment. NHS coverage offers free check-ups to adults above the age of 75. Adults aged 40 to 74 get free health checks to spot early signs of health problems before they get worse.
Chiropractic Therapy and Eye Tests don’t come Cheap
NHS does not cover all chiropractic therapies. Because they are not widely available on NHS, patients resort to private sessions. These sessions typically attract fees that are within ranges of £30 to £80.
In addition, eye tests don’t come cheap. Most working adults don’t qualify for eye tests funded by NHS. The service is only available to children and adults above the age of 60.
Does NHS Support any Surgery?
In the light of the service’s restrictions on some treatments, there are others that are supported. For instance, physiotherapy is offered free of charge under NHS coverage. The service in some circumstances supports different treatments. While many people are not aware of it, there are a number of treatments that NHS funds.
Weight loss surgery abroad is one of such treatments. However, there are guidelines a patient has to follow. It is worth noting that there are directives that govern the range of treatment a patient can get under NHS coverage. Luckily, patients who have NHS are covered for weight loss surgery at Weight Loss Riga!
The EU Cross-Border Perceptive
Before the United Kingdom moved for the referendum towards exiting the European Union, it had enjoyed robust services with partnered countries. NHS coverage is one of such perks. The coverage services had helped many patients enjoy flexible treatment options without spending much.
The European Union Cross Border Healthcare Directive became a UK law in October 2013. The directive stipulates that NHS patients can access treatment in the UK and abroad. This means that getting weight loss surgery abroad is possible.
However, such medical tourism has to be certified necessary before endorsed. In addition, NHS coverage in the patient’s region will oversee the process.
Reimbursement for Weight Loss Surgery Abroad
Weight loss treatments such as gastric bypass, mini gastric bypass and gastric sleeve are supported by NHS. The EU directive lets NHS patients travel outside the UK and access weight loss surgery abroad. It is worth noting that such NHS patients take full responsibility for medical costs abroad.
However, they are refunded when they return to the UK. If a morbidly obese NHS patient does not find the service at the local hospital favorable, he can settle for weight loss surgery abroad. He pays the costs upfront. When he returns to the UK, he applies for reimbursement. It is important to note that the amount the NHS reimburses is equivalent to the cost the treatment would have cost under the service.
Medical Tourism is Restricted
The fact that medical tourism is encouraged by NHS does not pass for patients’ settlement for desired locations. A patient from the UK cannot jet out to India for weight loss surgery. He has to settle for supported regions.
The EU Directive specified that patients can only be covered by NHS if they settle for weight loss surgery abroad in any of the European Union member states. A patient that chooses a country outside the European Economic Area has to foot the bills. The NHS does not support medical tourism outside the European Union member states.
Luckily, the European Union includes Latvia, so patients covered under NHS enjoy treatment at Weight Loss Riga included in their NHS coverage!
Is this available for everyone?
In addition to restricted countries to get weight loss surgery abroad, the service is only available to selected patients. The EU Directive has eligibility criteria a patient has to meet to before he or she qualifies for NHS coverage when on medical tourism.
Patient must be a UK Citizen
To qualify for NHS funding under the EU Directive, a patient that wants to undergo weight loss surgery abroad must be a UK citizen. Patients that apply for funding outside the European Union and European Economic Area will be declined. Funding by the NHS covers treatment received in state-run and private hospitals abroad.
Medical Need must be proved
There is the possibility that patients will take advantage of the NHS to embark on unnecessary medical tourism. To this end, evidence of the patient’s need has to be proved before he is qualified.
Examinations on the patient are conducted by the local health board. Afterwards, the healthcare commissioner takes decisions. A patient can be refused treatment abroad on grounds on non-necessity. However, such patients can appeal the judgment. The point here is that need for a patient’s weight loss surgery abroad has to be proven before he gets the nod to make the trip.
Restricted to NHS Patients
Only patients that are under the NHS are allowed to embark on medical tourism with funding from the service. This is meant to entice more patients to the service. With this, it is sure to get to patients that are eligible. Third parties cannot access the service except when they are signed under the NHS.
Reimbursement from NHS
Patients have to be patient to get their spent funds reimbursed. Before this, they have to tender their medical costs when on medical tourism. It is possible for a patient to get falsified figures. That is reason why NHS demands breakdown of medical costs. This helps in laying credence to the patient’s claims.
