Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the European Health Insurance Card system will be available to all citizens who are ordinarily resident in the UK in the event that the UK has left the EU; and if he will make a statement.

The current structure of European Union rules and regulations will apply during the implementation period, and this includes cover under the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) scheme.

We have reached an agreement with the EU on reciprocal healthcare arrangements (including EHIC rights) for individuals covered by the scope of the Withdrawal Agreement.

We welcome the progress that has been made, but as set out in our July 2018 White Paper on the future relationship with the EU, we want continued participation in the EHIC scheme overall.