EHIC cards

[grumiosmum]

Does anyone know what will happen to EHIC cards if we leave without a deal on October 31st?

The Government advice FWIW is that you should assume that they won't work and make sure you have alternative cover.

It's one of the few things aimed at the UK public on the "Get Ready for Brexit" Government pages.

There's also a wee bit about driving licences and pet passports.

So many things that we have had the pleasure of, will not exist.
Just come through customs about an hour ago and it's all looking very different to how I've travelled in the past 30 yrs or so.
As PP said, expect it to mean nothing and make sure you are well covered.

Surely people had travel insurance as well as EHIC cards anyway

Travel insurance (at least for Europe) is usually cheaper with or requires an EHIC card, so a top-up may be needed , since that bit of the cover will no longer apply.

The exact wording of the cover will need to be checked.

Travel insurance doesn't cover pre-existing conditions, EHIC card does.

Unfortunately, you will have to try to find/pay extra for travel insurance that will cover pre-existing conditions.

One of the many consequences of a No-Deal Brexit (and even the WA only provided a guarantee to the end of transition - there may have been arrangement reached afterwards )

Even with pre-existing conditions you still may not get the same level of care as you would in the UK, and in some countries you may have to pay some of the costs.

You should always have travel insurance and not just rely on the EHIC card,

Travel insurance does cover preexisting conditions if you pay for it. I have MS. I travel. I get insurance.
EHIC cards will obviously be worthless.

Not entirely related but since driving licences were mentioned. The government ads on in Ireland at the moment state that in the event of a no deal Brexit a UK licence will no longer be valid. It's advising drivers to book in for an Irish provisional licence and get their test done. Provisional here(sorry don't know if it's the same in the UK) means you can't drive without a full licence holder in the car with you,as you are essentially a learner, can't use motorways and insurance goes through the roof.

I don't know what's in other places but that's the official advice here.

Travel insurance can cover pre-existing conditions!

Also, mainstream, cheap providers such as the Post Office don't require you to have an EHIC. If you do, then an excess is waived. But if you don't you're still covered (and the costs in event of claim are likely to be similar - the figure for the excess being in line with typical amount EHIC holders pay)

This is one of the easy issues to deal with, it's all about reminding people to take out travel insurance - something they shouid have been doing anyhow

Driving licences - expect it will revert to the situation I remember from before EU one rolled out.

Either the countries agree to bilaterally recognise each other's. Or if individual EU countries can't do that, recognise with the bloc. Both those options could take time.

In the meantime, use an international driving permit. Individual EU countries can choose whether they recognise them (advice website is to check each destination) I suspect that if it does not do so already, Ireland would swiftly decide to do so.

Oh international ones are recognised, sorry if I wasn't clear. This is just what they're saying for UK licences.