What's the deal with EES and medical insurance for British tourists in France?

"The new system covers non-EU citizens who are crossing an external EU border - since Brexit, this includes the UK-France border. You can read a full explanation of how the system works here, but non-EU citizens who are crossing the border for the first time after the introduction of the system must supply biometric details (fingerprints and/or facial scan) and fill in a questionnaire."

"Over in the UK, travel operators including the Eurostar have been unveiling the exact format of the questionnaire to journalists, and one question has provoked great anxiety - an apparent requirement for travellers entering France to have medical insurance. Thanks to the NHS, most Brits do not have private medical insurance, and policies can be prohibitively expensive, especially for older people or those with existing medical conditions. So does this rule change really bar people without medical insurance from France? Well, not exactly."

The EU Entry & Exit System (EES) starts on October 12 with a phased roll-out and covers non-EU citizens crossing external EU borders, including the UK-France border. First-time crossings after introduction will require biometric details (fingerprints and/or facial scan) and completion of a questionnaire. One questionnaire item asking about medical insurance has caused concern because many British travellers rely on the NHS rather than private policies. EES does not change border rules; it formalises enforcement and reduces reliance on individual officer discretion. Border guards retain the authority to request proof of funds, accommodation, return tickets or medical cover and to deny entry if requirements are not met.

Read at www.thelocal.fr