Does this mean none of us can go to France/Germany/Spain /Italy etc etc

Poor mum.

But again, if I may- Mexico is not EU- she would have not been covered by EHIC in Mexico either. In EU, they would have accepted EHIC - and if in France, for instance- a transfer by private car to UK would have be OK in the vast majority of cases. As said, even routine dialysis was included with EHIC.
If staying with family or friends, accommodation is not a problem- and in France or EU, very cheap to rent a small place for a short period of time.

Quizqueen Our expired EU gym membership entitled us to use all the facilities which that gym group provided across its several premises and many different exercise rooms. Now that we have cancelled our membership, we can't use any of those gyms, but the EU doesn't care which other gyms we use - it is just up to us to join those others and negotiate our membership. If we don't join any gyms as members, then we pay per use and put up with the inconvenience and extra cost. As for exercise, we could always run for the bus, but we may have already missed it.

The system of reciprocal health care is widely misunderstood. It means in general that if we have a reciprocal health care agreement with a particular country, we would get the same health care as a citizen of that country would receive. However, this may not be anywhere near as comprehensive as the NHS. That’s why as many have said, you always need your own insurance. Some policies waived the excess if you had some treatment under the EHIC but obviously that will go.

We have just returned from Germany walking through Mosel vineyards. Very safe there - masks and distancing everywhere and well controlled. We do still have E111 cover until Dec. When I had to use this a few years ago for a week’s stay in hospital it covered everything except the ambulance, although we do have annual travel insurance as well (no Covid cover though). Brilliant system and one of the very many disadvantages of us leaving the EU - not that there are any advantages that I know of!

A lot of fuss about nothing - just get health insurance instead of using Green Card. Not much difference to the days when we weren't in the Common Market. But who would want to go to Europe anyway at the moment with Covid around!

Needs stating that travel insurance doesn’t just cover medical costs etc but covers cancellation (for unforeseen events), loss or theft of belongings etc.

We’ve all seen the GoFundMe appeals for folks daft enough to depend on E111 - all for the sake of £50!

For Green Card substitute E111.

It will be easier for me to travel to Australia regarding health insurance as we have a reciprocal arrangement than it will be to
travel to my birth country Germany to see my family. I will have to take out expensive travel insurance (I’m 70+), thanks
to the people who voted to leave the EU without knowing the
full consequences.
Best not say more....??

It only took one cancelled holidays to recover all the costs of my 10 years worldwide travel insurance.

It wasnt even me that was poorly!

One easy form, money in my bank within a week. Good old Nationwide?

I can't understand anyone going to Europe without private insurance! You have to for other countries so why the big deal? My mother lived in the south of France with a french family for a year before the war (1937-1938) and a friend studied at the Sorbonne just after the war, so peop!e did manage to go to Europe long before the EU and cope with the vagaries of a foreign country without much trouble!

I'm just a little bit tired of people telling us that we managed OK 50 years ago. Perhaps they relish the thought of the extra inconvenience. I don't.

Extra health insurance, International driving licence, visa, have to have 6 months left on passport...

We've been regularly travelling to France on a get up and go basis for the last 30 years. We didn't ask to have this nonsense inflicted on us...

But I've said it all before...

karinu this is our reciprocal health care with Australia - you would deffo need travel insurance ( from Gov website)

Australia

Australia has a reciprocal healthcare agreement with the UK, which means UK residents are able to get some healthcare services without charge while visiting Australia.

Treatment at public hospitals is free, but you'll have to pay for:

treatment at most doctors' surgeries
prescribed medicines
ambulance travel
dental treatment

''We do still have E111 cover until Dec.''

E111 is now EHIC, and yes, only until end Dec.

To all the 'you just have to get travel Insurance' - yes, that is fine, if you are young, if you do not have pre-existing conditions or chronic illness, if you do not need dialysis, etc. For the others, it will be either VERY expensive, or not available at all.

So imagine you have bought a little place in France, or your children live there- within a few hours travel- and you have any of the above, which would preclude you from having travel Insurance- with EHIC, you could still go- and be covered, but would have to plan to cover repatriation- be it by plane, or by car with one of your children, relatives. Even if they have to hire a bigger car so you can be more comfortable, the cost would be relatively low. From next year- you may not be able to visit them any longer.

