British travellers have been warned to take precautions to ensure they have access to medical care if they leave the UK.
New arrangements have been put in place for the Channel Islands – while many travellers may need to renew their entitlement to a European agreement, officials said.
Some 3.3 million Britons carry European Health Insurance Cards (EHICs) that will have expired by the end of March. Fewer than 300,000 have renewed them and many have already lapsed since September.
Under European agreements the Card entitles travellers to reduced costs of free state health care in most European countries.
It was introduced in 2005 and has to be renewed every three years.
Meanwhile it was announced that visitors to the Channel Islands will need private medical insurance from April 1.
The British government has severed medical care agreements with the islands – which are self-governing, removing rights to free NHS care from island residents.
Health minister Dawn Primarolo said: “Anyone travelling with an expired EHIC is putting themselves at risk – they will not be covered for basic medical care.
“It is vital that UK residents holidaying in Europe carry their EHIC and take out adequate travel insurance to avoid having to pay out unnecessarily for medical costs that could be covered by a valid EHIC.”
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