NEWCOMERS to the Island will see a 6.6% average rise in healthcare fees this year.
Since 2000, the maximum annual increase in charges for States services has been fixed at 2.5% – and exceptions are allowed in “extremely compelling cases only”.
However, former Health Minister Karen Wilson signed off on a 6.6% average rise on the non-eligibility tariff, which came into effect on 1 January this year.
The tariff applies to residents who have lived in the Island for under six months, and are not yet eligible for a health card.
Tourists from countries which do not have a reciprocal health agreement with Jersey will also face the increased charges.
The UK has such an agreement with the Island.
Although the average increase for non-eligible patients is 6.6%, the percentage increase across different treatments varies significantly – the largest being a 15.9% increase on diabetes services, with the smallest increase being 2.7% on maxillofacial surgery.
All of the percentage increases are above the 2.5% maximum annual fee increase stipulated in the Anti-Inflation Strategy from 2000.
A government report outlining the decision justified the uplift by explaining that the non-eligibility tariff had not been increased since 2021, and it “is now recommended that it is increased to account for medical inflation and similar increases in cost in neighbouring jurisdictions”.
It is estimated that this increase will generate an extra £8,000 per year for the Health Department.
In a statement, the department said: “The Government of Jersey decided the price of care needs to be increased for non-eligible patients.
“We used the NHS tariff, which is a detailed and evidence-based, comprehensive tool.”