For the reimbursement, the patient should get an application form from Operations Abroad Worldwide. After completion, he sends the completed copy of the application form to the NHS England. Proof of payment and original receipts for payments should be attached.
The application will be processed in twenty (20) working days. On approval, a month interval is needed to complete the process.
Brexit threatens NHS
The National Health Service (NHS) of the United Kingdom is set for a showdown. There are possibilities that the system may become fragmented. At the moment, current NHS staff is taking cue from political permutations to move to a better side.
The resolve of the United Kingdom to exit the European Union in March 2019 is worrisome. Brexit (as it had come to be known) is yet to happen but the ripples are felt across the UK healthcare system. NHS seems the worst hit. Users of the service are at a loss on what fate holds for them when the UK eventually takes a bow from EU. The move is certainly bad for Britain’s health. There are major setbacks that will bring NHS to its knees after the UK exits the European Union.
Massive Cuts will be felt
Palpable tension holds center stage in the UK healthcare system. The United Kingdom’s decision to quit the European Union might be considered wrong calculation that does not consider the citizens’ health. At the moment, millions of UK citizens, courtesy of NHS, have access to quality healthcare.
The Brexit signal comes at a time when the NHS is battling funding. A weekly budget of £350m had been aside for the NHS. Sadly, the funding had been used for other services such as social care. The massive cuts suffered on the NHS funding will worsen if the UK finally exits the EU. When this happens, researches, purchase of new drugs and funding will be under threat.
However, if the NHS funding is ring-fenced, significant drop in the economy will have knock-effect on the service. In worse situations, the NHS might be scrapped.
NHS Staff will take their leave
Hints from the UK government of the conditions of service for EU staff working under the NHS are enough to send wise ones packing. The UK’s partnership with EU had created room for inter-staff relationships. The 27 member countries that constituted the European Union had made staffing possible for hospitals in the UK.
When Brexit finally happens, most of the EU staff working under UK’s NHS will certainly withdraw their services. The few that chose to stay might be forced to throw in the towel and leave.
The impact of this exodus will be massive collapse of the UK social care sector and lose of staff working for the NHS. The UK could have fared better if it had trained enough doctors for its needs.
However, ahead of Brexit, invited bids had been put up for oversea doctors to join the NHS. Brexit will end free movement of staff from EU countries to the UK. As the country prepares to recruit non-EU staff, the cost is threatened. The NHS is faced with a £500m a year bill to sustain these yet-to-be recruited NHS staff.
Drugs will be Costly
The value of the pound had dropped after the Brexit referendum. Months after the referendum, it is yet to move up the line. In the light of this, pharmaceutical companies are taking this as clue to protect their interests.
To this end, drugs are likely to get costly after UK pulls out of EU. Pharmaceutical companies are now interested in securing their “future” instead of taking researches on new ways for treatments.
No Emergency Health Care
The UK had benefited a lot during its hay days at the European Union. UK citizens have access to free emergency health care throughout the EU27 countries. If Brexit finally comes to roost, the UK will have its hands full of urgent medical needs.
First, a £1 billion per year budget has to be mapped out for British pensioners that receive free medical service in EU countries. This also comes with need for extra hospitals for their accommodation.
Medical Services will be renegotiated
The UK is set to pull out of the European Medicines Agency. The agency had been rallying point for the EU countries to access evaluate and monitor activities of pharmaceutical companies (such as drug manufacturing) through the region.
There are indications that the UK will renegotiate its continuation with the European Reference Networks. The network lets EU countries share information and resources that are meant to tackle complex medical conditions.
NHS Insures Lives
The United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS) is life-saver. Millions of UK citizens have benefited from low-cost and efficient healthcare service offered by the NHS. However, all these are set to fall like a pack of cards after Brexit.
The decision of the United Kingdom to leave the EU on March 29, 2019 is sending strong indication to the social care sector. As prices of drugs tend to rise and cost of NHS increases, there is likelihood that the NHS might be discontinued.
The anticipated recruitment of non-EU staff to replace the outgoing EU staff in the NHS will cushion the effect of Brexit on the NHS. It however remains to be seen how the UK hopes to fund the sector after many years of cooperation with the EU member states.
On its part, the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) saves lives. It is expected that it overcomes current challenges like cuts in funding and instead, wax stronger after Brexit.
Come to Weight Loss Riga for your bariatric surgery! For more questions, contact Weight Loss Riga!
