Post-Brexit access to European Health Insurance Card rights for people in Northern Ireland
The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is a free card that provides access to medically necessary (state) healthcare during a temporary stay in either an EU member state or in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland, under the same conditions and at the same cost as an insured resident of that country.
In general terms, this has allowed people resident in NI to access free health care needed when visiting one of these countries on the same basis as someone living there. This system is not based on EU citizenship, but rather is linked the coordination of EU healthcare systems and residence in a member state.
As the Brexit transition period has now ended (on 31 December 2020), the previous UK EHIC arrangement has expired. While some people within the UK will continue to be have access to the EHIC, others will need to use the UK’s new Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC).
Our new briefing note explores the position in which this leaves persons resident in NI.
Download it here.
