BUSINESS travellers face several uncertainties after Brexit. Will travelling to the European Union in future require a visa? Given the state of the pound, will companies start to crack down on expenses? And what happens if you get ill abroad?

This last question has perhaps been farthest from the front of road warriors’ minds—until this week. On March 15th, David Davis, the minister in charge of Brexit, told a parliamentary committee that it was “probably right” that once Britain leaves the EU British travellers would lose access to free or subsidised health care within the European Economic Area (EEA). Currently, British travellers are entitled to be treated as if they were a national of the EEA country (plus Switzerland) they are visiting if they have a European Health Insurance Card, or EHIC. Some 200,000 Brits received medical aid through the scheme while travelling last year, according to ABTA, a travel agents’ association. The card covers those who get ill or have an accident while abroad, or have a serious pre-existing condition that needs regular attention, such as kidney dialysis.

ABTA says that the card is an important protection for travellers that should be safeguarded in Brexit negotiations. “Brexit shouldn’t have to mean that we lose reciprocal medical care rights with other European countries,” reckons Alan Wardle, of the association. “The EHIC card is currently valid in Switzerland, which is not a member of the EU.” Mr Davis seems less sure.

No self-respecting business would send its employees abroad armed only with an EHIC. Most business travellers should expect to be covered by private insurance, not least to be able to access services that the EHIC does not cover. The Association of British Insurers points out that the really pricey stuff, like repatriation, is not included within the scheme. But firms offering business-travel insurance will factor in the free treatment available in the EEA when setting premiums. Were this to disappear, the price of cover would no doubt rise, and access to treatment would become more complicated. Combined with the weak pound and the potential rise in airfares if Britain fell out of the EU open-skies arrangement (something Mr Davis also hinted was possible), this would turn jaunts abroad into a luxury. It may well lead firms to scrap those of marginal benefit.