Edward Argar corrected a written answer on Kidney Diseases: Medical Treatments

19 January 2021 · Commons written answer · Department of Health and Social Care

Olivia Blake (Labour, Sheffield, Hallam) asked written question 137347 on 13 January 2021. Edward Argar answered on 18 January 2021 for the Department of Health and Social Care, and Edward Argar corrected the answer on 19 January 2021. The corrected text no longer gives the figures 883, 987. Altogether 211 words differ between the two versions.

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that people traveling in Europe who require it will continue to be able to access kidney dialysis treatment free of charge, following the UK’s withdrawal from the European Health Insurance Card system.

Original and corrected answer

Struck through: original only. Bold: correction only.

Original	Corrected
~~The reciprocal healthcare coverage under~~ the ~~United Kingdom-European Union~~ Trade and Cooperation Agreement ~~for those on a temporary stay in an EU member state is~~ the ~~same, in terms of healthcare services which can be accessed by individuals, compared~~ to the ~~previous coverage under~~ EU ~~Regulations 883 and 987. However, under the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, crew or passengers of a vessel or aircraft may now~~ be covered for necessary healthcare ~~on their arrival~~ in ~~an EU member state if~~ the ~~need arose whilst on a voyage, which is not the case under the EU Regulations.~~	Following agreeing the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) with the European Union, United Kingdom residents travelling to the EU will continue to be covered for necessary healthcare, and this includes kidney dialysis. The new Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) covers necessary healthcare for UK residents visiting the UK. UK residents can apply online for the GHIC. Current European Health Insurance Cards (EHIC) will remain valid until the expiration date. Holders of current EHICs and the new GHIC are entitled to the same access to emergency and necessary healthcare cover when they travel to the EU, including cover for a pre-existing or chronic condition. In some countries, individuals may have to pay a percentage towards the cost of any state-provided treatment, known as a patient co-payment. As before, UK residents will need to pre-arrange kidney dialysis with the relevant healthcare provider in the country they are visiting.

Original

Corrected

~~The reciprocal healthcare coverage under~~ the ~~United Kingdom-European Union~~ Trade and Cooperation Agreement ~~for those on a temporary stay in an EU member state is~~ the ~~same, in terms of healthcare services which can be accessed by individuals, compared~~ to the ~~previous coverage under~~ EU ~~Regulations 883 and 987. However, under the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, crew or passengers of a vessel or aircraft may now~~ be covered for necessary healthcare ~~on their arrival~~ in ~~an EU member state if~~ the ~~need arose whilst on a voyage, which is not the case under the EU Regulations.~~

Following agreeing the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) with the European Union, United Kingdom residents travelling to the EU will continue to be covered for necessary healthcare, and this includes kidney dialysis. The new Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) covers necessary healthcare for UK residents visiting the UK. UK residents can apply online for the GHIC. Current European Health Insurance Cards (EHIC) will remain valid until the expiration date.
Holders of current EHICs and the new GHIC are entitled to the same access to emergency and necessary healthcare cover when they travel to the EU, including cover for a pre-existing or chronic condition. In some countries, individuals may have to pay a percentage towards the cost of any state-provided treatment, known as a patient co-payment.
As before, UK residents will need to pre-arrange kidney dialysis with the relevant healthcare provider in the country they are visiting.

The question and answer on the Parliament website.

Receipt

Read from	https://questions-statements-api.parliament.uk/api/writtenquestions/questions/1276302?expandMember=true
Date read	15 October 2026
SHA-256	`b9bfbdac9a985e21aa5b4bb72d5fc84371bcd1b1f5d1ea35f8e4bf42de0d4a36`