Companies given responsibility for migrant health insurance

Companies in the UK have been told that they must take out health insurance plans to cover their migrant workers in a bid to take pressure of the NHS.

The surprise measure was announced by the new government alongside the first ever cap on the number of non-EU workers allowed into the UK.

One of the main points of contention between the Conservative and Liberal Democrat members of the coalition government, the new proposals will come into effect as of next year.

By making employers pay for medical insurance for migrant workers during the entire length of their contracts, they will no longer be competing for NHS appointments and resources.

Home secretary Theresa May announced the new measures after ministers expressed concern that immigration is unduly straining the public health services.

She was quoted by the Daily Mail as saying that the level of the cap had not yet been decided.

"We all recognise some of the social issues about pressure on public services, pressure on schools and hospitals and also pressure on housing," Ms May said.

The newspaper cites research from think tank Migrationwatch which indicates that more than 600,000 migrants registered with a GP in 2007-08.

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