Can American tourists get free treatment on the NHS in the UK?
I am afraid that there is some mis information already here. Our medical staff will treat you in an emergency, if you are brought to a hospital unconscious, they do not dump you to one side to see if you have insurance or are covered by the NHS first. However, the cost of any treatment has to be met by yourself and you are advised to get cover to pay for it. That insurance will also cover you to be taken home for further treatment by air ambulance if necessary and if you do have a medical problem whilst any where in the world, you are vulnerable and will want to simply, go home. I buy medical insurance when I go abroad even to countries covered by reciprocal arrangements with the UK NHS. It is very cheap and well worth the cost for peace of mind. Because the government runs the NHS they are ultimately the ones to whom you will owe money although each area is run by a NHS trust and it is they who will pursue you for any costs incurred by your treatment. This site may help you examine wh
