Govt plays down Spanish healthcare fears for UK tourists
The government has played down fears that tourists travelling to Spain may not be eligible for emergency healthcare after 1 July.
Despite assurances earlier this week that UK travellers heading to EU countries will continue to receive free healthcare, Spain suggested that it will continue only until 30 June.
But the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) stressed the agreement with the EU ‘ensures that UK residents will continue to have access to emergency and necessary healthcare when they travel to the EU’.
It added that the agreement covers Spain.
TravelMole is seeking further clarification from Spanish tourism officials.
Under changes which comes into effect in the new year, a UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) will replace the European Health Insurance Cards (EHIC) with further details to be set out ‘in due course’.
However, travellers will still be able to use their EHIC from the new year with cards valid until their expiry date.
The DHSC said the government advises all travellers to take out comprehensive travel insurance, ‘and this remains our advice’.
It added that even tourists not holding an EHIC or GHIC are still entitled to necessary healthcare when travelling in the EU.
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