I couldn't help but be alarmed at the news that the UK are to close the agreement we have had for many many years with the Health Service in the UK. I seems to be coming in for 2010.

Could this be the biggest threat to visitor numbers?

http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/Health-sh...4557004.jp

That is a real shocker...............

Correct me if I'm wrong but UK residents get free health care anywhere in the EU ? But now not on the IOM...............?

Or am I being stupid.


Might mean extra insurance costs for TT and MGP competitors...... Larry ?

DCLUCIE Wrote:I couldn't help but be alarmed at the news that the UK are to close the agreement we have had for many many years with the Health Service in the UK. I seems to be coming in for 2010.

Could this be the biggest threat to visitor numbers?

http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/Health-sh...4557004.jp

Travel insurance cover is relatively cheap for the normal visitor, but normally exludes motorcycling over 125 without an additional premium.
However, what about the actual racers- will they have to pay apart from emergency initial treatment, or am I reading it wrong?

If that is the case then it may well be a major problem, as you can't as far as I am aware really fully insure for racing accidents, apart from combined insurance of America type of plans, which doe not cover the major costs of medical specialist treatment. There is the compulsory Acu race insurance, but will this be enough?

Oh well, I suppose the Uk government needs to raise the fund to buy up all those banks and building societies, so that the directors who made the mess can still get their quite frankly obscene bonuses regardless. Oh dear, am I getting even more cynical?

For some time the Island has enjoyed its status as a non member of the EU and the opportunities for offshore finance this has created. You can't have your cake and eat it too.

However, I can't see the real benefit of stopping this reciprocal agreement. The article mentions a £2M shortfall in the Island's income, which would in turn imply the UK is saving £2M in payments. In terms of a country's finance this is a spit in the ocean, equivalent to a struggling company restricting the issue of pens to employees. How much did they miraculously find to finance an illegal war or bail out their fat cat banker mates?

As the folks above have said, it's all very well to say visitors must take out travel insurance but I suspect many won't, not realising the changes, and will get badly caught out. And no, this won't apply to racers. Schemes like CICA may pay out readily but the sums they pay are peanuts and certainly won't dent an inpatient hospital bill. Possibly the ACU may be willing to provide a medical expenses scheme for competitors but it will come at a cost, at a time when competitors (notably at the Manx) are abandoning the event in response to factors including steep cost rises.

Bad news.

cargo Wrote:Might mean extra insurance costs for TT and MGP competitors...... Larry ?

Well, TT & MGP competitors from outside ACU/SACU territory already are required to have Medical Expenses cover of US$ 184,000 and Repatriation cover for US$ 74,000.

I think that all this will mean will be that unlike up to now, the Medical Expenses cover will from 2010 be called on in the event of treatment following a competitive accident.

As to whether US$ 184,000 will be enough will be a different matter altogether - I don't think I can comment on that!!

Quote:That is a real shocker...............

Correct me if I'm wrong but UK residents get free health care anywhere in the EU ? But now not on the IOM...............?

Or am I being stupid.

I think what you said above is true cargo, but us manxies don't qualify for free treatment in EU countries, I think UK citizens get an E11 form but we cant get these.
The Isle of Man is not part of EU.

I certainly hope this does not put people of from visiting us.

I think you need to see the small print of the agreement from 2010 on how the replacement system will work.
Since the event of Trusts and Foundation Trusts in the UK, hospitals act like independant businesses and recover costs from primary care trusts for treatment afforded to patients by use of their permenant address post code.
It maybe that the Isle of Man as it has a national health service would be joining in this system instead of having a carte blanc lump sum payment arrangement.
If so the changes to an Isle of Man resident or a UK tourist visitor would not be noticed.

Coming from Australia I was covered in 1995 whilst visiting a doctor.
Wonder how it will affect us lot from down under. I always have travel insurance anyway. Just received my refund cheque for Euromanx flight from IoM to the UK.

uk gov made the move not the manx

heres a thing-try ringing a travel agent and asking for travel health insurance to go to island, then ring likes of bupa......i know who i'd go for-with travel insurance you'd get treated in normal ward and pay more for premium than paying bupa-and getting treated on private wing!!!
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As far as I read it, it is the UK Government that is ending the agreement. The fact that there are primary care trusts in the UK is neither here nor there as the agreement was between the NHS system in the UK and the Islands own DHSS and not with individual trusts. Any patient needing care that comes from the UK will be treated without cost in A&E, but as soon as they are moved to a normal ward for continued treatment then this is when the costs will be acrude. This will be the same for us here on the Island if we need treatment in the UK.

The problem with normal health insurance cover is that they will cover normal activities and not anything that is out of the norm. This could include anything from bungie jumping, being on the fair on the prom to taking part in the races themselves or dare I say it even marshaling the event. The facts of this I am unclear on, but what i do know from the qquestions I have asked insurers over here is that they would not cover me for marshaling an event in the UK due to the increased risks. I do hope that the government consider this and have something in place for free treatment for any marshal that maybe unfortuante enough to get involved a little more than they wished.

You may end up with the two types of cover, one for normal travel insurance and health cover and an additional one to cover the races. I have no idea about the costs that maybe involved with this but I dare say it would be a good wack, or an additional cost that riders and competitors do not need. Maybe Paul could look into an agreement with the DHSS about rider care as I am sure there is something that can be done for them between the two departments. Lets hope so.

TT could be hit by UK plans to end health deal

PROPOSED changes to the reciprocal healthcare arrangements between the UK and Crown dependencies such as the Isle of Man and Jersey could affect events like the TT and MGP, organisers fear.


Read the full article on the IOM Newspaper site HERE

Reading that it's clear that Caroline and so the MMCC are well aware of the current situation and that Mr Nelson and so the ACU haven't got a clue.......................no surprise there then.


I know that for the Manx competitors from Nothern Ireland which is for the time being part of the UK have to have the full medical treatment and repatriation insurance that NON UK competitors have to get.

So in theroy this new regime will make no difference to Irish MGP competiters North or South.

Larry ?

cargo Wrote:I know that for the Manx competitors from Nothern Ireland which is for the time being part of the UK have to have the full medical treatment and repatriation insurance that NON UK competitors have to get.

So in theroy this new regime will make no difference to Irish MGP competiters North or South.

Larry ?

Not quite, Cargo - we have to have to have the same full medical/repatriation cover that non-ACU/SACU competitors have to get, not NON-UK.

We from the MCUI therefore already have Med Exp of US$184,000 and Repatriation fees up to US$74,000.

So it'll be the ACU/SACU riders that get the hammer - probably in the form of increased Entry Fees, so that the organisers can pass on the premium to the ACU and thence the Insurers.

Caroline's got it right, and Nelson nearly so.

See my previous post of October 3rd on this thread.

At any rate, it's an ACU/SACU, not to mention visitors, problem for 2010, not next year!