Imagine too, that the EU/EEA country you live in does not have travel insurance products- as is the case for us. What then?

And if I may, Australia is not really relevant to this thread, we are talking about EHIC reciprocal cover here.

As for driving- and again, we must not mix tourists and residents here- about the situation in Ye Olde Days pre EU. You had to retake your licence again, IN FULL - in the local language. You had 6 months to do so if becoming permanent resident (as I did in 1970) or 1 year if temporary resident. I can just imagine all these elderly UK EU residents having to retake full licence in their country of residence, in French, Spanish, etc. It is not planned- but that was the case then.

biba I responded to the point about Australia because I was making the point that if we negotiate any reciprocal agreements with EU countries, it won’t mean we don’t need travel insurance. As someone said upthread, health insurance is only one part of travel insurance anyway. Atm going on holiday to an EU country doesn’t mean you don’t need travel insurance. I think the groups really affected seem to be the ones like the dialysis patients.

Doreen5

A lot of fuss about nothing - just get health insurance instead of using Green Card. Not much difference to the days when we weren't in the Common Market. But who would want to go to Europe anyway at the moment with Covid around!

For some of us, our lives are in Europe, in one way or another. Covid doesn't stop that. I work overseas. Can't give up work just because of a pandemic. Mortgage, bills etc have to be paid.

And for many, it is not about a holiday, but about seeing much loved children and grandchildren who live there.

But biba I still don’t understand the problem re health care. Travel insurance will be a bit more expensive to cover the loss of the EHIC but surely not unaffordable.

I had no idea that people travelled to Europe without insurance

You live and learn

A lot of people travel abroad without insurance, then the get ill or have an accident, next thing there are on line pleas for funding to get home!!
Our NHS suffers from those who come from overseas without insurance, fall ill here, then run up medical bills they never pay! Anyone who travels, mountain climbing, caving or other activities that out other people at risk saving them, sould have insurance cover!

suziewozzie- for some who are older and with pre existing condition, and for those who need dialysis- cover will be refused- not just premium up. Not talking, again, about holiday makers- but perhaps elderly parents or relative with some disability. And of course we are not talking here about dangerous sports. Yes, I remember a woman who had a stroke in Turkey and was complaining bitterly she could not understand why EHIC would not pay- and could not understand she was not in the EU !

And for some- the country where they live do not have Insurance products that would cover them. What is so difficult to see.

Dianalou you raised a relevant point re Covid insurance when travelling against FO advice. I would urge those travelling with such a policy to check small print (always a get out of jail free card for insurance policies).

You may find that you are indeed covered.......but not for Covid!

Should have written “for treatment for COVID-19)”.

I’m interested Biba70 which countries do not have travel insurance for their residents to visit other countries?

ABove, I meant elderly parent or relative with a disability, visiting you where you live.

So as an exemple- you live in Northern France, with easy access to Tunnel or ferry run - and your elderly father, in his 80s and well, but with pre-exisiting conditions - and unable to get Travel Insurance. With EHIC, they could visit you in your home in France, and should something happen, a fall or an illness, they would have been covered by EHIC. After the emergency phase- they would have to be repatriated to UK. In most cases, this could be done in your car, or in a slightly larger hire car- or in the worst cases, by private ambulance. You could plan for this eventuality and make provisions just in case.

Imagine your brother wants to visit ou, is well, but needs dialysis. Insurance refuses to cover- but EHIC would pay for this. And same as above if repatriation required. And on, and on- just two imaginary cases.

And for some, who are now living abroad- there is NO holiday insurance products that will cover them for travel out of the country where they reside, even if they will continue to be covered for their country of residence.

I think, taking COVID out of the equation, from January 1st 2021 you have to follow the signs for non EU passengers, obey the duty free allowance for non EU passengers and ensure you have adequate health insurance. I think perhaps the EHIC card will not be available to UK citizens. As Whitewavemark2 says - it was voted for (not by me but majority) so we have to deal with it.