Info For Anyone Racing The Manx

I saw this posted on the Derby Phoenix forum and though it was worth referencing here for those taking on the mountain course this year.....


QUOTE

The UK Government has unilaterally decided to end the reciprocal health agreement with the Isle of Man - this means that, from April 2010, UK residents visiting the island will no longer be covered for medical care and Manx residents will no longer be covered for medical care should they be taken ill in the UK. Anyone taking a ferry to the Isle of Man will need to have health insurance.

Anyone living in the Isle of Man (many of whom have served in the British Armed Forces or are British Nationals) even if they have paid years of national insurance in the UK, will need to have health insurance if they visit the UK.

If you don't agree with this and would like to let the British Government know your feelings, sign the official petition on the No.10 website here - http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/HealthcareIOMUK/ and forward this email on to as many of your friends as you can.

The UK has reciprocal health agreements with all EU countries and with many others including

Anguilla,
Armenia,
Azerbaijan,
Barbados,
Belarus,
Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Croatia,
Falkland Islands,
Georgia,
Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan,
Macedonia,
Moldova,
Russia,
St Helena,
Serbia and Montenegro,
Tajikistan,
Turkmenistan,
Turks and Caicos Islands,
Uzbekistan,
Ukraine.


There are no plans to end any of these other agreements and no reasons have been given as to why the UK Government have decided to remove the agreement with the Isle of Man.

If you feel really strongly about this, let your MP know as it's been kept very quiet in the UK and most members of Parliament are not aware of the change.

For info, the reciprocal agreement has been extended to October 2010 so it is still in operation for the TT and Manx GP. Next year, unless they agree an extension, competitors will have to buy insurance (through the ACU at some horrendous price no doubt).

Given the lack of publicity these moves have had it's certain that next year some road riders will get a very nasty surprise should they be unlucky enough to be involved in an accident over there.

[G]

That will be Guy Martin and Connor Cummins producing £250k NHS bill each that's doing it.

Actually there has been a lot more fuss from the Manxies who regularly send people over to the UK for specialist treatment. Unfortunately it seems us bikers will get caught up in the ming mong ping pong.