Scots holiday-makers could face spiralling costs for medical treatment abroad in the event of a “hard Brexit”.
The future of the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) could hang in the balance as a result of the June vote to leave the EU.
The service currently gives UK travellers the right to free healthcare and treatment when visiting Europe for both business and pleasure.
According to new figures, UK tourists on the continent have saved about £1.2billion as a result of the system, with 30 million EHIC cards currently in circulation.
Now, SNP MSP Tom Arthur is demanding the UK Government commit to keeping the EHIC as part of its Brexit negotiations.
A spokesman for the Department for Exiting the European Union (DEXEU) said it would work with the Scottish Government to get “the best possible outcome”.
Mr Arthur, who sits on Holyrood’s Health and Sport Committee, said: “The EHIC has saved UK travellers over a billion pounds in medical bills over the last ten years – and Scotland didn’t vote to give that right away in June’s referendum.
“Any failure to guarantee our membership of the single market could lumber holiday-makers and people travelling in Europe for business with massive costs should they happen to fall ill or have an accident – and insurance premiums will skyrocket.
“The figures show a huge net benefit to the UK from the EHIC scheme – and the UK government shouldn’t assume they can just invalidate 30 million health insurance cards on a whim.
“The SNP is resolute in exploring all available options to keep Scotland within the EU and keeping those vital protections and benefits we currently enjoy within the European community.”
While UK travellers have significantly benefited from the EHIC, the figures, obtained by the SNP, show European travellers visiting the UK have cost the NHS just £275million.
The UK Government has yet to trigger Article 50 – the process for leaving the EU – although it is thought this could happen next year.
There is then a two-year window for the complex exit negotiations to take place.
A DEXEU spokesman said: “We will work closely with the Scottish Government to ensure we get the best possible outcome for the British people in our negotiations to leave the EU.”
