EHIC cards in a No-Deal Brexit

[fedup21]

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/newsbeat-49989227

A scary prospect.

I have everything crossed for a long extension or cancelling the whole mess.

I would have thought the loss of EHIC cards was obvious.
I'll be in Ireland on 31 October. I've got travel insurance but I would anyway. I never rely solely on EHIC.

I am astounded that this is considered news

Apparently some EEA countries are offering similar to ehic regardless. However you should always have travel insurance in addition anyway.

I found the most telling fact from the story to be:

The government has asked all 31 countries to keep EHICs in use until 31 December 2020, no matter what happens with Brexit. But only three have agreed to cover UK tourists if there's no deal.

People should always take out own insurance EHIc cards do not include repatrian /ambulance flights and only care same as the health authorities in EU provide to people resident there. Does not cover private clinics/hospitals

People should always take out own insurance

If they can ...

It's not really that scary. Travel insurance will go up a bit. For the sake of the environment we all need to travel a bit less anyway.

EHIC cards only cover limited healthcare costs. In most EU countries it’s emergencies and pregnancy only. So people should definitely be buying travel or international health insurance policies alreadyz

if they can quite.

I have no idea why so many companies refuse cover if people have a pre-existing condition. Can't they just exclude that condition? If I had cacer 10 years ago I am no more likely to break my leg if I am run over by a car overseas.

And how am I more likely to lose my case or have a delay to my flight that requires me to get accommodation or miss my flight because my train is delayed badly? Why exclude cover for non-medical stuff at all?

The whole travel insurance sector needs better regulation.

But yes, the EHIC thing is not news.

oldwhy
For those with tricky medical situations, travel insurance is not an option
so they have used the EHIC to be able to travel in Europe.
After Brexit they will be effectively unable to travel abroad.

think families stuck on disability / carer benefits who would pay well over £1000 a year for a private policy

Not sure at this stage why this surprises people

Try the Post Office insurance. EHIC is not a requirement (though if you don't have one there is a waiver of first £250 (?)). It's very competitively priced, and covers things like repatriation, extended stay etc (which EHIC does not)

Try Insure With if you have complicated pre-existing conditions, or Able2Travel, or STA. all are pretty good st offering cover and the increased premium might not be that high.

If you have complex medical issues, relying just on the EHIC is unwise, as you can find yourself severely out of pocket if you need to stay beyond your planned date of departure, need an attendant for the return journey, and have to pay what a national if that country pays (some have insurance-backed co-pay arrangements, and you may need to pay upfront, even if some/all is later refundable)

It's not really that scary. Travel insurance will go up a bit. For the sake of the environment we all need to travel a bit less anyway.

So OK if you've the money and Brexit is great for the planet.

Noted. Not sure why they didn't put that on a bus ? It's more truthful than the bollocks about £350 million ....

I have MS. It's a declared condition on the travel insurance I have just bought for my trip to Ireland. My premium is slightly more than DH but not horrendously so.

If you have complex medical issues, relying just on the EHIC is unwise

Big losers are anyone who needs very regular medical treatment, they can get this under EHIC, so long as its available to their own countries residents.
At present these tourists can book their treatment in advance.

But who cares, its a price worth them paying, shouldn't be going on holiday if they are ill..

They spend £150 million a year on healthcare for UK citizens.

Now we'll have to spend it on the NHS instead.

I have been very vocal about the EHIC card IRL, one of my relatives was taken ill while away (completely unexpected emergency with no previous illness) and received excellent care in a hospital abroad on the EHIC for weeks, they didn't even ask for his insurance at the time (which he also had).

The clue's in the 'E' surely. If anyone at all is surprised by this they have not been paying attention (and if people not paying attention is a surprise that's lack of attention too).

"The clue's in the 'E' surely"

Disagree. If it was EUHIC then yes the clue is in the name. But Europe and European Union are not synonyms. There are non-EU countries in the EHIC scheme

There are non-EU countries in the EHIC scheme
Indeed, but all of them are in the EEA - which the UK would no longer be
contactcentreservices.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/selfnhsukokb/AskUs_EHIC/en-gb/6703/where-i-can-use-my-ehic/16526/in-which-countries-can-the-ehic-be-used

eg the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man are not part of it .....

Disagree. If it was EUHIC then yes the clue is in the name. But Europe and European Union are not synonyms. There are non-EU countries in the EHIC scheme

Jeez no wonder even the Tories want to spend more on education.

I think the clue is in the name. If we are no longer in the EU then the cards are invalid. Hopefully in a reciprocal deal a similar card can be negotiated

All the countries that are in the EEA - and therefore allow freedom of movement - are part of the EHIC scheme. Hence why the EFTA countries participate.

No freedom of movement, no EHIC.

We had those cards and we had bill from French hospital. Around 100 pounds for 10 mins and an ambulance.
Df suddenly taken ill wasn't allowed medical help until he showed his insurance documents.

I've never relied on them we get insurance through our current account.