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Home Help for British nationals overseas Europe

Guidance
Healthcare after Brexit: visiting the
EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein
and Switzerland

How healthcare access might change for UK residents after

the UK leaves the EU.

Published 28 January 2019

Last updated 28 August 2019 — see all updates
From: Department of Health and Social Care

Contents
Related content
— Stay up to date
— What you need to do EEA EFTA Separation Agreement and
Explainer
— European Health Insurance Cards (EHIC)
— Pre-existing health conditions Living in Norway
— Travel insurance EEA EFTA No Deal Citizens' Rights
— Studying or working abroad Agreement and Explainer
— Visiting Ireland Swiss Citizens’ Rights Agreement and
Explainer

Living in Switzerland

Stay up to date
The UK will leave the EU on 31 October. This page tells you how to
prepare for Brexit. It will be updated if anything changes, including if
a deal is agreed.

Sign up for email alerts to get the latest information.

What you need to do

If you are travelling to any country in the EU, or to Norway, Iceland,
Liechtenstein or Switzerland before or after Brexit, you should:

get travel insurance to cover the duration of your trip

speak to your doctor and insurance provider before you travel if you have a
pre-existing health condition

European Health Insurance Cards (EHIC)

Visiting an EU country

UK-issued EHICs will remain valid until the UK leaves the EU, or if your
treatment started before exit day.

You can apply for an EHIC on the NHS website.

Your EHIC may not be valid if there is a no-deal Brexit. Check the Foreign and
Commonwealth Office (FCO) travel advice or NHS country guides for the
latest information on the country you plan to visit.

An EHIC does not replace travel insurance. You should have both when you
travel abroad. For example, if you become unwell or need healthcare while
you are abroad, an EHIC will not cover the costs of bringing you back to the
UK.

UK nationals visiting Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland

If your visit starts before exit day, your EHIC will remain valid for the duration
of your trip.

If your visit starts after Brexit and there is no deal, your EHIC may not be
valid.

Pre-existing health conditions

You must tell your insurance company about any pre-existing health
conditions you have. Speak to your GP and insurer about how to get the right
cover, and how this affects your travel.

Make plans for how to manage your condition when you are abroad. Ask your
doctor in the UK for advice before you travel.

Take a health condition identification or letter with you when you travel. This
should say what medication you are taking.

Travel insurance
It is important to take out comprehensive travel insurance when you go
abroad, both to EU and non-EU destinations. You should continue to buy
travel insurance if you are planning to travel after Brexit.

Check that your insurance has the necessary healthcare coverage to ensure
you can get any treatment you might need. For example, if you have a pre-
existing condition.

If you already have travel insurance, check with your insurer if there will be
any changes to how your policy works after Brexit. Speak to your insurance
company if you have any questions about what your travel insurance policy
covers.

For more information on travel insurance including healthcare cover, visit the
Association of British Insurers website.

Studying or working abroad

Studying or working in an EU country

Your EHIC or A1 National Insurance form may not be valid if there is a no-deal
Brexit. You should consider buying comprehensive insurance to cover your
healthcare for the full length of your course or placement.

Check the NHS country guides for the latest information on the country you
are studying in

Studying in Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland

Your UK-issued EHIC will remain valid for the duration of your course, as long
as you stay on it. You need to:

enrol on your course before the date the UK leaves the EU

enter the country you’re studying in before the date the UK leaves the EU

Find out more about healthcare access if you are:

living or working abroad

studying abroad

Visiting Ireland
British citizens visiting Ireland will be able to access healthcare in the same
way as before Brexit.

Irish citizens visiting the UK

Irish citizens visiting the UK will continue to be able to access healthcare in

the same way as before Brexit.

Published 28 January 2019

Last updated 28 August 2019 + show all updates

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