The Department of Health and Social Security has published details of how it will help people once the reciprocal health agreement ends.

The Medical Expenses and Repatriation Costs Scheme and the National Health Services Overseas Visitors Regulations will be debated by Tynwald a week on Tuesday.

Between them, the two documents set out who can have free health treatment when visiting Island, as well as who gets help with medical insurance or has costs covered by the DHSS when in the UK.

Between them, the documents run to 16 pages and set out who gets help and how they can apply for it.

Jason Roberts reports: (play audio, text attached below)

Anyone who can’t get medical travel insurance and wants to travel to the UK will have to give the DHSS three letters from insurers or brokers to prove it.

They’ll have to tell the department their itinerary travelling and pay ?50 to the DHSS in advance.

In return, the department says it will cover all the costs involved in any medical expenses as well as cash spent bringing the person back to the Isle of Man.

There’s also help for the low-paid and people on benefits, with help towards buying travel insurance for those who can least afford it. That’s for a maximum stay of three weeks in the UK.

The “safety net scheme” will be put before Tynwald by Health Minister Eddie Teare on the 16th of this month.