Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that reciprocal agreements with EU Member States and Members of the EEA for the provision of health care to UK citizens travelling temporarily to those countries will be in place after the UK leaves the EU; and what the timetable is for those arrangements.

The United Kingdom Government is seeking agreements with Member States, so that no individual will face sudden changes to their healthcare cover.

People requiring treatment for their pre-existing conditions when travelling should always seek advice from their doctor and specialist unit before booking travel. They should also contact the chosen specialist administrator at the destination of travel to ensure their treatment is covered after 29 March 2019 in a ‘no deal’ scenario. Any charges to the patient should be discussed and agreed before booking travel.

The Department has been in discussion with a number of stakeholders on reciprocal healthcare after the UK leaves the EU.

Any new travel advice will be updated on GOV.UK and the NHS website as the circumstances change, including for travellers who have pre-existing conditions.