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Under new government proposals, firms employing non-EU migrants could be expected to pay for their private health insurance. As the government aims to pull net migration into the UK back to levels seen in the 1990’s, health care initiatives could force employers forced to fund migrants’ health insurance and curb financial burdens plaguing the NHS. “The government believes that sponsors should do more to ensure that migrants and their dependants do not place undue burden on local public services and would therefore be interested in views on whether employers should be asked to hold health insurance for their employees,” read a consultation document published since the government’s immigration policy was announced. Research shows that in the past 12 months alone almost 600,000 migrants have registered with British GPs. Under the new proposals, non-EU migrants would still receive accident and emergency treatment on the NHS but would have to pay through private insurance for other services, including GP visits and most operations. “We all recognise some of the social issues about pressure on public services, pressure on schools and hospitals and also pressure on housing,” claimed Home Secretary Theresa May earlier this week. The cap on migrant workers will come into effect from April 2011, but a temporary, smaller cap will take effect on 19 July, to prevent an early rush of applications. Foreign workers hoping to continue their UK-based employment over the coming months should seek advice over the new proposals as soon as possible. With exemptions and guidelines varying, individuals must educate themselves on how such changes could impact their working lives.
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