Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether UK citizens will continue to benefit from the European Health Insurance Card in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal on 31 October; if so, by what mechanism; and if not, what alternative provision, if any, they intend to make.

The Government has proposed to all European Union Member States that when we leave, we should maintain the existing healthcare arrangements including the European Healthcare Insurance Card (EHIC) Scheme until 31 December 2020, with the aim of minimising disruption to healthcare provision for United Kingdom nationals and EU citizens. This is subject to agreement by individual EU Member States.

In a ‘no deal’ scenario, the continuation of the EHIC scheme will be dependent on the UK agreeing its continuation with individual Member States through bilateral reciprocal healthcare agreements. It is not possible for the UK Government to guarantee access unilaterally to healthcare abroad, as this depends on decisions by Member States.

The UK Government has already committed to fund healthcare for UK-insured people who have applied for, or are undergoing, treatments in the EU prior to and on exit day, for up to one year, to protect the most vulnerable.

The Government always advises UK nationals to take out comprehensive travel insurance when going overseas, both to EU and non-EU destinations. The EHIC is not an alternative to travel insurance and we have always advised that individuals should have both when travelling abroad.