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More than 27 million people in the UK currently have an EHIC (European Health Insurance Card). However, there’s now developing information which could begin affecting your EHIC. If the UK government opts to reject the Withdrawal Agreement presented by Theresa May, the EHIC may no longer be valid.During Brexit White Paper, which appeared in 2018, the UK government claimed there should be reciprocal healthcare available for state pensioners who were retiring to the UK or the EU, ongoing participation in the EHIC scheme and cooperation for planned medical treatment.
This is one of the many EU agreements that may be affected if the UK leaves without agreeing to a deal and travelers are being advised to make sure they renew their passport if it has six months or less remaining before expiration. EU nationals who are currently residing in the UK are also being encouraged to secure a settled status with the Home Office’s scheme.
The European Health Insurance Submission Service provides assistance for those who are trying to get the European Health Insurance Card. The card offers people throughout Europe access to healthcare for a reduced fee or for free when they visit one of the countries in Switzerland, EEA, and the EU. The S1 scheme that is currently in place also provides assurance to UK citizens who are living abroad that they can receive access to care and health services when needed.
This is not considered a direct replacement for travel insurance; however, the card can cover pre-existing medical conditions and provides coverage for individuals who have a chronic illness. Any traveler who has plans to visit Europe is advised to make sure they have health insurance coverage before departure.
It's still not clear how the EHIC is going to change after Brexit occurs. This is going to remain the case until the government knows which agreements are going to be in place. If the UK winds up agreeing to leave the EU, then all EU travel rules would stay the same as a part of the transition period which is going to last until at least the year 2020.
According to the white paper mentioned above, it stated that it was desired that both EU and UK nationals have the ability to use the EHIC to receive the healthcare services they needed while on holiday. If the country left without a deal in place, it could lead to more complications because there would be no transition period and the EHIC currently held by individuals may become invalid.
It is still a possibility for travelers to apply and have their EHIC renewed. While this is true, the UK government website – Gov.UK – confirms that if the UK opts to leave the EU without any deal, then the card may become completely useless. This is the driving factor that is currently encouraging UK citizens who have any plans to travel in the near future within Europe to purchase healthcare coverage, regardless of if they plan to travel within or outside of the EU.
With all these developments, some are left confused about where they stand, with good reason. The demand for information is growing, as more and more people begin to realize the complicated situation they may face if their EHIC is no longer valid or usable.
Contact Info:
Name: EU Health Card Submission Service
Email: Send Email
Organization: EU Health Card Submission Service
Website: https://www.european-health-card.co.uk/
Release ID: 88892598
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