The public are being reminded of the importance of adequate insurance when travelling off-Island, with the Department of Health and Social Care using the beginning of the school summer holidays to highlight the issue and raise awareness.

Although there is a Reciprocal Healthcare Agreement between the Isle of Man and the United Kingdom, it only covers emergency care. Anyone in need of long-term care would be transferred back to the Island when clinically appropriate to do so.

Where travel plans are disrupted by medical care, the burden of arranging and paying for transport back to the Island is the patient’s responsibility. It is not funded by the Isle of Man Government or the UK Government. This could range from the relative low cost of a ferry ticket to the need for an air ambulance at a cost of thousands of pounds.

The Reciprocal Healthcare Agreement has never covered transport between the Isle of Man and the UK and consequently everyone leaving the Island should ensure that they have adequate cover for repatriation, should the need arise.

The situation is the same for UK residents visiting the Island – they need to ensure they have adequate cover for repatriation from the Isle of Man to the UK.

The Reciprocal Healthcare Agreement with the UK does not include Jersey, Guernsey, Gibraltar or the Republic of Ireland. For any trips outside of the UK full travel or medical insurance is recommended. This includes trips to European Union countries. The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which affords EU residents some healthcare in EU countries, does not apply and is not available to Isle of Man residents.

The Minister for Health and Social Care, Howard Quayle MHK, said: “Many people take the opportunity of the summer months and the school break to leave the Island. We want everyone to enjoy their trips and return safely. Sometimes things do go wrong and this is a timely reminder of the importance of having adequate cover.”

The Department of Health and Social Care has produced a leaflet to answer some of the frequently asked questions about off-Island travel and the Isle of Man’s Reciprocal Healthcare Agreement with the UK, which can be downloaded here.