Health costs when visiting the UK
You are strongly advised to take out travel insurance to cover possible medical costs if you were to have an accident or become ill. If you already have private health insurance, please check that you are covered for travel to the UK.
If you live in Jersey and are referred for treatment in the UK, you will not have to pay as this is already funded by the Health and Social Services Department.
These changes do not affect existing health agreements with other countries such as France or Portugal.
People visiting the Island from the UK will also be affected. Visitors will get free treatment at A&E but will have to pay for all other health services while in Jersey.
Advice on health care for UK visitors to Jersey
Treatment which is still available free of charge
Are there any people who won't be charged for healthcare while visiting the UK?
Some people will not be charged for health care if they fall ill or have an accident while in the UK. These include:
- people who are working for an employer that has its principal place of business in the UK or is registered in the UK as a branch of an overseas company
- people who are self employed whose principal place of business is in the UK
- people who are pursuing a full time course of study which is at least six months long or less than six months long but substantially funded by the UK government
- people receiving a UK state pension who have lived in the UK for ten continuous years or more at some point in the past
What treatment will still be free?
The only hospital services that will be provided free of charge for Jersey residents visiting the UK are:
- treatment provided solely within an A&E department (or a walk-in centre with similar services to those given in A&E). Not all emergency treatment is free - charges will apply for emergency treatment (eg operations) provided elsewhere in a hospital
- family planning services
- compulsory psychiatric treatment
- treatment for certain contagious diseases and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases (HIV is not included, except for initial diagnostic testing and associated counselling)
There are also certain diseases which are treated for free in order to protect wider public health. The diagnosis process for these diseases is also free, even if the results of that diagnosis shows that you do not have the disease.
If you have a secondary illness that must also be treated in order for the primary disease to be treated successfully, this secondary disease will not be eligible for free treatment. For example, if a patient has TB and HIV, only the treatment of TB is free. The treatment of HIV would be charged.
| Anthrax |
Mumps |
Smallpox |
| Bacillary dysentery |
Ophthalmia neonatorum |
Staphylococcal infections |
| Cholera |
Paratyphoid fever |
Tetanus |
| Diphtheria |
Plague |
Tuberculosis |
| Food poisoning |
Rabies |
Typhoid fever |
| Leprosy |
Relapsing fever |
Typhus |
| Leptospirosis |
Rubella |
Viral haemorrhagic fevers |
| Malaria |
Salmonella infection |
Viral hepatitis |
| Measles |
SARS |
Whooping cough |
Meningococcal septicaemia (without
meningitis) |
Scarlet fever |
Yellow fever |
Circumstances, types of treatment and associated costs for Jersey residents visiting the UK
I’ve been referred for a heart operation in London - will I now have to pay for it?
No. People who are referred for treatment in the UK when what they need is not available in Jersey will not be charged. Specialist treatment is already paid for by the Health and Social Services Department and this will continue.
My son goes to university in the UK this summer - will he need medical insurance cover?
No. Full-time Jersey students at universities or colleges in the UK, who are able to prove that their course lasts more than 6 months, will not have to pay.
If I have to go the Accident and Emergency Department whilst visiting the UK, will I have to pay?
No. Everyone will still be treated in an A&E Department (or receive similar care in a walk-in centre) without being charged and immediately necessary treatment given by a GP will also be free.
Will I have to pay for transport by ambulance?
No. Transport by ambulance will still be free.
I live in Jersey but work for a UK company. Sometimes I have to go to the UK to work. Will I have to pay if I fall ill while in the UK?
No. Jersey residents who are able to prove that that they are working in the UK for a UK employer will not have to pay for healthcare.
I work for a Jersey company but travel often to the UK on business. Will I have to pay if I fall ill while in the UK?
If you do not have insurance cover, then you will have to pay. You should discuss this issue with your employer.
I run a locally-based company and my staff often travel to the UK on business – will I need to buy travel insurance for them?
It depends on the terms and conditions of their employment, but it would be advisable to buy insurance.
