 |
answer text |
<p>The United Kingdom Government appreciates the importance of retaining reciprocal
healthcare arrangements with the European Union and has been clear in the negotiations
that it wants to protect the rights of UK citizens in the EU. Extensive work to prepare
for a ‘no deal’ scenario, including contingency planning, has been under way for over
two years and we are taking necessary steps to ensure the country continues to operate
smoothly from the day we leave.</p><p> </p><p>Subject to the Withdrawal Agreement
being agreed by Parliament, during the implementation period the current rules on
reciprocal healthcare will continue until December 2020. The rights of UK nationals
living in the EU, and who fall within the scope of the Withdrawal Agreement, will
continue to be protected after December 2020, for as long as these individuals remain
in scope of the Withdrawal Agreement. This includes state pensioners already benefiting
from that cover.</p><p> </p><p>In the event that the UK exits the EU without a deal,
EU citizens resident in the UK by 29 March 2019 will be able to stay and continue
to access in country benefits and services, including healthcare, on broadly the same
terms as now. This demonstrates the UK Government’s ongoing commitment to citizens
and removes any ambiguity over their future. We are engaging with EU counterparts
to urge them to make the same commitment to protect the rights of UK nationals in
the EU.</p><p> </p><p>The reciprocal healthcare system requires reciprocity from the
EU or individual Member States and cannot be protected unilaterally. The UK Government
is seeking agreements with Member States, so that no individual, including retired
UK citizen living in other EU Member States, will face sudden changes to their healthcare
cover.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has published updated advice for UK persons resident
in countries in the European Economic Area as well as for those wishing to travel
to such countries with specific information on potential changes to access to reciprocal
healthcare and precautions they may wish to take in the event of a ‘no deal’ scenario.</p><p>
</p><p>General information is available on the GOV.UK website and country-specific
advice can be found under the relevant sections of NHS.UK as well. This includes guidance
for UK citizens living in European countries and suggestions on alternative arrangements
they may wish to make, should existing arrangements such as the European Health Insurance
Card scheme cease, which appears as a section under the profile of each individual
country.</p><p> </p><p>The information provided on these pages will be updated in
light of new developments and changing circumstances.</p>
|
|
