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IMPACT – LOW
What is the change? The Department of Health released a consultation on ways to recoup £500 million per year by expanding the charging of foreign visitors and migrants for health care services in the U.K.
What does the change mean? The department is seeking comments on the proposals until March 7, 2016 from employers and other interested parties. The current proposals would affect foreign visitors and non-EEA nationals as well as EEA or Swiss nationals residing in England.
Background: The current Immigration Health Surcharge regime, which applies to many foreign workers (but not to EEA nationals working in the UK, or to intra-company transferees on assignment), may be viewed here.
The intention of the proposed changes is to tackle perceived abuse of the U.K.’s National Health Services from within the European Union and to shore up the European Health Insurance Card system to allow costs to be recovered from European member states. The consultation proposes to both expand charges for health services and recoup costs from the home country of EEA nationals with permanent resident status in the U.K. who currently receive free healthcare alongside British residents. The proposal would redefine “ordinary resident” for purposes of receiving free health care to exclude EEA nationals whose home country is responsible for their healthcare costs. It also seeks to prevent “health tourism” by other measures.
Key proposals include:
The full contents of the Department of Health’s consultation and soliciting of public comments may be read here.
BAL Analysis: Employers and other stakeholders interested in participating in the consultation or submitting comments may respond directly to the questionnaire contained in the consultation or contact their BAL professional.
This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group in the United Kingdom. For additional information, please contact uk@bal.com.
Copyright © 2016 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com.
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