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Isle of Man announces interim Reciprocal Health Agreement with UK

CHIEF Minister Tony Brown MHK today announced that agreement has been reached between the Isle of Man and United Kingdom governments to implement a six-month revised Reciprocal Health Agreement.

It replaces the existing Agreement which will be terminated, as previously announced, on March 31. The temporary Agreement will come into effect on April 1. Discussions will continue between the UK and Isle of Man governments during this period in an effort to secure a new, long-term deal on reciprocal health.

In a statement to Tynwald today (Tuesday), the Chief Minister said the move represented ‘a major step forward, safeguarding the people of the Isle of Man in relation to health care when visiting the United Kingdom.’

The revised Reciprocal Health Agreement means that existing arrangements will remain in place for visitors: Island visitors to the UK will continue to receive free health care as will UK visitors to the Isle of Man. The significant change to the arrangement is that neither government will seek reimbursement from the other for the costs incurred in treating the other’s citizens. This brings the UK’s treatment of the Isle of Man in line with other non-EEA countries such as Australia, New Zealand and Tajikistan.

The interim revised arrangement was confirmed by the Chief Minister to Tynwald following his discussion with the UK Secretary of State for Health Andy Burnham MP, earlier today.
Mr Brown said:

‘The Isle of Man Government has consistently continued to press the United Kingdom through appropriate channels to reconsider the position with regard to the ending of the Reciprocal Health Agreement. I can advise that I have spoken again with the Secretary of State for Health and can confirm that an interim position has been jointly agreed between the Isle of Man and the United Kingdom. Mr Burnham has been reflecting on our last meeting which he stated had brought home to him the real issues involved. On reflection he has accepted the arguments put forward by the Minister for Health Eddie Teare MHK and myself.’

Mr Brown expressed his appreciation to all those both on and off Island who had supported the Isle of Man. He added that it is still important that Isle of Man residents take out personal insurance when travelling off-Island as the revised Reciprocal Health Agreement, like the old Agreement, does not cover the costs of repatriation.