Author Topic: Brexit healthcare  (Read 4973 times)

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Online Maik

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Brexit healthcare
« on: Monday, 18 February, 2019 @ 16:13:22 »
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Brexit: Will Britons living in the EU still get healthcare?

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, reciprocal healthcare arrangements will not automatically survive. The UK is trying to reach agreements with EU governments to extend them.

For emergency treatment on holiday, UK nationals can use their EHIC card if they fall ill in another EU country, but if there is a no-deal Brexit it will no longer be valid and they will need travel insurance.

There are about three quarters of a million UK nationals living in other EU countries, although estimates vary.

UK nationals who live in EU countries will have different arrangements to access healthcare, depending on which country they live in.

"We are in a situation now where many of our fellow-citizens living in Spain or France do not know in just over 40 days time whether they will have any health cover," Sarah Wollaston, the Conservative chair of the House of Commons health select committee told BBC News.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-47213212

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Online Maik

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Re: Brexit healthcare
« Reply #1 on: Tuesday, 09 April, 2019 @ 22:07:04 »
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Millions of Brits face high medical bills in event of no deal as EHIC cards cease to be valid
Many older travellers, or those with pre-existing medical conditions, use the EHIC as a substitute for insurance

Millions of British travellers to Europe face high medical bills or the prospect of returning home early as the deadline looms for the UK to leave the EU at 11pm British Summer Time on Friday 12 April.

A health minister has warned that the government cannot guarantee access to medical treatment in the remaining 27 countries.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) tweeted: “European health insurance cards (Ehic) will no longer be valid if the UK leaves the EU without a deal.”

As EU citizens, British travellers are entitled to any medical treatment that cannot wait until they are home with the same rights to healthcare as people insured in the host country

If the UK ceases to be a member of the European Union on 12 April, as the default currently is, British visitors to the remaining EU countries, together with Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland, will lose their right to medical treatment.

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) says: “For many travel policies in the market, the loss of the Ehic is unlikely to lead to a meaningful change to terms and conditions; any reference to the Ehic would simply be irrelevant and customers would still be able to make medical claims.”

But the organisation representing insurers warns: “Be aware that there is a small number of policies in the market that state they will only provide cover if you have and use an Ehic.

“Customers in this position should check their policy and contact their insurer.”

The ABI also predicts that premiums may rise in the event that reciprocal healthcare ends, saying: “Claims costs within Europe are currently reduced due to the presence of the Ehic.

“In the absence of the Ehic or similar reciprocal health agreement, insurers will inevitably see an increase in claims costs – this could have a direct impact on the prices charged to consumers.”

While all EU member states provide emergency medical care to anyone requiring urgent attention, a retrospective charge will be made to non-EU citizens. The DHSC warns: “You can expect to be charged in full for any care provided without an EHIC.”

The British Medical Association says: “If patients are required to return to the UK for care, the NHS will be put under even greater pressure and face additional costs of as much as £500m per year.”
https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/brexit-medical-care-nhs-european-health-insurance-card-ehic-a8861126.html

See also: Doctors on Kefalonia


Edit: spelling error
« Last Edit: Wednesday, 11 September, 2019 @ 15:47:30 by Maik »