If you have staff visiting or relocating to the Isle of Man, you’ll want to know how its healthcare system works – and whether health insurance is necessary.
Our international consultants at Engage Health Group have expertise covering more than 70 countries worldwide, including the three ‘Crown Dependencies’ dotted around the UK: Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man.
The Isle of Man may have the King and Queen’s head on its money, but like the other Crown Dependencies, it’s not part of the UK – it governs itself. Consequently, the Isle of Man has its own healthcare system separate from the NHS.
In this guide, we walk you through what you should expect from the island’s healthcare system as a short or long-term visitor, and consider the health insurance options available to you.
If you’re a company seeking to arrange health insurance for employees living on – or travelling to – the Isle of Man, you can contact our team for a free consultation. Our experts will happily talk you through your options and arrange quotes free of charge. Call 01273 974419 or enquiries@engagehealthgroup.co.uk.
How the healthcare system works in the Isle of Man
The Isle of Man has its own equivalent of the NHS called Manx Care. Like the NHS, it’s funded through taxes and offers healthcare free at the point of delivery. However, it’s only available to Isle of Man residents.
Nonetheless, if you’re a UK resident, you may be able to access free emergency treatment under the “reciprocal healthcare agreement” made between the UK and Isle of Man all the way back in 1948.
This agreement allows UK residents to receive necessary medical treatment while visiting or working on the island. The following is important to know:
- Eligibility: UK residents visiting the Isle of Man for up to six months are covered for emergency medical treatment.
- Coverage: The agreement covers treatment for conditions that are diagnosed after arriving or if an existing condition worsens while on the island.
- Limitations: The agreement only covers emergency care. Non-emergency treatments, like dental treatment and repatriation back to the UK, are not covered.
There are a couple of things to pick out here.
Firstly, if you stay for more than six months you can register as a resident and get free access to the island’s public health system.
Secondly, for the purposes of emergency care, a clinician will decide whether or not the treatment can reasonably wait until you return to the UK.
Related reading: Exploring health insurance in Jersey: a guide for employers
When to buy health insurance on the Isle of Man
There are two main circumstance where you might consider buying group private health insurance for staff on the Isle of Man:
Short-term stays:
If you’re an employer sending UK staff on a short-term assignment to the Isle of Man then it’s certainly worth considering purchasing health insurance. While emergency care is covered on the island, it does not cover all eventualities, and the definition of what constitutes emergency care can be very strict. The Isle of Man government recommends visitors take out an “appropriate level of health insurance” during their stay.
Another thing worth saying is that the healthcare agreement between the UK and Isle of Man does not cover medical repatriation. This means that if you receive emergency care on the island but thereafter require ongoing treatment that’s no longer considered an emergency, then you will need to relocate back to the UK – and this travel will come at your own cost.
Longer-term stays:
If your staff will be living on the island for more than 6 months, they can register as a resident and therefore get full access to its free healthcare system. Locate Isle of Man is a useful resource for anyone planning to relocate to the island. Here it provides a useful overview of all the health services included for residents.
You might still consider buying private health coverage on the island even if you’re eligible for free healthcare as a resident. Access to private health facilities can give your employees faster access to treatments and consultations. You might even get access to services you wouldn’t find within the public healthcare system.
You should also consider it from a talent acquisition perspective. Health and wellbeing benefits are a key tool in making your company attractive to would-be applicants, which is particularly important on the Isle of Man where competition for talent is fierce.
Do you need help exploring health insurance options for staff working in the Isle of Man? Engage Health Group will talk you through your options and provide pricing tailored to your needs. Call 01273 974419 or enquiries@engagehealthgroup.co.uk to find out what’s possible.
What Company Health Insurance options are available on the Isle of Man?
A number of insurers offer Group Private Medical Insurance covering the Isle of Man either on a long-term or short-term basis.
However, it’s best to first liaise with one of our consultants who can talk you through the different policies from an objective perspective.
Our team can find the policy that best meets your needs and budgetary constraints. We’ll also consider your wider employee benefits policies, and gather tailored quotes without any obligation to buy.
What does Engage Health Group offer for the Isle of Man?
Choosing the right Isle of Man health insurance policy for your team can be challenging. Every provider will promise they have the best solution, so it’s vital to get impartial advice from experts like those at Engage Health Group.
Here are some of the things we will do for you:
- Assess your needs: We’ll take the time to understand your business, your employees’ needs, and how everything links with your wider employee benefits strategy.
- Customise solutions: We’ll deliver health insurance policies designed to meet your business’s unique needs, covering emergency care, non-emergency treatment, and repatriation where applicable.
- Provide impartial advice: Our advice is unbiased, helping you understand the different insurers and policies available, so you can choose the best option for your business.
- Give clear communication: We make sure you and your employees fully understand how the health insurance policies work, from coverage terms, to medical services covered and how the claims process works.
- Provide ongoing support: Should you proceed with buying a Group Health Insurance plan for the Isle of Man, we’ll take care of the admin and continue to support you throughout the life of your policy.
Ready to cover your employees in the Isle of Man?
The healthcare system on the Isle of Man has its own unique character due to the way it runs its own free public healthcare system for long-term residents, but then has the reciprocal agreement with the UK to offer emergency care to short-term visitors.
As a business hub, the island is highly competitive too. This makes your employee benefits offering an important tool for ensuring your business is an attractive proposition to current and prospective employees. But it’s also about fulfilling duty of care to all the employees who work for your business – and making sure their health needs are protected wherever they are working.
To kickstart your search for the right Isle of Man Health Insurance policy, contact our award-winning team via 01273 974419 or enquiries@engagehealthgroup.co.uk.
