Staff Reporter
MILLIONS of families could see holiday bills skyrocket if Britain leaves the EU without a deal due to the loss of European Health Insurance Cards (EHIC).
It comes as holidaymakers are already seeing their holiday spending money shrink, with the pound plunging to record lows against other currencies.
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More than 4.5 million under-16s carry the cards, which give travellers the right to access state-provided healthcare while travelling in Europe, either free or at a reduced charge.
But the cards would become redundant in a no-deal scenario, leaving families on the hook for their own health insurance as they go on holiday.
Labour’s Deputy Leader Tom Watson said: “The Brexit chaos caused by the Tory Party could mean that millions of families face extra charges to go on holiday.
“Over the school summer holidays, families across the country will have saved and planned for a holiday to spend special, quality time together, but this Prime Minister’s mishandling of Brexit could make holiday prices rocket.
“Boris Johnson ’s reckless, senseless approach to Brexit will leave working families worse off. He must urgently rethink and take no deal off the table.”
Research carried out by Labour suggests travel insurance for a couple in their 70s to go to Spain would cost an extra £108.
NHS guidance says access to healthcare in the EU is ‘likely to change’ if Britain leaves the EU without a deal.
The guidance urges people planning to travel on or after October 31, 2019 to buy travel insurance ‘as you would if visiting a non-EU country’.
Spain has publicly committed to healthcare access for resident and visiting UK nationals.
If as the article quotes “Spain has publicly committed to healthcare access for resident and visiting UK nationals” is the headline “COULD skyrocket”?
Yet another Scare Story.
It is true they MIGHT go up, but COULD come down if there are more customers buying insurance or a new BIG player thinks it’s worth getting into the business.
I know this is out of date but:-
SPANISH Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has tried to calm British expats in Spain by saying a no-deal Brexit will not affect their rights.
Even if Britain leaves the European Union on March 29 without a deal, the 300,000 Brits registered in Spain will be protected, said Spain’s leader.