AQW 12342/17-22

Mr Stewart Dickson
Alliance Party
East Antrim

Tabled Date: 30/12/2020
Answered On Date: 20/01/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to detail what the arrangements for the European Health Insurance Card will be for people in Northern Ireland from 1 January 2021.

Answer:

At the end of the Transition Period, under the terms of the Protocol on Social Security Coordination in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement agreed by the UK and the EU, UK insured people will be able to access needs arising care while visiting the EU.

A UK issued European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) will continue to be accepted until the individuals entitlement expires, at which point, the application will be for the new UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC).

As with the EHIC, the GHIC will continue to cover state healthcare (but not private treatment) and a card holder will be able to get emergency or necessary medical care in the country they are visiting. However it will currently not cover care in Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland.

For those who fall under the terms of the EU Withdrawal Agreement, including all EU citizens (and their family) who were living in Northern Ireland before the 31 December 2020, will be able to apply for a legacy EHIC card.

It remains that an EHIC or GHIC is not a replacement for travel insurance as they do not cover everything, such as mountain rescue or being flown back to the UK (medical repatriation). It is still the position of the Department to recommend the travelers have both before they travel.

Up to date guidance and application portal can be found at https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/healthcare-abroad/apply-for-a-free-ehic-european-health-insurance-card/