Dont get ill in the Channel Islands!

[Maximus]

Just heard on Radio 4 that as of 1ST Aprill the Channel Islands have opted out from the universal health agreement,anyone traveling there now is advised to take out separate travel/health insurance!They will still treat 'A and E' victims,but as they do NOT belong to EU they are not bound usual treaties! Private medicine costs on Jersey in particular are eye watering!
'Forewarned is forearmed'

[Tony]

Originally Posted by Maximus

Just heard on Radio 4 that as of 1ST Aprill the Channel Islands have opted out from the universal health agreement,anyone traveling there now is advised to take out separate travel/health insurance!They will still treat 'A and E' victims,but as they do NOT belong to EU they are not bound usual treaties! Private medicine costs on Jersey in particular are eye watering!
'Forewarned is forearmed'

unfortunately it goes both ways...we dont get free care in the UK either!

Tony

[martini]

We didn't opt out, you did! You will still get the same services ie you dont have to go private, but yes anything other than A&E you will get charged for and vice-versa for us.

[JSP]

Originally Posted by martini

We didn't opt out, you did! You will still get the same services ie you dont have to go private, but yes anything other than A&E you will get charged for and vice-versa for us.

So are you saying if you come over here you have to pay?

[Erin]

Yep, for any non-emergency treatment. Most 'locals' have travel insurance which normally includes some health cover anyway. We quite often suffer delays from fog at the airport etc so take insurance to cover extra overnight stays.

[chewy]

You can go into any NHS hospital and get treated, who's going to refuse you treatment? You give em your name and a British address, free treatment.

I live in England and have to pay for my prescriptions when I was working in Wales I got them for free!

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by chewy

You can go into any NHS hospital and get treated, who's going to refuse you treatment? You give em your name and a British address, free treatment.

I live in England and have to pay for my prescriptions when I was working in Wales I got them for free!

True most people on a Friday and Saturday night don't even know what their name is but they still get treated!!!

[Polwart]

I believe this will apply to the Isle of Man in April 2010 and eventually to all crown dependencies.

As I understand it if any overseas visitor (from outside the EU) requires medical treatment in the UK the general principle is we don't refuse treatment (that would be unethical) but where treatment involves admission to hospital or outpatient care the NHS trust is expected to try and recover their costs.

So if as a non EU resident you get ill in the UK and need to see a GP it will be free of charge. (Although you pay for prescription if required as normal). If the GP refers you to hospital and you are admitted you'll get charged for that.

If you fall and break your arm, you go to A&E they plaster it and send you home - you pay nothing. If you break your leg though you might well end up in overnight with a bill to pay...

My limited experience of the NHS is that if you are in overnight the admin people will have matched you up to their database in that time - if you don't exist on the database they'll want to know why.

[chewy]

Aren't we meant to pay for the Ambulance service though. When I came off my bike as a kid I ended up in an Ambulance and then casualty.
The person who rang 999 got sent a bill who sent it to us. The Ambulance Crew actually told us to bin it!

[Channel Ribs]

Originally Posted by Maximus

Just heard on Radio 4 that as of 1ST Aprill the Channel Islands have opted out from the universal health agreement,anyone traveling there now is advised to take out separate travel/health insurance!They will still treat 'A and E' victims,but as they do NOT belong to EU they are not bound usual treaties! Private medicine costs on Jersey in particular are eye watering!
'Forewarned is forearmed'

I can only imagine that R4 have fed you a sensationalised story.

As already mentioned it was the UK goblement that ended the reciprocal health care agreement, not the Channel Islands.

The local doctors, nurses and radiologists will NOT TURN YOU AWAY. But yes, you (or your travel insurance company) may be given a bill.



Civilization is safe and well. Now, onto EU Treaties?