Asked by: Catherine West (Labour - Hornsey and Wood Green)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential effects on (a) the use of European Health Insurance Cards and (b) other medical insurance for British citizens at the end of the transition period in the event of (i) an agreement being reached and (ii) no agreement being reached with the EU.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
From January 2021, those people protected under the Withdrawal Agreement will continue to be entitled to a United Kingdom issued European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). For those not covered by the Withdrawal Agreement, their EHIC may not be valid from January 2021.
For people not covered by the Withdrawal Agreement, the future of reciprocal healthcare arrangements between the UK and European Union are subject to negotiations.
The UK has set out that it is ready to work to establish practical, reciprocal healthcare provisions with the EU for the future. The UK is open to arrangements that provide healthcare cover for tourists, short-term business visitors and service providers. These arrangements could benefit UK nationals and EU citizens travelling or moving between the UK.
The Department will be continuing to monitor the impact of future reciprocal healthcare arrangements including on the groups which may be most affected.
Asked by: Lord Bowness (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress has been made in negotiations with the EU or bilaterally with individual member states on continued mutual recognition of (1) drivers licences, (2) EHIC cards, and (3) disabled blue parking badges.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
The recognition of both driving licenses and blue badges is a member state competence and the Government is seeking to secure both with EU members via bilateral agreements. Discussions are ongoing in both of these areas. UK motorists will still be able to drive in the EU with their UK Driving Licence but some EU countries may require an International Driving Permit, which is available now from the Post Office. The UK Government is currently negotiating with the EU on future reciprocal healthcare arrangements as part of the negotiating group on ‘mobility and social security coordination’.
Asked by: Lord Hain (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether (1) people living in Northern Ireland will be able to access blood transfusions, health treatment and educational provision in the Republic of Ireland, and (2) people living in the Republic of Ireland will be able to access blood transfusions, health treatment and educational provision in Northern Ireland, after December 2020.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Government has been clear in its commitment to uphold the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement in all its parts, including formal North-South cooperation. Health and education are two of the areas of cooperation.
In accordance with the 8 May 2019 Memorandum of Understanding between the UK and Irish Governments, the reciprocal rights for British and Irish citizens associated with the Common Travel Area will continue after December 2020. These arrangements include access to healthcare services and education.
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he has taken to prevent copycat EHIC websites from charging applicants for European Health Insurance Cards.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
Internet search engines are repeatedly reviewed for copycat websites, with data reported to relevant parties and subsequent removal of the copycat websites. Government Digital Service leads on a cross Government group investing in tackling phishing and scamming activities across public services. We also collaborate with other organisations that are able to take action against the owners of these sites and provide evidence to the National Trading Standards Board e-crime unit to assist with on-going prosecutions.
Asked by: Jonathan Ashworth (Labour (Co-op) - Leicester South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 10 February 2020 to Question 12225 on Mental Health Services: Reciprocal Arrangements, what enforcement action will be taken to ensure that companies comply with the Financial Conduct Authority's guidance to improve access to travel insurance for all consumers with medical conditions; and in the event that companies do not comply with that guidance, what consequences will apply.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
New rules and guidance published by the FCA on Wednesday 5th February require firms to signpost consumers with mental health conditions to specialist providers when they are declined travel insurance cover on account of their condition.
Insurers must treat customers fairly and firms are required to do so under the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) rules. Furthermore, the FCA also states that an insurer’s communications should be clear, fair and not misleading.
If consumers believe they have been treated unfairly by their insurer, or if they believe that their insurer has not communicated with them in a clear manner, they should first make a formal complaint to the insurer, before referring the matter to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
It is for regulators to determine the powers they use to address problems in the markets they regulate. They are authorised to impose fines, order injunctions, bring criminal prosecution and issue public censure when disciplinary action against a firm or individual is taken. The FCA sets out their enforcement powers on their website.
Asked by: Jonathan Ashworth (Labour (Co-op) - Leicester South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 10 February 2020 to Question 12225 on Mental Health Services: Reciprocal Arrangements, how people with mental health conditions seeking travel insurance will be made aware of the risk that they might be declined cover; and what rights those people will have to challenge such a decision.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
New rules and guidance published by the FCA on Wednesday 5th February require firms to signpost consumers with mental health conditions to specialist providers when they are declined travel insurance cover on account of their condition.
