Yes... I'm a little concerned myself about all that - not having been to the doctor for a number of years now... what might I find out when I go back ? I'm hoping I only have to avoid them for a few months and then they're ok about it again... Just thinking, might be another reason to have a home in the UK before returning !
It's residence in the UK not the owning of a home, that article refers to someone who is still an ex-pat he hasn't moved back to the UK he's ill and proclaiming that his treatment in Nicaragua is better than the UK even though it cost him £64000 so far, why someone emigrating would imagine that they can just hop back to the UK for NHS treatment is amazing. If you moved back and were renting somewhere you would qualify for NHS treatment, you might be asked to prove residence but the fact that you would have applied for your wife's visa would prove that you had upped and left the Philippines, basically once you have a home rented or otherwise then you go register with a GP. Also your tax position will change as soon as you set foot back in the UK and under the new rules you can be liable for UK tax (Inheritance tax and others) for up to 10 years even if you moved back to the Philippines again, I only found that one out recently, for inheritance tax you have to have more than £325,000 in total but even private pensions come under inheritance tax over that level from 2027, luckily I don't have that much.
A tenancy agreement would also suffice, as you would need a UK address to be provided for a visa application.
Thank you for adding that clarification - I thought he was expecting a bit too much too! He's a Health Tourist - and not a very smart one - I'm sure most of them who do it make sure they have a "residential address" available to put down and so skip/avoid the Stasi interegation... That's the problem with us Brits - too honest for our own good sometimes.
