UK to end reciprocal health agreement with Jersey
Wednesday, March 4, 2009 18:22Travel insurance will be a must after 31 March 2009 for travel between Jersey and the UK.
Anyone living in the UK and visiting Jersey, or living in Jersey and visiting the UK after 31 March 2009, needs to be aware that from 1 April 2009 the reciprocal health agreement that has been in place between the two countries since the 1970s will no longer apply.
This reciprocal health agreement has meant that holiday makers, visitors and business people have been eligible for free health care in both countries. However, from 1 April 2009 all visitors must make sure they have adequate travel insurance to cover any health treatments that may be necessary. With this in mind, individuals who need a range of travel insurance quotes can make informed comparisons by browsing the Aviva website and the websites of other insurance companies.
In the event of an accident, free treatment will only be available in Accident and Emergency – any subsequent operations or ongoing health treatments must be paid for.
For more information visit the Jersey Government website
The UK government has yet to publish anything about this - watch this space for more information!
Neil Stead says:
April 6th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
If you’re visiting family and friends in Jersey (or any of the Channel Islands), you’ll probably find that you simply cannot get cover.
My Travel Insurance policy with Insureandgo states that I am only covered for trips “within the UK”, if I have at least 2 nights accommodation booked. I’ve tried pointing out the Jersey is part of the British Isles, but NOT part of the UK, but they insist that it IS part of the UK, according to THEIR definition.
I suspect many other Insurance companies will pull the same trick.
Paula says:
April 9th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
Hi Neal
I have the same problem with the Isle of Man, which isn’t part of the UK but insurance companies insist it is.
Travel insurance companies must start clarifying the situation particularly now the reciprocal health agreement between the UK and Jersey - and all the Channel Islands - has ended, and the UK reciprocal health agreement with the Isle of Man is set to end on 31 March 2010.
Thanks for highlighting this problem.
I’d love to hear from anyone who has experienced problems with travel insurance companies and their definitions of what countries are and are not part of the UK.