hi costablanca you could try looking on the malta and gozo essential links ,there maybe something there to give you some info lorna

BUPA Malta have a good reputation here - however, if you are UK passport holders, you get good cover from ther Maltese public system- I think its first 30 days free, then you only pay 10% of the cost for hospital stays, and outpatient is free - this is not an EU thing, but only for UK passport folders (and poss Australians as well ??). Also, are you sure you don't qualify for an E106 ? - you get this if you have paid national insurance in the UK in the previous 2 years I think

I'm sure all the above is not completely true, but broadly so !

oh yes, private cover is much cheaper in Malta than in the UK !

Hi costablanca,
I think gozomark has a point, have a read through these links and see what applies to you.
http://www.sahha.gov.mt/pages.aspx?page=188
http://www.sahha.gov.mt/pages.aspx?page=184

Yes, BUPA have a good reputation, there's also AXA PPP healthcare.
http://www.bupamalta.com/history.html
http://www.atlas.com.mt/page.asp?p=669

thanks Ingliza - those were the pages I tried to find on the reciprocal agreement, but failed !

see below - in reality even better than that stated - at the outpatients in Gozo I've never paid on the few times I've been there.

The UK has reciprocal healthcare agreements with Malta, enabling travellers to receive free or low cost emergency care for stays up to 30 days or reduced cost (15% of total) for stays longer than 30 days.

Documents needed to get medical treatment: UK passport.

What is normally free: Immediately necessary medical and surgical treatment (including investigations) in Government hospitals, health centres and district clinics.

What you pay charges for: Consultations and treatment in non-Government hospitals or clinics or at a private doctor's surgery. Prescribed medicines.

Thank you. That's brilliant. We have been in Spain for 1 year, but my husband did work in the UK during 2004 so we will ring Newcastle to see if there is a chance of an E106. But healthcare with a passport takes the pressure off for a bit. Thanks all.

Glad that has put your mind at rest
As mark said this is not a EU thing, it was in place a long time before Malta joined the EU, has never changed whatever political party has been in government here and it is highly unlikely to ever change. There is a very good reason behind the reciprocal agreement:
The vast majority of medical cases can be treated here, but once in a while obviously something rare or complicated turns up. A surgeon working with a population of less than half a million is not likely to have much experience with something that is a one in 50,000 or whatever case, so these patients are sent over to UK to be treated by a medical team with more experience - eg. conjoined twins from Gozo were sent to UK. Not knowing when or how often these cases could occur would cause financial chaos to Malta if the UK charged, as way of payment Malta agrees to treat UK passport holders on holiday or living here.
Private health care insurance is an option but not an essential, your choice.
You can find a lot of answers about living in Malta & Gozo on the government web site
http://www.gov.mt/index.asp?l=2