EU healthcare - any solutions?

[cynthia]

We don't live in the EU but spend several months each year there. As UK residents it looks as if we are going to lose reciprical health care rights if classed as tourists. David Davis has announce that UK expats resident in the EU before Brexit will retain their EC1H which will presumably not apply to boaties or folks with holiday homes. Anyone got any info on affordable alternative health cover?

 

[PlanB]

Firstly, I wouldn't panic till it's all sorted out - once the agreement is in place it could still take ages before member states have new systems in place.
What countries are you thinking about? Some have very affordable cover (eg Sanitas in Spain). Some have very good private healthcare at a reasonable cost (eg an MRI scan in Spain less than €300).
We self insured for years, and even after two years of really poor health and non-stop hospital, are just about even.
The big thing is if you want/need repatriation - cost a pal €20000 from Spain.

 

[Tranona]

Not sure where you got your information from, but the government has made it clear that UK will remain part of the EHIC scheme - which is not EU, but EEA. hopefully they will be able to continue the reciprocal arrangements, but have also made it clear that they will make payments into the scheme.

So, don't worry about it, you are unlikely to see any difference other than maybe procedures for using the EHIC may change.

There is enough scaremongering about without adding a groundless one.

 

[cynthia]

The

Not groundless scaremongering as this was reported by all major news sources today including BBC. Neither am I making a political point. We spend in excess of 90 days per annum in the EU which is more than any travel type insurance policy seems to cover. Just wondered if anyone has a simple solution to this potential problem.

 

[GrahamM376]

Not sure where you got your information from, but the government has made it clear that UK will remain part of the EHIC scheme - which is not EU, but EEA. hopefully they will be able to continue the reciprocal arrangements, but have also made it clear that they will make payments into the scheme.

So, don't worry about it, you are unlikely to see any difference other than maybe procedures for using the EHIC may change.

There is enough scaremongering about without adding a groundless one.

Things just may change, depending on what agreements are made regarding residency for ex pats. Technically it's the country of residence which issues the EHIC to its residents so, if a UK ex pat is officially resident in another EC country, they should issue the card, not the UK. At the moment, with us having freedom of movement, most countries aren't too concerned about which State is one's official residence but, after Brexit, who knows?

 

[JamesFrance]

As a British holder of Form S1 and French resident there was a time when I was issued with a French EHIC, but the system was changed a few years ago and now I have a UK issued one instead.

 

[BobnLesley]

... We spend in excess of 90 days per annum in the EU which is more than any travel type insurance policy seems to cover...

Provided that you have a real UK address for repatriation purposes, then Google 'bluefin-bishop skinner' we've been on their worldwide policy for about five years - since leaving the Canaries - and had the misfortune to need to call on the policy; they were brilliant! I've not checked, but I believe there's a Europe-specific policy too if you're just in the Med; policy periods up to 12 months and most important for many: Unlike the policies offered by many insurance companies, you don't have to be in the UK when you renew the policy.

 

[nortada]

Going back the OP's title; until a problem is identified it is impossible to suggest a solution.

As to groundless scaremongering, both the popular press and the BBC have PhDs in it!

Possibly a link to the original report would provide a good starting point.

 

[GrahamM376]

Going back the OP's title; until a problem is identified it is impossible to suggest a solution.

One solution is to take out residence in an EU state before Brexit, quite simple if you can provide an address, which could be a property short term rented for the purpose.

Permanent residence in Portugal for instance gives right to state health care at the same cost as a national. Register at local health centre. Theoretically, should be able to get an EHIC card issued but I haven't bothered so far.

Unfortunately, many health centres (centro de saude) are refusing treatment to visitors using EHIC, insisting they go to hospital emergency dept.

 

[Tranona]

Not groundless scaremongering as this was reported by all major news sources today including BBC. Neither am I making a political point. We spend in excess of 90 days per annum in the EU which is more than any travel type insurance policy seems to cover. Just wondered if anyone has a simple solution to this potential problem.

You need to look at who is putting the "spin" on the story. The Independent is consistent in its negative views on Brexit and is invariably proved wrong in its speculation.

