The Health Minister has reaffirmed that island residents are not eligible for UK’s Global Health Insurance Card.
The Minister for Health and Social Care, Claire Christian MHK revealed that no discussions have taken place between the DHSC and the UK regarding the island’s participation in the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) scheme.
Ms Christian reiterated that island residents are not eligible for the GHIC, a card that provides access to state-funded healthcare during temporary stays in participating European countries.
Eligibility is restricted to residents of the UK, the EU, and the European Economic Area—groups that do not include the Isle of Man.
Ineligibility
In response to a written question, Ms Christian explained that when the island renewed its Reciprocal Healthcare Arrangement with the United Kingdom in 2023, the GHIC was mentioned only in the context of being accepted as proof of UK residency for visitors requiring medical treatment while in the Isle of Man.
She stressed that this reference did not imply participation in, or eligibility for, the GHIC scheme.
DHSC also noted that although the Isle of Man appears within the territorial scope of certain UK-EU bilateral healthcare agreements, there is no evidence that the island has applied the relevant conventions.
As a result, the position remains unchanged: Manx residents must secure appropriate health insurance when travelling outside the island.
In the continued absence of GHIC coverage, government urges residents to obtain comprehensive travel and health insurance for all off-island travel, including trips to the UK and EU member states.
