UK residents visiting the EU, EFTA and Switzerland: Healthcare
Information on healthcare for UK residents visiting the European Union (EU) and the European Free Trade Area (EFTA), if the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
The government has proposed to EU Member States and EFTA states (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland) to maintain the existing healthcare arrangements in a no-deal scenario.
This offer will apply until December 2020 with the aim of minimising disruption to healthcare provision for UK nationals and EU and EFTAcitizens.
This means the UK government will continue to pay for healthcare costs for current or former UK residents who are living or working in or visiting the EU. The government wants to work with EU partners to reach such agreements.
But if countries do not agree to extend the existing healthcare arrangements, your access to healthcare when visiting the EU and EFTA may change and become like arrangements in the rest of the world.
If you become medically unwell, or require healthcare overseas, the UK does not routinely cover the costs of bringing people back to the UK.
You should check advice before travelling. Find out more about accessing healthcare in countries in the EU or EFTA.
Travel insurance
The government always advises UK citizens to take out comprehensive travel insurance when going overseas, both to EU and non-EU destinations.
If you are planning to visit a country in the EU or EFTA on or after the UK exits the EU, you should continue to buy travel insurance. Make sure that any insurance product you buy has the necessary healthcare coverage to ensure you can get any treatment you might need.
You should make sure you understand the terms and conditions of your travel insurance policy and that the policy is sufficient to cover your healthcare needs. Most travel insurance policies will cover emergency treatment as standard but please check as some treatments may not be covered in the country you are visiting.
If you have questions about what your travel insurance policy covers, or whether the policy is sufficient, you should contact your insurance company.
For more information on travel insurance including healthcare, visit the Association of British Insurers website.
In the event of a no-deal scenario where EHIC is no longer valid, it is particularly important to check the small print to make sure insurance covers your healthcare needs.
European Health Insurance Cards (EHIC)
If you have an EHIC issued by the UK, this may not be valid in the event of a no-deal scenario, depending on decisions by and arrangements with individual countries. Go to the NHS website for the latest information on each country.
Studying and working in the EU and EFTA
You are strongly advised to buy comprehensive insurance to cover your healthcare for the full duration of your placement as you would if visiting a non-EU country.
If you are a UK resident and in education or training in a country in the EU, your EHIC and/or A1 National Insurance form may not be valid if the UK leaves with no deal.
If you are a UK resident and in education or training in an EEA EFTA state or Switzerland, your healthcare rights may be protected by the citizens’ rights agreements we have reached with those countries.
If you are not covered by these agreements, then you are strongly advised to buy comprehensive insurance.
If you usually live in the UK and you are working in the EU or EFTA temporarily and you have an A1 National Insurance form and an EHIC, it will be valid until the UK leaves the EU. It may not be valid after this date and you should buy travel insurance to cover your healthcare.
Find out more about healthcare:
People with pre-existing health conditions
If you have a pre-existing health condition, you should buy medical travel insurance before visiting countries in the EU or EFTA. You must tell the insurance company about any health conditions you have, to make sure you can get the cover you need. If you have an EHIC, this may not be valid in the event of a no-deal scenario.
Ask your doctor in the UK for advice before you travel and make plans for how to manage your condition when you are abroad. You should also take your health condition identification or letter saying what medication you are taking.
Agreement with Switzerland
The UK has agreed a Citizens’ Rights Agreement with Switzerland in both a deal and a no-deal scenario.
Agreement with EFTA states
The UK has agreed citizens’ rights arrangements with the EFTA states for both a deal and a no-deal scenario.
Agreement with Ireland
British citizens who live in Ireland and Irish citizens who live in the UK will continue to have the right to access healthcare there. This is because of longstanding arrangements under the Common Travel Area.
Both governments are committed to continuing to help people access healthcare after the UK leaves the EU.
Published 28 January 2019
Last updated 19 March 2019 + show all updates
Last updated 19 March 2019 + show all updates
