In a new Technical Notice issued today, the Government has warned that in the event of no agreement on the future relationship of Gibraltar with the European Union, citizens should make sure that they have appropriate travel insurance with medical cover if they intend to travel to any EU Member State, including to Spain. This is the same position that applies today in relation to travel to Third Countries like the United States, for example. 

A statement from the Government follows below:

The Government points outthatthe reciprocal recognition ofthe European Health InsuranceCards and the administrative mechanisms for the provision of healthcare in the European Union cannot be guaranteed for British Citizens, including Gibraltarians. European Union nationals visiting Gibraltar would find themselves in exactly the same position here. 

Given the above eventuality, the Gibraltar Health Authority has already secured individual arrangements with Spanish private healthcare providers to allow for the continued referral of Gibraltar patients to receive planned treatment where necessary. 

Itis importantto recallthatthe position of Gibraltarians seeking healthcare in the United Kingdom was settled in at the Joint Ministerial Council of March 2018, where the UK and Gibraltar Governments agreed to maintain the current reciprocal healthcare arrangements between us. Those arrangements would remain unchanged whether or not there is an agreement on the future relationship with the European Union. 

Gibraltar’s departure from the European Union means that certain processes and procedures will inevitably become more difficult, cumbersome and bureaucratic. It is important that citizens and businesses are aware of this and that, where possible, they plan ahead. The Government can only prepare in areas that are within its control. Even then, there will be certain areas where mitigation is not possible because the new situation simply reflects what it means to be outside the European Union. 

Technical Notice (12) 

Getting ready for the end of the Transition Period European Health Insurance Cards and Healthcare 

18 November 2020 

On 31 December 2020, the Transition Period (sometimes also referred to as the  “Implementation Period”) under the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement will come to an  end. The end of the Transition Period will bring an end to the current status quo  whereby Gibraltar, its citizens and its business, have enjoyed EU rights. Therefore,  subject to the outcome of ongoing negotiations concerning the UK and Gibraltar’s  future relationship with the EU, the end of the Transition Period will bring about  important changes which Gibraltar, as a whole, will need to be ready for.  

Purpose. 

The purpose of this Notice is to explain what the effect of those changes are on your  ability to access emergency healthcare in the EU on the basis of your European Health  Insurance Card and other matters related to healthcare. 

Gibraltar’s departure from the European Union means that certain processes and  procedures will inevitably become more difficult, cumbersome and bureaucratic. It is  important that citizens and businesses are aware of this and that, where possible, they  plan ahead. The Government can only prepare in areas that are within its control. Even  then, there will be certain areas where mitigation is not possible because the new  situation simply reflects what it means to be outside the European Union.

If there is no agreement with respect to the UK and Gibraltar’s future relationship  with the EU before 31 December 2020.  

Emergency Healthcare in the EU.  

If there is no agreement to the contrary, European Health Insurance Cards issued in  Gibraltar will, as from 1 January 2021, no longer be valid in EU Member States  (including Spain) for the purposes of accessing state-provided healthcare (including  emergency healthcare) during a temporary stay in the EU.  

Therefore, after 31 December 2020, you may not have access to free medical  treatment in the EU and you could be charged for your healthcare if you do not have  health cover with your travel insurance.  

In this scenario, the public is advised to ensure that, as from 1 January 2021, they have appropriate travel insurance with medical cover for any trip abroad to  the European Union, including trips to Spain.  

Planned Treatment in the EU.  

The default position, as from 1 January 2021, is that you may no longer be able to  access GHA-funded healthcare in EU Member States on the basis of EU legislation  establishing the “S2 Route” (where there were direct funding arrangements between  the GHA and the relevant EU Member State) or the “EU Directive Route” (where you  could apply to the GHA for reimbursement with respect to healthcare received in EU  Member States).  

In light of the above, the GHA has secured individual arrangements with certain  Spanish private healthcare providers to allow for the continued referral of Gibraltar  patients to such hospitals to receive planned treatment where necessary. 

Emergency Healthcare and Planned Treatment in the UK. 

With regard to the position in the UK, it should be recalled that, following the HMGoG UK Joint Ministerial Council of 8 March 2018, the UK Government announced that it  would maintain the current reciprocal healthcare arrangements between the UK and  Gibraltar. Therefore, post-31 December 2020, Gibraltar will be able to continue to refer  patients to the UK for elective treatment and residents of Gibraltar will be able to  access UK state-provided healthcare (including emergency healthcare) during a  temporary stay in the UK.  

If there is If there is an agreement with respect to the UK and Gibraltar’s future  relationship with the EU before 31 December 2020 

It is likely that, in the event of an agreement on the future relationship with the EU,  matters with respect to healthcare will be touched upon. However, negotiations with  regard to the UK and Gibraltar’s future relationship with the EU are ongoing and, at  this stage, it cannot be guaranteed that agreements will be reached before 31  December 2020.  

In any event, the arrangements between Gibraltar and the UK described above will  remain unchanged regardless of what the future relationship with the EU will be.  

Further information 

This Notice is meant for guidance only. 

Further information can be sought from [email protected].