My husband has been offered a job in Scotland. But there are two issues that we are facing with the offer. First of all, the salary is comparable to ''market salaries'' and in Scotland the economy is not the best.

But even more concerning is that though the company is offering private insurance, the private insurance does not cover pre-existing conditions and I have a pre-existing condition.

Can anyone from the UK tell me how miserable it will be to wait to see a specialist with NHS? I hate to rule out this opportunity because of health care, but maybe it is just not worth it.

Or maybe does someone know how much it costs out of pocket to see a specialist?

__________________
The test of courage comes when we are in the minority. The test of tolerance comes when we are in the majority. Ralph Sockman

You will be subject to the 'Post code lottery'

Waiting times are published, success rates are published. Google is your friend. The NHS varies from crap to brilliant. Good luck.

Difficult to say 'how miserable it will be to wait to see a specialist with the NHS' without knowing what the pre-existing condition is.
Some problems are dealt with fairly speedily, whilst others can take some time, whatever 'guarantee' of waiting time the NHS currently boasts of.

Scottish health care differs significantly from health care in England, and to a lesser extent, Wales. Without knowing the particular condition it would be impossible for anyone to predict how long you might wait. In Scotland there are no out-of-pocket expenses on the NHS, so you wouldn't have to pay the standard prescription charge that residents of England pay. You would get any prescriptions you are already on continued by your GP and wouldn't have to wait to see a specialist for those. As long as they have been approved by NICE.

I have had experience with my diabetic ex-wife as a student in the US where no one would insure her, in the UK when I was a student and she got free NHS care even when she was just visiting, in the US on our respective work-related insurance policies and in the UK on the NHS and my work-related private insurance which covers pre-existing conditions. I don't think she ever need private cover for diabetes related care in the UK. And all her medication and her insulin pump and supplies are free. Her experience as uninsured in the US was the absolute worst experience. Insured coverage in the US was the best (with significant co-pays), but the NHS coverage hasn't been too bad.

__________________
"Having sex is like playing bridge. If you don't have a good partner, you'd better have a good hand." --Woody Allen

Thanks, everyone. I see a rheumatologist for rheumatoid arthritis. I currently take a medication that is rather expensive (although most of them are!)

I wonder if there is a way to find out about if my meds would be covered?

Certainly rheumatoid arthritis would appear to be successfully dealt with by the NHS in the England, although I know nothing about Scotland.
I have a friend in Richmond being treated with medication delivered to her door weekly and which she then self-injects.
It is a very costly treatment but supplied reliably by the NHS with no cost to my friend, over a very long period.
Appointments to see various specialists have also been speedily arranged.

NICE might be able to help. They're the ones who decide what's available and what isn't.

The waiting lists in Scotland are far less than in England. And the healthcare is better. Speaking as a scot that's worked in healthcare and lived in Scotland and England. Also when you get old your nursing home or elderly care is free as are your prescriptions and any parking at hospitals!! Scotland is gorgeous just watch out for the midgees!!

As mentioned as long as it's a NICE approved drug your fine. There is the British arthritis society as well that can be contacted who will I'm sure know what's approved and what's not.

Waiting times have come down a lot as was mentioned. Plus of course should your husbands employment situation change you don't need to worry about your healthcare as the nhs is a social system.

Thanks again to everyone for such helpful answers!! I will check with NICE and the British Arthritis Society on Monday.

Just wanted to clarify because my post read wrongly! When you move to scotland ALL your prescriptions are free regardless of what age you are. Good luck with the move and say hi to my beautiful homeland. Xx

Indeed. From experiences with the SHS here recently...

Dentist: checkup (including xrays and wash-and-brushup), cost of treatment £14

Doctor: appointment within two days, cost of consultation £0

Tests: appointment within three days, cost of tests £0

Specialist: appointment less than two working weeks, cost of consultation £0

Treatments: costs of prescription medicines £0

Quality of care has been faultless - that includes the dentist who entirely contradicted Swiss one's "oooooo, that needs to come out and be redone again" attempt to generate more business with the statement "well, I can do that if you really want, but you really don't need it", and a specialist who knew how to work the equipment and didn't have to rely on a technician to work the machine that goes "ping!"


And for the wee midges, use Avon's Skin So Soft lotion like the rest of us; if you have problems finding it, try an outdoors or sailing shop

Also mentally prepare yourself for shops that offer real ranges of products, friendly people working in said shops and indeed generally, and prices that, well, let's just say, friends and family back in Switzerland will very quickly get fed up hearing about

Weejem...wish I could click on THANK YOU! We made our decision to move to Scotland and I am even more reassured by your comments. Really looking forward to all of the aspects you mention.

I recently had dental treatment in the UK - three appointments that included a check up with X rays, hygenist (90 minutes with a pneumatic drill) and finally 3 hours in the dentists chair to give me a pretty new smile or something. I went totally privately (awesome guy, Scottish and married to a woman from Baden).

Cost was £770 all in. Quote in Zurich was 5400 CHFs.

Congrats on the move to Scotland!!

We would never have left if we could have found decent jobs!! We still have a flat in edinburgh for monthly fixes - couldn't give it up completely. God bless easyjet

Glad to hear, & glad to help Out of curiosity, what part are you heading to?

Somewhere between Edinburgh and Glasgow...haven't made a housing choice, so we could live in either or anywhere in between. My husband will be working in West Lothian and since we prefer to only have the cost/trouble of one car, we will start looking in that area for housing.

Any tips or thoughts? We are a family with a young child, so definitely hoping to find a house with a garden.

Yeah, I think easyjet and ryan air are going to be my two new best friends! Are you from Scotland?

Hi Sonny, don't worry as the NHS will cover your meds and you can get them straight away. I also have RA and Fibromyalgia too. I was diagnozed with both under BUPA, the private medical insurance provided by my employer but as soon as I was diagnosed BUPA kicked me out as in the UK private health does not cover chronic conditions so it's a bit of a farce really, only good for acute conditions that have a start and end date. I'm British and my experience of the NHS has been varied. Yes you have to wait but you usually see a specialist within 3 months as long as you have a good GP who will refer you quickly and unfortunately it is a bit of a postcode lottery. There have been a lot of cutbacks recently which resulted in me being refused certain treatments, I think they want me practically house and wheelchairbound before I qualify and I'm afraid it's all down to funding or rather the lack of it. I'm not too sure about Scotland but from what I hear it might be better than England.

I'm in the opposite situation to you as I'm moving to CH next month and trying to get my head around the different health insurance options and what will be the best option for me. I'd like to take supplementary but I've a feeling I'll get refused due to my pre-existing conditions.

Good luck with the move to Scotland, it's a truly beautiful country.

Stirling immediately leaps to mind :-)

Attachment 29982