UNION Jackery comes in many guises – we’ve seen the flag plastered behind Boris Johnson and his Cabinet ministers, up the aisles of supermarkets, on our driving licences, the rear lights of Minis made by BMW, and now on the replacement for our European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).

While we were in Europe the EHIC entitled us to health care across the bloc, either free, or at a reduced cost.

Now we have the imaginative UK Global Health Insurance Card, which it is claimed performs the same actions for UK citizens when they are in Europe and need medical treatment.

The new card is basically a plastic Union Jack with some writing on the front, but Twitter user Dun Garbhan (@Dungarbhan) pointed out yesterday that not everyone will be too keen to use them: “Arrived today, the replacement for the EHIC. May cover some health care costs abroad if embarrassment does not stop one from using it. #flegs”

According to the UK Government website touting the cards, they let you get “state healthcare in Europe at a reduced cost or sometimes for free”.

If you have an EHIC, the site says this will be valid until its expiry date, when you will need to apply for the UK version.

However, it warns: “You cannot use a GHIC or an existing EHIC in Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland. You’ll need travel insurance with healthcare cover.”