Travel insurance is now required for Channel Islands visitors

The bilateral healthcare agreement between the UK and the Channel Islands has now ended.

Anyone travelling to the Islands, which include Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney, Sark and Herm, will now be required to pay for medical treatment should they become ill or injured.

The UK Government has said that visitors from the UK are advised to arrange for adequate travel insurance in advance. This will mean that residents of the Channel Islands visiting the UK will now also have to pay for medical treatment if they come to the UK and become ill.

One of the insurance companies that jml-insurance acts as an introducer for, EssentialTravel.co.uk wants to assure all customers visiting the Islands from this date that they will be covered for medical costs by one of its standard insurance policies.

"We recognise the importance of providing comprehensive medical cover for anyone travelling to the Channel Islands from April", says Stuart Bensusan, Insurance Director at EssentialTravel.co.uk. "This is why, unlike many other insurers who are cashing in on the change in healthcare arrangements, our customers will be protected by our standard UK single trip cover, as before."

"At a time when the industry should be doing all it can to encourage people to travel, this change in cover implemented by some insurers, will only serve to frustrate and confuse travellers. "There's a danger that those tourists who have visited the Channel Islands previously on a UK policy, may unwittingly travel unprotected on the same policy as before, risking hefty medical bills.

"It's vital that anyone visiting the Channel Islands this year checks with their travel insurance provider to ensure they take out the correct type of policy" says Bensusan.

With weak £ pound many Britons will be taking their holidays in the United Kingdom, rather than travelling overseas so it is vitally important they have proper cover.

jml-insurance acts as introducers to several well known Travel Insurance Providers including - Endsleigh - Direct Travel - Simple - Devon Direct and Essential Travel: More information can be found on the Travel Insurance page at the jml-insurance site