What is an EHIC and how does it work?
The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is free and entitles you to free or reduced-cost medical treatment throughout the EU plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Norway. In effect, you will be treated as a resident of the country you are visiting. Be aware that the EHIC applies only to treatment in state hospitals and you may still have to pay something towards the cost of treatment if the condition is serious, so it is important that you also have travel insurance with medical benefits. Some insurers may even reduce or waive your excess if you have an EHIC. In some countries, you may have to pay for treatment up-front and reclaim the cost upon your return to the UK. Visit the NHS Choices website to find out what your EHIC covers in each participating country.
What should I do about an EHIC now?
It is likely to be some time before Britain exits the EU (in all likelihood, at least two years after Article 50 is triggered). Until then (and perhaps for some time afterwards) EHICs will still be valid. If you plan to holiday in Europe and do not have an EHIC, then get one. An EHIC has five-year validity, is available free of charge via the NHS website www.nhs.uk/ehic and normally takes no more than seven days to process. (Beware of any websites purporting to facilitate the provision of EHICs for a fee). If you already have an EHIC card, make sure that it is up to date. An EHIC has a five-year validity and you can find the expiry date on the bottom right of the card.