EU Referendum unlikely to affect your healthcare
Following concerns raised by our clients, this latest EU Referendum update provides you with information on the implications of Brexit on your healthcare from our network of industry partners.
What’s important to highlight at this point is that whatever happens, those living in France, Spain or anywhere else in Europe will still be able to access healthcare services, although in every country the services will vary – as they do now. Healthcare services available are different across every country, and while they may not always match up to those you can receive for free on the NHS, most expats regard the healthcare service in many European countries as excellent – with services already available for both residents and non-residents, EU or non-EU members. It is important not to confuse this service with the European Health Insurance Cards (EHIC), which is solely designed to cover travelling emergencies.
Private healthcare may be a sensible option – One way to ensure you are covered, regardless of your location, is to arrange a private healthcare policy that covers you in your overseas home. Despite good healthcare services offered in popular expat countries, many independent organisations already recommend that both current EU and non-EU members who wish to move to a European country seek private healthcare cover. According to the experts at our partners, Propertyguides.com, the independent resource for people seeking a home abroad, this is recommended to reduce or completely eradicate waiting lists and provide a much better level of care for those with more serious health issues or pre-existing conditions.
Arranging private healthcare now can put your mind at rest and protect you and your family from any uncertainty. If you are sending money overseas to pay your policy premiums, you can also protect yourself from the ongoing currency fluctuations we have seen surrounding the EU Referendum discussions. Booking a regular payments plan and setting your exchange rate at the outset with a forward contract will ensure your payments are affordable, and you know exactly how much you are spending in both sterling and euros.