I am a pensioner and live in Jersey but I grew up in the UK and have a UK pension. Will I have to pay for treatment if I visit my family in the UK?
No. If you receive a UK state pension you won't have to pay for health treatment while visiting the UK as long as long as you can prove that you have lived in the UK for 10 continuous years or more at some point in the past.
I don't have a full UK pension - will I still get free health care?
Providing you have a UK state pension and you have lived in the UK for 10 consecutive years you will not be charged for health care.
I've been living in Jersey for 18 years but was born in the UK and lived there for 20 years. If I need hospital treatment when I go back to the UK to see my family, will I have to pay?
Yes. The National Health Service provides healthcare for people who live in the United Kingdom.
If you don't normally live there you are not automatically entitled to use the NHS free of charge – regardless of your nationality, whether you hold a British passport, or have lived and paid National Insurance contributions and taxes in the UK in the past.
You should consider getting travel insurance before you visit the UK.
I’m only working in Jersey for a few years - do I have to pay to be treated in the UK?
If you live in Jersey but can prove that you have lived in the UK for 10 years and are spending no more than 5 years working outside the UK, you won't have to pay.
However, you will need to provide evidence that you're entitled to claim an exemption from charges. This may include, for example, documents that demonstrate 10 years residence in the UK and evidence of working in Jersey for less than 5 years.
Is there any implication / difference if I get to the UK via another country (eg returning from holiday through Heathrow)?
No. You will always be identified as a non UK resident and will have to pay for any health-related charges.
What about if I need a prescription while I'm there or as a result of treatment?
If you require a prescription, you will pay the same amount as UK residents.
Travel insurance
Will I need travel insurance to go to UK on holiday?
It is advisable.
What if I have already booked a holiday to the UK – do I still have to get travel insurance?
If you want to be covered, yes.
Will I need health insurance if I am working temporarily in UK?
It depends on your employment arrangements, but if you are in any doubt, it is advisable to take out adequate health insurance to cover the period you are working.
I have private health insurance – will this cover me in the UK for accidents/unexpected illness?
You need to check your policy as they are all different and you may not be covered.
If I break my leg in UK, will I have to show insurance documents before they agree to treat me like in the USA?
It will depend on the circumstance and the situation but it is advisable to have your policy details available at all times. Alternatively, you may have to pay and then claim the amount from your insurance policy with evidence of the payments made.
I’m over 65 - won't travel insurance be very expensive?
The cost of travel insurance is unique to each and every applicant. The more health complications you have then the more expensive your health insurance will probably be.
If you feel it is too expensive you will have to consider the risk of falling ill in the UK and how you would then pay for the associated costs of your treatment.
If I already have annual travel insurance do I need as high a level of cover as I would for other international destinations?
Anyone travelling to the UK should check that they are covered for the appropriate level of insurance.
While this is a personal choice, it is advised that you make sure you are covered for repatriation as this is often the most expensive element of any charges that may be incurred.
Health care while travelling to Guernsey and the Isle of Man
Jersey does have a reciprocal health agreement with Guernsey.
There is not currently an agreement between Jersey and the Isle of Man, therefore individuals are advised to get travel insurance.
Reciprocal Health Agreement
What was the Reciprocal Health Agreement?
The reciprocal health agreement was an arrangement that had been in place between the Channel Islands and the UK since 1976. It allowed residents to receive free emergency health treatment when moving between the two jurisdictions. The reciprocal health agreement ended on Tuesday 31 March 2009.
What did the end of the reciprocal health agreement mean?
The end of the agreement meant that from Wednesday 1 April 2009 most people from Jersey who visit the UK, whether for business or personal reasons, have to pay if they need healthcare while in the UK.
Why did the agreement end?
This decision was made by the UK. They felt that paying any health related charges to Jersey only benefited a small number of UK residents and didn't represent value for money for the UK tax payer.
Their main point was that many UK residents (especially business people) already have travel insurance which should pay any health related expenses in the same way as if that person were travelling to the USA.