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Brexit FAQs

We’re committed to providing you with the best service. We’ve answered your questions about the UK’s withdrawal from the EU and how it affects Vitality. If you have a question that is not covered here, please do not hesitate to contact us.

The UK left the EU on 31 January 2020 and entered an implementation period which ended on 31 December 2020. On 24 December, the UK and the EU agreed a deal that will define their future relationship. Our FAQs explain how the withdrawal, and the deal, affects Vitality, your plan or your contract with us.

The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) and the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) protection for members before 31 December 2020 is not affected.

Vitality remains a UK authorised insurer, providing policies to residents of the UK. This means the FSCS still provides protection if we are unable to pay claims made against us. You also have the same access to the FOS, which helps settle disputes between customers and firms.

If you have Vitality health insurance

How has Brexit affected my plan?

VitalityHealth is a UK regulated firm offering personal, business and corporate health insurance. Vitality’s product and coverage is unaffected by the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.

Note to Republic of Ireland (RoI) members: Vitality did offer products to RoI residents via a financial services ‘passport’. This has now come to an end. From January 2021. Vitality no longer offers products or services to RoI residents.

If you are a RoI member, you will be covered until the end of your current policy. At this point, we will not offer you renewal terms and your cover will end. If you are part of a business or corporate scheme, your employer will need to decide if a different product suits their needs.

If you are a member that is resident in Northern Ireland, your cover is unaffected. 

If I have an EU national employee based in the UK. has Brexit affected their coverage?

No. Employers can add eligible employees that:

• Are aged 16 or over at their cover start date and subject to PAYE
• Living in the UK for at least 180 days in each plan year.

Can Vitality provide overseas cover for a non-UK national employee based overseas?

No. Vitality can only provide cover in the UK to UK residents. 

If you have Vitality Worldwide Travel Cover

How has Brexit affected my Worldwide Travel Insurance plan and travelling to the EU?

Our travel insurance has not been affected by the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. UK nationals will be able to travel to EU countries and stay for up to 90 days in any 180 day period. You may need a visa or permit to stay for longer, to work or study, or for business travel. The rules for Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania are different. We recommend you check the entry requirements for the country you plan to travel to. More information is on the Government transition website.

Can I still drive my car in the EU?

If you have a valid UK driving licence, you can drive your own car in the EU. You will have to take your driving licence, log book (V5C) and any valid insurance documents with you. You will need to contact your insurer six weeks before you travel to get a green card. This will prove you have insurance.

Most drivers will not need to buy an International Driving Permit. The exception is those with paper licences (not photocards) and licences issued in Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man. More information is on the Government website about driving in the EU.

Corporate and business schemes might have Worldwide Travel or Emergency Overseas Cover options. Have these changed post the implementation period?

No. These benefits are unaffected by Brexit either during or post the implementation period.

What about the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)?

The EHIC gives you access to state-provided healthcare in the European Economic Area, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. Holders are treated as a resident of that country. They get healthcare at a reduced cost or for free.

The UK and the EU agreed, as part of the deal, that EHIC cards can used until their expiry dates. After that, the government will issue a new Global Heath Insurance Card (GHIC). This will replace the EHIC for the majority of UK citizens. You can apply for a GHIC on the NHS healthcare abroad website.

Our Worldwide Travel Insurance Plan gives you comprehensive cover for emergency medical expenses. Some routine and non-urgent treatment will not be covered under the plan.

If you have Vitality life insurance

How has Brexit affected my plan?

VitalityLife is a UK regulated firm offering pure protection products to UK residents only. Vitality's products do not place geographical restrictions on members. They are not affected by the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. If a member emigrates to the EU after getting a VitalityLife plan, the plan will still be in force. Vitality does not need to seek EEA authorisation to service these contracts.

If you have Vitality investments

How has Brexit affected VitalityInvest and my ISA or pension plan?

 VitalityInvest offers Pension and ISA products to UK residents. Vitality’s products do not place geographical restrictions on members. They are not affected by the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. The Pension and ISA products are ‘life policies’. This means if a member emigrates to the EU, the plan will still be in force. Vitality does not need to seek EEA authorisation to service these contracts.

If you're an outsourced provider, intermediary or introducer

How does the UK's withdrawal from the EU affect intermediaries and introducers?

The UK’s withdrawal has not affected our approach to intermediaries or introducers. All intermediaries and introducers must agree terms before conducting any business with us. Intermediaries must be authorised in the UK and hold the correct permissions. The UK’s withdrawal from the EU has not affected these requirements.

How does the UK's withdrawal from the EU affect outsourced providers?

We’ve liaised with our EEA-based suppliers. Leaving the EU has not affected their ability to provide services to Vitality.

Has the UK's withdrawal from the EU affected the legal contracts that Vitality has entered into?

No. Our contracts state that we follow ‘applicable law’. This makes them reactive to any changes.

Privacy

Where does Vitality store my data?

Vitality uses servers in the UK, EEA (Germany and Ireland) and South Africa. This does not include our third parties, who are listed in our Privacy Notices:

What will Vitality do for data storage if the implementation period ends without an agreement?

The UK is no longer an EU Member State, and is awaiting an ‘Adequacy’ decision by the EU Commission. An extra 6 months has been provided, which allows data flows to continue. If an agreement is not reached by July 2021, we will rely on other safeguards. This includes the Standard Contractual Clauses. These are currently being re-drafted. The latest version will be implemented when available.

The UK has recognised the EEA as “adequate” for data transfers. If no agreement is in place by July 2021, there will be little impact on Vitality. This is because it's not processing EU Citizen data. Any processing operation in the EU for Vitality uses existing solutions.

Does Vitality share my data with European Economic Area-based companies? If so, what protocols are in place to ensure my privacy?

Yes, we do. For the time being, reliance on EU Standard Contractual Clauses is permitted for UK transfers. A later proposal will have the Secretary of State approve “standard data protection clauses” UK transfers. The EU Standard Contractual Clauses are being re-drafted. These will be introduced with existing and new vendors when approved. This is in line with International Trade administration guidelines. The UK will also permit transfers to all countries recognised as “adequate” by the EU.