If the UK leaves the EU, would I lose free access to
member states' services when I travel to Europe?
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  • Britain has reciprocal health benefits with those European countries that have comparable national health services, e.g., Germany, France, Holland, etc.

  • There is no reason why such reciprocal arrangements could not be continued on a bilateral basis when we leave the EU.

  • Many other European countries simply do not have a public health service comparable to ours; to use their health services, British citizens either have to pay or take out private health insurance.

  • The current system does not work in Britain's favour, anyway. Figures recently published by the Department of Health show that while Britain paid European countries more than £674 million for treating British citizens abroad, we received only £50 million back in payments for European citizens treated here.

  • For example: France received £150 million but paid Britain only £6.7 million; Spain received £223 million but paid Britain only £3.4 million; Germany received £25.9 million but paid Britain only £2.2 million.

  • Labour MP John Mann said, "Sorting this scandal out would transform the financial situation of the NHS".