It is true there is no agreement yet - just as there is no agreement on a whole range of issues. HMG has always said that it hopes the existing EHIC will continue or it will negotiate an arrangement that retains the benefit. Remember it is not an EU scheme but a reciprocal scheme involving EEA countries and also that if the UK is excluded, we will also exclude all Europeans from access to our health service. Not sure other members of the EU will accept this, yet another reason for why it probably won't happen.

The travel insurance industry currently sells policies predicated on people first using the reciprocal arrangements so is actually of very limited or no use as an alternative.

No point in thinking about what happens if we don't have a reciprocal scheme as firstly there is nothing we can do as individuals about it and secondly there are no insurance products currently on the market to consider.

So, wait until you know what is agreed. In the unlikely event of there being no reciprocal agreement, no doubt there will be a mass of products coming on the market to fill the gap. If there is, prepare for another rash of mis-selling!

 

[Heckler]

We don't live in the EU but spend several months each year there. As UK residents it looks as if we are going to lose reciprical health care rights if classed as tourists. David Davis has announce that UK expats resident in the EU before Brexit will retain their EC1H which will presumably not apply to boaties or folks with holiday homes. Anyone got any info on affordable alternative health cover?

We pay Barclays a monthly fee of £10.95 iirc for our bank account. Get free get you home car breakdown which was a deal when we had two cars but more importantly we get free travel health insurance which covers us up to 12 miles offshore, and free repatriation. The only catch is, max a month at a time. Not cumulative. So if we go for any longer we use Blue Fin.
Used it two years ago in Portugal, they actually paid for a consultant, cam down throat and test for cancer! What was interesting, waiting for the consultant results took us iver the month, they said no probs.
Stu

 

[cynthia]

Thanks to everyone for all the useful info. Hopefully the ECIH will still be valid after Brexit, but good to know there are sensible alternative health cover schemes available.

 

[Tranona]

Thanks to everyone for all the useful info. Hopefully the ECIH will still be valid after Brexit, but good to know there are sensible alternative health cover schemes available.

Not sure what you mean by sensible alternatives. The policies referred to are not alternatives to the EHIC, but specialist medical insurance to enable you to use private providers (if the insurer agrees). They have their place for certain situations but are usually very expensive or very restrictive.

As I said earlier, there is not a "private" insurance based alternative to the EHIC simply because there is no market. In the unlikely event the government fails to negotiate a viable reciprocal deal then as I suggested insurers will offer paid for alternatives which will be very different from the products currently on offer. You can only guess what they might be like because you can only guess what the risks might be.

I read the two articles on the subject - and there is nothing new in them, because there has been no negotiation on the subject. It is the usual press tactic of filling a vacuum by reprinting old stuff with a spin on it. As you see the two who publish this "story" are well known for trying to find negatives and creating "issues" where none actually exist or have been known about for a long time.

BTW the situation for UK citizens resident in the EU is very different from tourists and the negotiation is about their rights (and the rights of EU citizens currently in UK) in the current round - part of the "divorce" talks, whereas the future of the reciprocal arrangements will be part of post Brexit discussions.

 

[Sea Devil]

Before the EU existed when I travelled to 'Europe' there was a reciprocal 'letter' which entitled me to local hospital treatment and the money was recovered later from the UK by the country I was in... I suspect something similar will exist after Brexit.

Anecdotally I sailed into Phuket with a 3 month 'holiday travel' insurance and a gall bladder that had rotted and needed urgent - immediate medical treatment. The international hospital performed the operation which I intended paying for with my credit card but asked if I had insurance and I got the document from the boat and the hospital claimed against the insurance and was paid. The only question the insurers asked me was ' when did you arrive in Phuket? I honestly said 3 days ago and they did not go onto ask me when I left the UK,,,

I think what I am saying, having looked carefully at health insurance, is that short term treatment - car accident, appendicitis probably will be covered by a pretty basic 'holiday travel insurance policy. If you need longer treatment - cancer treatment et al then they will patch you up enough for you to be able to get home but they will not hand out long term treatment.

