Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :

To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on ensuring the maintenance of the European Health Insurance Card for UK citizens when the UK leaves the EU.

DExEU Ministers and officials have regular discussions with their counterparts in the Department for Health and Social Care to discuss a wide range of issues related to the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.

Subject to the Withdrawal Agreement being agreed by Parliament, where the UK or an EU Member State is responsible for the healthcare of those within the scope of the Agreement, these individuals will continue to be entitled to reciprocal healthcare cover, including EHIC rights, from that country. For individuals not in scope of the Withdrawal Agreement, and as part of our future relationship with the EU, we have said that we want continued participation in the EHIC scheme.

In the event of a no deal exit, reciprocal healthcare cannot be protected unilaterally and requires reciprocity from the EU or individual Member States. We have a duty to ensure that any potential harmful impacts on our citizens in the EU, and on EU citizens residing in the UK, are minimised as far as possible.

That is why, in the event of no deal, the UK is seeking an EU-wide approach or bilateral arrangements with Member States to transitionally apply the current social security coordination regulations, including reciprocal healthcare, in full until the end of 2020. This includes current EHIC arrangements. This will provide certainty to individuals who move to, visit or work in the UK or EU until that date. UK Government Ministers highlighted the importance of transitionally maintaining these arrangements in letters sent to Ministerial counterparts in each Member State.