Lord Inglewoodasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will make clear the circumstances under which a self-employed person domiciled in Britain, (a) is; or (b) is not covered by regulations enabling him or her to obtain medical treatment if incapacitated by sickness or accident when visiting another EEC country.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Security (Lord Elton)The provision of health care to nationals of European (EC) countries moving within the Community is governed by the European Community regulations on social security for migrant workers. At present these cover only those currently insured as employed persons. There is however an exception which permits European Community nationals paying self-employed persons contributions under UK legislation who have previously worked for an employer in the United Kingdom to be covered by the regulations by virtue of their earlier insurance as employed persons. If such persons, ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom, fall ill or have an accident while visiting another member state, they are entitled to the medical treatment which is immediately necessary from the sickness insurance scheme of that state on the same terms as its own insured population.
An extension of the regulations to cover the self-employed was approved by the Council of Ministers in November 1980 and the means of implementing the extension is now under discussion in the Council. The new provisions, which are expected to come into 833WA operation during 1982, will apply to all EC nationals insured in the United Kingdom as self-employed and to their dependants. However, until then, any self-employed person not covered by the regulations, who is visiting Germany, Denmark or Gibraltar will in any case be able to obtain any urgent treatment needed, under the terms of the United Kingdom's bilateral agreements with those countries, provided he or she meets the nationality and residence requirements laid down in the agreements.