As Spanish residents we are in the excellent Spanish NHS but I suspect that if there is a hard Brexit that situation may change and we could be treated in the same way as American or Australians in Spain. - Not be entitled to the NHS except for emergency cover.... Not going to panic about it but I am considering regaining my UK health registration by registering with a UK doctor using a family members UK address - Other than a car crash - there are not too many medical problems that can not withstand a first class airfare back to the UK..
We live in interesting times

 

[Flica]

We don't live in the EU but spend several months each year there. As UK residents it looks as if we are going to lose reciprical health care rights if classed as tourists. David Davis has announce that UK expats resident in the EU before Brexit will retain their EC1H which will presumably not apply to boaties or folks with holiday homes. Anyone got any info on affordable alternative health cover?

Long before we joined the EU, our NHS had reciprocal rights with health systems in Germany, France, Spain and Croatia. I used them.
Your basic premise, that Brexit will terminate such reciprocity is probably incorrect.

In any case, with incompetents like Fox, Davis and May in charge I doubt Brexit will ever come to fruition, even with Dacre's unbalanced support and Murdoch's assistance.

 

[Poignard]

I have no travel insurance. I take the view that if I am taken ill, or injured, in Europe (I have no desire to travel anywhere else) I will gratefully accept whatever healthcare is available to an itinerant.

As regards repatriation, I can't imagine why I would want it, I would rather stay there; to die or be cured as fate decrees.

 

[macd]

Long before we joined the EU, our NHS had reciprocal rights with health systems in...Croatia.

Perhaps not, although I share your general point.

The UK also has current reciprocal healthcare arrangements with over a dozen countries not in the EEA, although many of them are small. On the other hand, healthcare arrangements with much of the former USSR were terminated last year. Lesson: things change. No point responding to the change until you know what it is. (And , more to the point, potential insurers know what it is, since until they offer it, it can't be bought.)

 

[Sea Devil]

I have no travel insurance. I take the view that if I am taken ill, or injured, in Europe (I have no desire to travel anywhere else) I will gratefully accept whatever healthcare is available to an itinerant.

As regards repatriation, I can't imagine why I would want it, I would rather stay there; to die or be cured as fate decrees.

I met a fellow sailor who following an uninsured accident had to sell his boat to pay for the hospital fees.....

The problem with 'Europe' is that we will be foreigners just as Americans, Australians, Japanese are in terms of 'free' medical cover if the EU decides that is the course they take because.... Personally I would not travel to the USA without medical cover nor Asia... Obama care in the USA is an issue because if you are not insured you will not get treated. I watched an old lady dying in the gutter in Port of Spain -

There could be issues for us in Europe or not but it's worth watching the solution or non solution for those of us who are ex-pats

 

[macd]

There could be issues for us in Europe or not but it's worth watching the solution or non solution for those of us who are ex-pats

It was widely reported a month ago that Barnier and Davies had agreed that EHIC cover would continue for ex-pats (i.e. UK nationals formally residing in other EU states, presumably also including Switzerland and the three EEA members, although I'm not sure how Barnier could negotiate for them.) There appears to have been no such agreement yet for visitors although, as said, the UK govt has indicated a desire that the UK remain part of the EEA healthcare arrangement.

 

[Tranona]

I have no travel insurance. I take the view that if I am taken ill, or injured, in Europe (I have no desire to travel anywhere else) I will gratefully accept whatever healthcare is available to an itinerant.

As regards repatriation, I can't imagine why I would want it, I would rather stay there; to die or be cured as fate decrees.

Agree with that basic approach - at least in Europe. Although I have travelled all over the world I was always covered by my employer's insurance - but never actually needed it.

Interestingly the only long trip outside Europe on my own was a month to NZ 4 years ago and given my known medical conditions I did get insurance but cost over £500 for the month. Of course no problems and no claim.

Now, having undergone surgery and a kidney transplant which actually removes just about all the negatives of my previous condition, I am starting to travel again. So going to Corfu for a week later this month. Best quote so far is just under £800! My only concern is having to cancel the holiday before we start as I have paid fares and hotel up front. However, you don't seem to be able to buy this cover on its own as EHIC will cover me when I am there (the main hospital is 100m from the hotel). So current thinking is to go uninsured.

Looking to the future, I have no doubt that some form of reciprocal deal for visitors will be negotiated as there does not seem to be any resistance in Europe. Even if it is not state funded a contributory scheme would not be expensive.