Reciprocal health agreement with the UK (FOI)

​Request

I understand that our reciprocal health agreement with the UK extends only to visitors who are staying for less than three months.

I understand that Accident and Emergency (A&E) and emergency care is provided to anyone, and that some conditions like Covid are even if you need to be admitted to hospital for treatment as detailed in this guidance:

Guidance on Implementing the Overseas Visitors Charging Regulations

In a previous Freedom of Information response published on 18 October 2018 you stated that students in the UK are covered for hospital care if their study is of six months or more:

Reciprocal health agreements for students and visitors (FOI)

A

Could you point me to the legislation that states this in order that students can refer to it if asked to pay for treatment?

B

Can you confirm that students on a course of six months or more in the UK are covered for the following or if not to what extent they are when it’s not covered as an emergency, Covid notifiable disease or one of the exceptions as listed:

• Inpatient care in a hospital

• Ongoing health needs

• Repatriation

C

Can you confirm the cost of treatment if it is not covered is charged by the NHS at 150%?

D

Who should a person contact in Jersey if they needed assistance about charges and when is this service available?

Response

A and B

There is no legislation that sets out healthcare arrangements for Jersey students attending full-time courses in the UK.

As has been the practice for many years, Jersey students following courses of further education in the UK of six months or more are treated as though they are resident in the UK and therefore would only be subject to any NHS charges where they are routinely applied to UK residents. It is recommended that students should register with their university health centre when they enrol at university so they can access a GP (often based in the health centre) and receive an NHS number. 

The arrangements described above would apply to inpatient care. Whether a condition is pre-existing or not should make no difference. Of course, it may be helpful for the student’s Jersey GP to make prompt contact with their new GP if there was medical history relating to the pre-existing condition.

Elective treatment that a student could have in Jersey would not be covered.

Repatriation would be the responsibility of the patient.

C

Where students are (mistakenly) classed as overseas visitors by an NHS Trust, the charge may be 150%.

D

Hundreds of Jersey students attend UK universities every year and we are not aware that Jersey students are being charged for their treatment in UK hospitals other than an occasional basis. However, should a situation arise, the student should take it up with the NHS Trust involved, lodging an appeal if necessary, and inform patientfinance@health.gov.je