Holidaymakers are being reminded that they will need travel insurance if they visit the Channel Islands. The destination is no longer covered by a longstanding agreement with the British government.
The Channel Islands are not part of the United Kingdom, but rather are a crown dependency. This means that they belong to the Queen, but have their own legal powers.
Until last year, there was a reciprocal agreement between the Channel Islands and the United Kingdom which meant visitors to the Islands could receive free emergency health care, funded by the British government. This was withdrawn because the British government felt the agreement no longer offered value for money.
Visitors should also be aware that the Channel Islands are not part of the European Union, which means treatment is not covered by the European Health Insurance Card scheme.
Those who already have insurance, for example annual policies, should check with their providers to make sure it does cover the Channel Islands.
