Channel Islands – Free Healthcare to End and EHIC Not Valid

From April 1, 2009 travellers from the UK will need to take out travel insurance when visiting the Channel Islands.  The Department of Health issued the recommendation following news that the reciprocal healthcare agreement between the UK and Channel Islands will terminate on March 31.  (The agreement with the Isle of Man will terminate a year later, on March 31, 2010).

UK visitors who sustain injuries or become ill while visiting the Channel Islands (which includes Jersey, Guernsey, Sark, Alderney and Herm) will be required to pay for their own medical treatment from April 1, 2009. The same will apply for residents of the Channel Islands when visiting the UK.

Note: The islands lie outside the EU, which means that the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is not valid.  This is a good time to check the expiration date of your EHIC as, according to the Department of Health, more than three million cards are now out of date.