Self-employed(?) poker player. Absence of health insurance

[pokah_player]

I am a Hungarian national looking to apply for a document certifying permanent residence.

I have been living in the UK for over 5 years, supporting myself exclusively by playing poker. I have not claimed any kind of benefits.

I have neither registered with NHS nor paid NHS contributions during the period. I do not have a private medical cover either. I am insured in Hungary, but do not have an European Health Insurance Card. (Didn't bother doing the paperwork.)

I found out about the necessity of having insurance only days ago, when I started filling out the EEA form. Is there any way to get a document certifying permanent residence without having been insured? I can not get insurance for the past, obviously. What are my options?

Thank you in advance for your answers.

Note: I am not sure if I am a self-employed or self-sufficient person. Gambling does not constitute a trade in the UK and is not taxable here. (See http://www.taxationweb.co.uk/tax-articl ... nings.html.)

[noajthan]

To be selfsufficient you need to have (had) CSI.

Workers don't need CSI (as they pay tax!).
As a worker, work has to be shown to be genuine and effective rather than marginal and supplementary to some other activity.
Lack of tax registration/payment does not exclude you (under EU law at least).

[pokah_player]

Thanks for your response.

I was not employed anywhere during my stay here. My income from poker was not supplementary/marginal. It was my exclusive form of income.

Is there any chance for me to get a document certifying permanent residence? I have proof of having lived here etc. Everything except health insurance.

[Noetic]

Self employed who work legally and therefore pay tax do not need CSI.

[noajthan]

Is there any chance for me to get a document certifying permanent residence? I have proof of having lived here etc. Everything except health insurance.

Assuming you are relatively risk averse and relish odds stacked against you then give it a shot;
expect an initial refusal and a fight on your hands.

But for a £65 stake its surely worth a punt.