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The European Health Insurance Card and a UK Exit from the EU Health Articles | January 24, 2015
What would happen to the very useful European Health Insurance Card system in the event the United Kingdom left the European Union (EU)? The UK and Europe Let’s be clear up front – this ...
What would happen to the very useful European Health Insurance Card system in the event the United Kingdom left the European Union (EU)?
The UK and Europe
Let’s be clear up front – this article is entirely neutral as to the pros and cons of the UK staying in or leaving the European Union. That is a matter for political debate. What is clear, though, is that something that would only a few years ago have been inconceivable - a UK exit - is now a very real possibility sometime in the second half of the second decade of this century. No doubt there will be intense political argument on this issue between 2015 and 2017 Black Kahale Warring Jersey , including during the coming general election period. Yet in terms of more mundane issues, what effect would an exit be likely to have on the European Health Insurance Card system?
In past times
Just in case you didn’t know, the EHIC is a piece of plastic that you can take with you when leaving the UK for another EU member state destination. If you need urgent medical treatment while you are abroad, it will allow you to obtain it on the same basis as a local citizen. What that means is that if such treatment would be free to them, then it should be free to you too.
It’s sometimes overlooked Black Max Scharping Jersey , though, that long before the system and its predecessor the E111 were introduced, many millions of people from the UK still went on holiday - and not only to Western Europe but all over the world. In those days, they would usually cover the risks of incurring medical expenses by purchasing appropriate holiday travel insurance. In fact, even with the European Health Insurance Card Black Lonnie Johnson Jr. Jersey , that is still highly advisable, as the EHIC system doesn’t cover every conceivable medical expense you might incur should you meet with accident or illness when on holiday or travelling for business. Even so, nobody seriously disputes that EHIC has been a major boost in terms of increasing traveller confidence and also helping to keep down the cost of travel insurance.
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