FYI – from BBC News

 

Full article at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8539014.stm

Visitors to the UK could be required to hold health insurance before they can enter the country, the government says.

The move is an attempt to crack down on "health tourists" who come for treatment but fail to pay for it.

In a separate immigration review, the UK could also refuse entry to foreigners owing money for health care.

Ministers said this would stop people from overseas taking advantage, but the Tories said Labour had allowed the problem to develop in the first place.

The NHS in England is paid more than £25m a year by overseas visitors, but writes off another £5m in unpaid bills.

Department of Health figures show that 50% of outstanding bills are not paid within a year of treatment and about 5% of overseas patients had three or more unpaid invoices. One reportedly had 18.

Best wishes

 

David McDaid

London School of Economics and Political Science