Insurers must treat customers fairly and firms are required to do so under the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) rules. Furthermore, the FCA also states that an insurer’s communications should be clear, fair and not misleading.
If consumers believe they have been treated unfairly by their insurer, or if they believe that their insurer has not communicated with them in a clear manner, they should first make a formal complaint to the insurer, before referring the matter to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
It is for regulators to determine the powers they use to address problems in the markets they regulate. They are authorised to impose fines, order injunctions, bring criminal prosecution and issue public censure when disciplinary action against a firm or individual is taken. The FCA sets out their enforcement powers on their website.
Asked by: Jonathan Ashworth (Labour (Co-op) - Leicester South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 10 February 2020 to Question 12225 on Mental Health Services: Reciprocal Arrangements, what discussions officials of his Department has had with officials of the Treasury on the importance of people with health conditions getting travel insurance with adequate cover after European Health Insurance Card arrangements cease; and what negotiations the UK Government plans to conduct with the European Commission on safeguarding UK travellers with health conditions.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
Regardless of any future healthcare arrangements, people who have moved to the UK / EU before 31 December 2020, will continue to have life-long reciprocal healthcare rights provided they remain covered under the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement.
For individuals who are not, or who cease to be, covered by the Withdrawal Agreement, we will consider addressing future social security coordination arrangements, which includes reciprocal healthcare cover, with the EU.
The Government advises that UK citizens check that any policy they buy provides comprehensive cover for their medical conditions when going overseas, both to EU and non-EU destinations. This remains our advice.
Asked by: Barbara Keeley (Labour - Worsley and Eccles South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to ensure equitable access for people with past or present mental health problems for travel to travel insurance after the EU transition period.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
From 1 January 2021, it will be particularly important to get travel insurance with the right cover if you have a pre-existing medical condition. This is because the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) will only be valid up to 31 December 2020.
On 5 February, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published new rules and guidance to improve access to travel insurance for all consumers with medical conditions, including those with mental health conditions.
Included within the FCA’s rules is a requirement for firms to signpost consumers to specialist providers if they are declined cover, offered cover with an exclusion, or charged a significantly higher premium based on their medical condition.
Asked by: Baroness Quin (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking, if any, to ensure continued access for British citizens to health services in the EU after Brexit, including continued access to the benefits of the European Health Insurance Card.
Answered by Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford
The agreement we have reached with the European Union is that until 31 December 2020 there will be no changes to reciprocal healthcare access for pensioners, workers, students, tourists and other visitors, the European Health Insurance Card scheme, or planned treatment.
People who have settled in the EU or United Kingdom before 31 December 2020, will continue to have life-long reciprocal healthcare rights provided they remain covered under the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement. This means existing healthcare arrangements will not change for those UK nationals who are resident in the EU and EU citizens in the UK before 31 December 2020, for as long as they are living in that country and covered by the agreement.
We want to continue discussing the future of reciprocal healthcare arrangements with the EU as part of the future relationship discussions.
Asked by: Ruth George (Labour - High Peak)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Answer of 9 September 2019 to Question 284706, what advice the Government has issued to UK citizens travelling in the EU that require treatments not routinely covered by travel insurance policies after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
The United Kingdom Government has proposed to all Member States that we should maintain existing reciprocal healthcare arrangements until 31 December 2020 if the UK leaves the European Union without a deal. This includes the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) which can support UK residents with long term conditions travelling to the EU who may require needs arising treatment.
The Government understands the concerns of patients with long term conditions and is working to secure the continuation of reciprocal healthcare arrangements, so UK and EU nationals have access to medical treatment in the same way they do now.
Guidance for travelling to the EU after EU exit is available on gov.uk, available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/uk-residents-visiting-the-eueea-and-switzerland-healthcare
The UK Government is advising people with pre-existing or long term medical conditions to also check the Money and Pensions Advice Service which has information on their website for people about their options for purchasing travel insurance. Further information is available at the following link:
www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/travel-insurance-for-over-65s-and-medical-conditions