Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 4 December 2018 to Question 197312 on Out of Area Treatment: Northern Ireland, what assent has been given to the Government by each EU Member State on entering into reciprocal agreements with individual EU Member States to ensure the maintenance of (a) healthcare for (i) pensioners, (ii) workers, (iii) students, (iv) tourists and (v) other visitors, (b) the European Health Insurance Card scheme and (c) planned treatment.

The agreement we have reached with the European Union is that during the implementation period all reciprocal healthcare rights will continue and there will be no changes to healthcare for pensioners, workers, students, tourists and other visitors, the European Health Insurance Card scheme, or planned treatment. The Healthcare (International Arrangements) Bill will then allow us to implement a deal regarding our future healthcare relationship with the EU.

A deal remains in the best interests of the United Kingdom. However, as a responsible Government we are planning for all outcomes.

Our offer to all Member States is to maintain reciprocal healthcare arrangements bilaterally in a no deal, including for pensioners, workers, students, tourists and other visitors and others along with the current administrative arrangements including reimbursement of healthcare costs, for a transitional period lasting no less than the Implementation Period (i.e. 31 December 2020).

Talks with Ireland on the Common Travel Area are progressing well on ensuring that UK and Irish people can easily obtain healthcare when they live in, work in or visit the UK and Ireland.