Tourists and immigrants may have to buy health insurance to enter the UK

Published on Friday 26 February 2010 22:03

VISITORS to Britain could be required to hold health insurance before they can enter under plans published yesterday.

The proposal is an attempt to reduce the opportunities for "health tourists" to have treatment in the UK but not pay for it.

A separate review of immigration rules has suggested foreigners who owe money for health care might be refused entry.

If the proposals are approved, health bosses would provide a list of migrants with NHS debts to immigration officials from later this year. They would then be turned away by the UK Border Agency if they try to re-enter the country without settling their debt.

At the same time, ministers revealed plans to give free healthcare to rejected asylum seekers should there be "recognised barriers" to them returning home. But free care will not be given to those whose claims have been rejected and who refuse to leave.

Immigration minister Phil Woolas claimed the changes would crackdown on misuse of the NHS by a "minority" of foreign nationals while protecting vulnerable individuals.

He said: "The government believes that those who take advantage of our hospitality should respect that hospitality or face consequences. For the first time the UK's immigration rules would state explicitly that a record of failing to discharge payment obligations to the National Health Service will impact upon a person's ability to enter and stay in this country.

"Our intention is to … ensure that migrants subject to immigration control who evade payment for treatment or services provided to them by the NHS are unable to take advantage of this country's hospitality."

The NHS is paid more than 25 million a year by overseas visitors, but writes off another 5m in unpaid bills. In cases where payments were not made upfront, just half of bills were settled within a year, Home Office figures show.

The extra health care for asylum seekers will cost 9m every year, the Department for Health said. The Tories said ministers had allowed immigration to place "significant burdens" on the NHS.

Shadow immigration minister Damian Green said: "It is clear that the government's open-door immigration policy has resulted in significant burdens on our public services, including the NHS.

"This consultation is a blatant attempt to avoid revealing the facts before the general election. In July last year the government announced a review of access to the NHS by foreign nationals, but never published the results."

Liberal Democrat health spokesman Norman Lamb said: "Labour has repeatedly claimed it's going to get tough with health tourism, but it's completely failed so far. We need a proper assessment of the proposal to force foreign visitors to get health insurance to determine the impact on tourism.

"The reality is that the situation is made much worse because the government has failed to get a grip on illegal immigration. What we need is a firm but fair immigration policy so that we know that people who are seeking treatment from the NHS are entitled to it."

Health minister Mike O'Brien insisted the reforms would stop health tourism.

He said: "While the NHS has a duty to any person whose life or long-term health is at immediate risk, we cannot afford to be an international health service, providing free treatment for all.

"We are determined to address these challenges and deliver high quality care to all those with a legal right to it, while protecting our National Health Service from those who would abuse it."