If you are in receipt of UK state pension/have your S1 then you are eligible for NHS too. UK is paying for your healthcare so doesn’t mind where you have it. I have an NHS card now as well as my carte vitale.
Thanks, JJ, is the NHS card similar to the CV, à crédit-card sized plastic thingummy? How is it obtained?
Now there’s a question. I really can’t remember but I think it appeared in the post after I had to go to a GP when I was in the UK on a visit. It’s a credit card sized thingy, but plasticised paper (i.e. bendy). It’s really not necessary, but then I can easily pass for “English”. I guess if you were more likely to be challenged then perhaps it would be useful.
Thank you, Jane. I probably have enough plasticky bendy thingies about my person not to totally crave another one 
, so I’ll trust my Birmingham accent and old teeth to help me scrape through the elimination process 