We have the ESTA, now the ETIAS

[SimonB]

Knowing our politicians they will just increase air passenger duty rather than reciprocate

[Tinkerbell]

Originally Posted by SimonB

Knowing our politicians they will just increase air passenger duty rather than reciprocate

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which will be then trickled down to the poor to build duck ponds in their second homes

[Nimbus]

Originally Posted by THE WIZARD

Unfortunately Nimbus we never seem to charge them tho!

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The NHS recovered £358m from non-UK residents in the financial year 2016 to 2017. So, yes, we do charge them.

Admittedly, it doesn't recover all of the money it could. But considering the cost to the NHS in treating all foreign visitors to the UK only accounts for about 1.7% of the total cost of the NHS, it wouldn't make a huge difference if they did manage to recover all costs.

Originally Posted by THE WIZARD

If we implemented something similar to ESTA's etc at even a small fee, say £3, think how much money we could generate that could go towards paying for extra customs staff so that we who live here could actually get through customs outselves a bit quicker on return!

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Think of how much it would cost to implement and run such a system! Charging £3 a go wouldn't cover the costs of running it by any means.

There are around 40 million visitors a year to the UK. Let's assume we charge £13 for a UK ESTA - £10 to pay for the system, £3 in "profit". That means we'd make £120 million a year.

That's still only about a third of what we make from charging overseas visitors to use our NHS (see above). And, apparently, "we never seem to charge them".

[Nimbus]

Originally Posted by MinniMouse

This! I work in the NHS and they are not always charged. We've had 3 trips to see a doctor in Florida with the kids. Twice for earache and both times been charged over $200 for the consultation and antibiotics. Our NHS needs for funding and this would help, IMHO

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As I said above. They do charge them. Unfortunately, they are not always successful at recovering that money.

It's already law that they should charge non-UK residents using the NHS. So I don't know what else you expect the government, or anyone else, to do?

I agree that the NHS desperately needs more funding - my DW works for the NHS and knows directly how under funded it is - but this isn't the solution.

[Dinglebert]

Originally Posted by THE WIZARD

Unfortunately Nimbus we never seem to charge them tho!
If we implemented something similar to ESTA's etc at even a small fee, say £3, think how much money we could generate that could go towards paying for extra customs staff so that we who live here could actually get through customs outselves a bit quicker on return!

See more...

I have worked closely with the team in my health board who collect the money. We do charge and the costs are high. People get a shock when the get the bill. What catches some people out are UK citizens who have lived abroad for many years. They can get quite upset when they get a bill.

If someone doesn't pay they get refused entry next time they try and visit.

[JAF]

Remember seeing back a few years ago Europe were going to bring in this visa and there was always some doubts as to whether we would have to pay as we have always been outside the Schengen area. However, see that if this does come in although Norway, Lichtenstein and Switzerland are not members of the EU because of the ties they have we would also have to get a visa to visit those countries. Will be interesting to see how this will also affects cruises from Southampton to the Fjords.

[Mexy02]

Originally Posted by Tinkerbell

It is in the law of whatever in the UK that healthcare is based on residency rather than contributions. They would have to change the law to allow non uk citizens to be refused access to healthcare, just like they did in Europe!

Non EU citizens applying for a visa, remembering that Non Eu citizens HAVE to apply for a visa are also required to pay the sum of approx £500 a year annually. Whether they work or not.

ey/gl/en/services/pe...a-applications


UK residents residing in Europe are not eligible to free healthcare unless they work or are retired because European countries don’t base eligibility on residency.

I’m not disagreeing with you, as an ex nurse there is much abuse of the NHS mainly by non EU citizens or health tourists. Here in Spain we have a nice shiny card without which we cannot get treated by the state. It’s not rocket science, issue health cards to those eligible and charge those without. Caveat being any child under 16 ( in Spain) is entitled to healthcare whatever their families situation.

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Spot on, our government fails to enforce any policies but they are simple to implement as other countries prove to us and we just suck it up like the tourist tax and paying for medical care abroad.
Every country is watching carefully what we get and how.

[7SeasSailor]

Originally Posted by riversider2014

So somebody working over here and paying tax shouldn’t be allowed... ?

What about ex pats who haven’t paid UK tax for years, should they have to pay if they come back home?

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In a word, Yes.

[7SeasSailor]

Originally Posted by Nimbus

As I said above. They do charge them. Unfortunately, they are not always successful at recovering that money.

It's already law that they should charge non-UK residents using the NHS. So I don't know what else you expect the government, or anyone else, to do?

I agree that the NHS desperately needs more funding - my DW works for the NHS and knows directly how under funded it is - but this isn't the solution.

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Yet they are so efficient at it in the USA.

[Tinkerbell]

Originally Posted by Chair1519

I have worked closely with the team in my health board who collect the money. We do charge and the costs are high. People get a shock when the get the bill. What catches some people out are UK citizens who have lived abroad for many years. They can get quite upset when they get a bill.

If someone doesn't pay they get refused entry next time they try and visit.

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Yep. I have to take out private insurance when I go back to the UK to visit family.