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Brexit: What losing my EHIC card would mean for me | |
(32 minutes later) | |
European Health Insurance Cards let UK residents get medical care for free, or at a reduced cost, in 31 countries. | European Health Insurance Cards let UK residents get medical care for free, or at a reduced cost, in 31 countries. |
But if the UK leaves the European Union without a deal, that will no longer be the case. | But if the UK leaves the European Union without a deal, that will no longer be the case. |
The government has asked all 31 countries to keep EHICs in use until 31 December 2020, no matter what happens with Brexit. | 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. | But only three have agreed to cover UK tourists if there's no deal. |
The UK's largest travel insurance provider is warning that this would mean prices will go up, especially for people with health problems. | The UK's largest travel insurance provider is warning that this would mean prices will go up, especially for people with health problems. |
Michaela Sheehan always takes her EHIC on holiday to Europe. | Michaela Sheehan always takes her EHIC on holiday to Europe. |
The 24-year-old, from Woking, has epilepsy. | The 24-year-old, from Woking, has epilepsy. |
Her first seizure happened when she was a teenager on a school trip to France. | Her first seizure happened when she was a teenager on a school trip to France. |
She remembers queuing for a ride at Disneyland Paris. | She remembers queuing for a ride at Disneyland Paris. |
The next thing she knew, she woke up in a French hospital. | The next thing she knew, she woke up in a French hospital. |
She had been rushed there in an ambulance and had emergency treatment. | She had been rushed there in an ambulance and had emergency treatment. |
She explains: "It was all completely free, because of my EHIC card." | She explains: "It was all completely free, because of my EHIC card." |
Earlier this year she went to Majorca with a group of friends. | Earlier this year she went to Majorca with a group of friends. |
Her health condition meant that at £60, her insurance for just one week was three times more expensive than her boyfriend's annual policy. | Her health condition meant that at £60, her insurance for just one week was three times more expensive than her boyfriend's annual policy. |
Deal or no deal | Deal or no deal |
The EHIC scheme covers the EU countries as well as Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. | The EHIC scheme covers the EU countries as well as Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. |
British people get about £150m worth of treatment a year, using the EHIC scheme. | British people get about £150m worth of treatment a year, using the EHIC scheme. |
It can be used for unexpected medical emergencies, as well as pre-existing conditions. | It can be used for unexpected medical emergencies, as well as pre-existing conditions. |
The government has made it very clear that it wants EHIC to continue, deal or no deal. | The government has made it very clear that it wants EHIC to continue, deal or no deal. |
But so far, only Spain has agreed to that. | But so far, only Spain has agreed to that. |
Portugal says it won't carry on with the scheme if there is a no-deal Brexit. But it has passed a law saying that UK tourists can still get healthcare as before, for now, if they show their passport. | Portugal says it won't carry on with the scheme if there is a no-deal Brexit. But it has passed a law saying that UK tourists can still get healthcare as before, for now, if they show their passport. |
There is a similar agreement with Ireland, too. | There is a similar agreement with Ireland, too. |
But that leaves 28 countries. | But that leaves 28 countries. |
If British people need medical help in any of them, after a no-deal Brexit, they will either need to pay or rely on travel insurance. | If British people need medical help in any of them, after a no-deal Brexit, they will either need to pay or rely on travel insurance. |
The government says it is still trying to sort more healthcare deals. | The government says it is still trying to sort more healthcare deals. |
But a spokesperson points out it "always advises UK citizens to take out comprehensive travel insurance when going overseas, both to EU and non-EU destinations. This remains our advice". | But a spokesperson points out it "always advises UK citizens to take out comprehensive travel insurance when going overseas, both to EU and non-EU destinations. This remains our advice". |
The Association of British Insurers says that if EHICs largely disappear in a no-deal Brexit "insurers will inevitably see an increase in claims costs - this could have a direct impact on the prices charged to consumers". | The Association of British Insurers says that if EHICs largely disappear in a no-deal Brexit "insurers will inevitably see an increase in claims costs - this could have a direct impact on the prices charged to consumers". |
Axa Insurance's travel director, Nel Mooy, agrees: "If nothing changes between now and 31 October and there was no deal, then I'm expecting prices to go up." | Axa Insurance's travel director, Nel Mooy, agrees: "If nothing changes between now and 31 October and there was no deal, then I'm expecting prices to go up." |
She says there are "too many unknowns" to predict how much prices could go up by but points out that travel insurance generally is not all that expensive. | She says there are "too many unknowns" to predict how much prices could go up by but points out that travel insurance generally is not all that expensive. |
She adds: "People who are not well at all already have a higher premium and therefore anything extra, I can totally appreciate that anything more, might be more difficult for them to afford." | She adds: "People who are not well at all already have a higher premium and therefore anything extra, I can totally appreciate that anything more, might be more difficult for them to afford." |
This tallies with the government's own analysis of a reasonable worst case scenario for a no-deal Brexit. | This tallies with the government's own analysis of a reasonable worst case scenario for a no-deal Brexit. |
The Operation Yellowhammer document says that people could need to pay for treatment in the EU and a minority of patients "could face substantial costs." | The Operation Yellowhammer document says that people could need to pay for treatment in the EU and a minority of patients "could face substantial costs." |
Health experts warn that even if there is a Brexit deal, EHIC may not continue after a transition period. | Health experts warn that even if there is a Brexit deal, EHIC may not continue after a transition period. |
Mark Dayan, from the Nuffield Trust, says he is not "optimistic". | Mark Dayan, from the Nuffield Trust, says he is not "optimistic". |
He explains: "EHIC is connected to the part of EU law that deals with free movement of people. | He explains: "EHIC is connected to the part of EU law that deals with free movement of people. |
"The European Union doesn't like the idea of us cherry picking only the bits we like." | "The European Union doesn't like the idea of us cherry picking only the bits we like." |
Advice for travel insurance after a no-deal Brexit | Advice for travel insurance after a no-deal Brexit |
•If you have a long-term health problem, try to find travel insurance before you book | •If you have a long-term health problem, try to find travel insurance before you book |
•See if your bank account gives you travel insurance for free | •See if your bank account gives you travel insurance for free |
•You might need to shop around with specialist providers | •You might need to shop around with specialist providers |
•Give insurers as much information as possible about where you are going to | •Give insurers as much information as possible about where you are going to |
•Annual policies could work out more expensive than shorter cover | •Annual policies could work out more expensive than shorter cover |
Follow Newsbeat on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. | Follow Newsbeat on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. |
Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here. | Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here. |