Information supplied by Mycroft
Temporary visitors – tourists
EHIC – European Health Insurance Card has replaced the E111. Application forms available through Post Offices in UK and some UK GP surgeries. Allow 6 weeks for delivery.
The EHIC gives a UK citizen healthcare cover in a state hospital in any EU country at the same standard as a citizen of that country. But is not an entitlement to private healthcare, and it will not pay for repatriation back to UK (Travel insurance is recommended to any one travelling outside UK)
Permanent residents are not entitled to us the EHIC card for public healthcare within Cyprus. But in an emergency some state hospitals will accept the EHIC card until you get your Cypriot Health Card, although they are becoming stricter on its use.
Permanent Residents not in receipt of a UK State Pension
(A permanent resident is classed as having been through the immigration process and are in receipt of a 'yellow' slip).
Obtain a S1 (formally E106) from your tax office prior to leaving UK. Depending on you NI contributions this can give you up to 2.5 years free healthcare in Cyprus.
However for immigration purposes you may also need to have Private Health Insurance (please note many insurers will NOT cover chronic or pre-existing conditions for example epilepsy, diabetes, heart conditions, and those that do may be very expensive) In these circumstances you may have to show you have sufficient financial funds to cover any hospital expenses.
Permanent Residents in Receipt of a UK State Pension
Prior to leaving the UK obtain an S1 (formally E121) from:
International Pension Centre
Tyneview Park
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE98 1BA
United Kingdom
(Although both health forms have the same number they are different forms)
You will be entitled to free healthcare (although not all medications are available free) from a state hospital or state doctor. Medications that are not provided by the Cypriot Health System can usually be bought from a Pharmacy as over the counter drugs. However you may not get the same level of care as that on the UK NHS. In some cases you may even get better. You also have the option of private healthcare; just phone a recommended doctor for an appointment, you do not have to be referred by a GP as in UK. Private fees are usually lower than UK.
If you have a partner who is below retirement age they may be entitled to free healthcare under your card.
As of 1 May 2010, the UK is now responsible for issuing the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to UK pensioners resident in other EU countries. (Contact Overseas Healthcare Team on 0191 218 1999 for an application form, if you have not been sent one with you S1)
Note- Health Requirements for residency in Cyprus (UK State Pensioners) – immigration may insist that you also have private insurance; this is not necessary and is against the EU COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 1408/71 directive.
General Information
Make sure you have a copy of all your medical records from your UK GP. (Once you leave UK and are resident in Cyprus your GP medical records are centrally stored in UK for only 10 years)
Ask your UK general practitioner for a supply of your usual medications prior to moving over and ensure that you have the prescription to back up the medications you are on.
Until you get your relevant healthcare card you may need to seek a repeat prescription.
For Schedule 2 and Schedule 3(Controlled Drugs)
For example - diamorphine, morphine, remifentanil, pethidine, secobarbital, glutethimide, amphetamine, the barbiturates buprenorphine,diethylpropion, mazindol, meprobamate, midazolam, pentazocine, phentermine, phenobarbital and temazepam you will certainly need to have a local prescription. This can be obtained from a recommended private doctor until you have your Cypriot Health card.
For other medications –
Most can be bought over the counter at any pharmacy, including many of those drugs that are prescription only in UK. The exception to this is any psychiatric medication, which can only be obtained from a registered psychiatrist. However a recommended local private doctor will write a private (payable) prescription for you to take to the pharmacy if necessary.
The data sheets that accompany medications will be in may only be in Greek, (translations can usually be obtained on the internet) The drugs may not have the trade name you are used to, if in doubt take the old packet to the pharmacy and ask the pharmacist to confirm they have the same ingredients.
Temporary visitors – tourists
EHIC – European Health Insurance Card has replaced the E111. Application forms available through Post Offices in UK and some UK GP surgeries. Allow 6 weeks for delivery.
The EHIC gives a UK citizen healthcare cover in a state hospital in any EU country at the same standard as a citizen of that country. But is not an entitlement to private healthcare, and it will not pay for repatriation back to UK (Travel insurance is recommended to any one travelling outside UK)
Permanent residents are not entitled to us the EHIC card for public healthcare within Cyprus. But in an emergency some state hospitals will accept the EHIC card until you get your Cypriot Health Card, although they are becoming stricter on its use.
Permanent Residents not in receipt of a UK State Pension
(A permanent resident is classed as having been through the immigration process and are in receipt of a 'yellow' slip).
Obtain a S1 (formally E106) from your tax office prior to leaving UK. Depending on you NI contributions this can give you up to 2.5 years free healthcare in Cyprus.
However for immigration purposes you may also need to have Private Health Insurance (please note many insurers will NOT cover chronic or pre-existing conditions for example epilepsy, diabetes, heart conditions, and those that do may be very expensive) In these circumstances you may have to show you have sufficient financial funds to cover any hospital expenses.
Permanent Residents in Receipt of a UK State Pension
Prior to leaving the UK obtain an S1 (formally E121) from:
International Pension Centre
Tyneview Park
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE98 1BA
United Kingdom
(Although both health forms have the same number they are different forms)
You will be entitled to free healthcare (although not all medications are available free) from a state hospital or state doctor. Medications that are not provided by the Cypriot Health System can usually be bought from a Pharmacy as over the counter drugs. However you may not get the same level of care as that on the UK NHS. In some cases you may even get better. You also have the option of private healthcare; just phone a recommended doctor for an appointment, you do not have to be referred by a GP as in UK. Private fees are usually lower than UK.
If you have a partner who is below retirement age they may be entitled to free healthcare under your card.
As of 1 May 2010, the UK is now responsible for issuing the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to UK pensioners resident in other EU countries. (Contact Overseas Healthcare Team on 0191 218 1999 for an application form, if you have not been sent one with you S1)
Note- Health Requirements for residency in Cyprus (UK State Pensioners) – immigration may insist that you also have private insurance; this is not necessary and is against the EU COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 1408/71 directive.
General Information
Make sure you have a copy of all your medical records from your UK GP. (Once you leave UK and are resident in Cyprus your GP medical records are centrally stored in UK for only 10 years)
Ask your UK general practitioner for a supply of your usual medications prior to moving over and ensure that you have the prescription to back up the medications you are on.
Until you get your relevant healthcare card you may need to seek a repeat prescription.
For Schedule 2 and Schedule 3(Controlled Drugs)
For example - diamorphine, morphine, remifentanil, pethidine, secobarbital, glutethimide, amphetamine, the barbiturates buprenorphine,diethylpropion, mazindol, meprobamate, midazolam, pentazocine, phentermine, phenobarbital and temazepam you will certainly need to have a local prescription. This can be obtained from a recommended private doctor until you have your Cypriot Health card.
For other medications –
Most can be bought over the counter at any pharmacy, including many of those drugs that are prescription only in UK. The exception to this is any psychiatric medication, which can only be obtained from a registered psychiatrist. However a recommended local private doctor will write a private (payable) prescription for you to take to the pharmacy if necessary.
The data sheets that accompany medications will be in may only be in Greek, (translations can usually be obtained on the internet) The drugs may not have the trade name you are used to, if in doubt take the old packet to the pharmacy and ask the pharmacist to confirm they have the same ingredients.
