tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5020146007708530033.post6325565456593075830..comments2023-12-19T05:27:09.911+00:00Comments on <b>BritCits</b> : stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08698922877414169622noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5020146007708530033.post-25747497052869917342013-03-10T19:17:32.867+00:002013-03-10T19:17:32.867+00:00Any type of health insurance would do, surely -why...Any type of health insurance would do, surely -why not have the same condition as there is for getting a Schengen visa?<br /> <br />In fact, the UKBA guidelines (http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/while-in-uk/rightsandresponsibilities/healthcare/) already say:<br /><br />"A few categories of visitor can receive treatment for conditions that occurred after their arrival in the UK. This includes residents of the European Economic Area, or of countries with which the UK has bilateral healthcare agreements. See our Rights and responsibilities page for European nationals. The Department of Health guidance also contains more details.<br /><br />If you are not in one of the categories that can receive free treatment, you may be asked to pay for any hospital treatment you receive. You may therefore wish to ensure that you have health insurance to cover your stay in the UK."<br /><br />(By the way, the UK has reciprocal health agreements with various non-EEA countries (http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcareabroad/countryguide/NonEEAcountries/Pages/Non-EEAcountries.aspx), so presumably their national would have to be exempt from such a bond.)<br /><br />All in all, I don't really understand the government's position here. IF they're talking about long-term family visit visas, that would make a little more sense (and if they're planning to replace the current draconian rules on elderly relatives with a bond scheme that would actually be a major improvement), but the way things have been going one can be forgiven for fearing the worst. On the other hand, it might not happen at all.Alnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5020146007708530033.post-36214131009567216102013-03-10T16:16:43.127+00:002013-03-10T16:16:43.127+00:00Al - I quite agree! Both malicious and unmanageabl...Al - I quite agree! Both malicious and unmanageable, as usual. I don't really do policy, but having the NHS 'sell' health insurance for visitors may be a better way to go.<br /><br />Thanks for the response!stevenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08698922877414169622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5020146007708530033.post-79837882862587414522013-03-10T11:37:57.976+00:002013-03-10T11:37:57.976+00:00I was wondering when you were going to write about...I was wondering when you were going to write about the bond proposal. It's insane, isn't it? Surely May isn't proposing that, in addition to having to go through the complicated, time-consuming and expensive procedure already in existence, relatives wanting to come to Britain for two weeks to see their family should have to stump up 1,000 pounds or more as a deposit? How on earth would this work? When would they get the money back? And how? How big a problem is this anyway? Is a bond really the right way to deal with it? Has the government never heard of health insurance?Alnoreply@blogger.com