Free health care in Europe

[Margaret M.]

I am amazed that some European countries provide free medical care to tourists. A friend had a heart attack while in Rome. He was hospitalized for a couple of weeks and received excellent medical care that would cost tens of thousands of dollars here in the U.S. but he does not have to pay one penny. The doctor in the hospital told him they give medical care to foreign travelers on a regular basis. A few years ago, someone I was traveling with needed medical attention in Nairn and then Raigmore -- same thing, no charge. Does anyone know why these countries do not charge tourists for these services? It seems ridiculous particularly since most tourists have insurance to cover these costs.

[weezer 316]

I am amazed that some European countries provide free medical care to tourists. A friend had a heart attack while in Rome. He was hospitalized for a couple of weeks and received excellent medical care that would cost tens of thousands of dollars here in the U.S. but he does not have to pay one penny. The doctor in the hospital told him they give medical care to foreign travelers on a regular basis. A few years ago, someone I was traveling with needed medical attention in Nairn and then Raigmore -- same thing, no charge. Does anyone know why these countries do not charge tourists for these services? It seems ridiculous particularly since most tourists have insurance to cover these costs.

I dont think ridiculous is the right word. Italy is a civilized country that takes care of the people within its borders. Its the US system thats wrong, were prisoners get healthcare the natives, never mind tourists, cant afford to pay for.

[John Little]

Well said Weezer. Consider the alternative - to refuse treatment without up front payment.

It is indeed a mark of civilisation to put people before cash.

Scotland is a civilised country too - a friend of mine from LA received excellent treatment in Kirkwall three years ago and she too did not have to pay - for which she thanked God. She and her husband are up to the gills in debt paying for her treatment at home.

[theone]

Many, if not most, "civilised" countries will provide free emergency healthcare to anyone injured or who becomes sick within their borders.

Obviously, they don't provide long term rehabilitation or treatment for chronic conditions.

Your American holiday insurance is no use for emergency treatment in the UK, you will get treated the same as anybody else in need, and no charge is made. It would be necessary if you needed special travel arrangements/care to get home though.

[weezer 316]

I find the US healthcare system utterlty astonishing. Its spectacularly inneficent for a private service, costs an obscene amount of money and seems to survive on ignorance alone. And the political maelstrom that surrounds it is amazing, with republicans vetoeing universal care and dsiagreeing with medicaid, yet actually voting to keep medicaid when a bill is put forward to abolish it!

Healthcare is the one thing that should never ever be mandatory privately done. You will do anything for your health and the HMO's in the states know it.

[Margaret M.]

I did not explain that very well -- in both of the instances I cited, health insurance was available to cover the costs but no effort was made to collect anything. Of course it is totally absurd to turn anyone in need away but if after treatment is given, it is determined insurance is available to cover the costs, why not make an effort to recover them particularly now when economies are so fragile?

I have never been anything but satisfied with health care in the U.S. and find the cost to be reasonable --a lower income tax rate and a lower cost of living than the U.K. more than offset the cost. However, I get really ticked off when the talking heads here constantly bad mouth socialized medicine and feature folks from the U.K. or Canada who only have horror stories to tell.

[NickInTheNorth]

I did not explain that very well -- in both of the instances I cited, health insurance was available to cover the costs but no effort was made to collect anything. Of course it is totally absurd to turn anyone in need away but if after treatment is given, it is determined insurance is available to cover the costs, why not make an effort to recover them particularly now when economies are so fragile?


The NHS does not have any system in place to "charge" for emergency medical care, and in a very real sense it would cost more to try and collect it than they would recover.

[golach]

Members of the EU can get free medical care in counties of the European Union, only if they have applied for and carry a European Health Insurance card.
https://www.ehic.org.uk/Internet/home.do

Easy to apply for and free

But it is still advisable to take out some form of Holiday Insurance.

[weezer 316]

I did not explain that very well -- in both of the instances I cited, health insurance was available to cover the costs but no effort was made to collect anything. Of course it is totally absurd to turn anyone in need away but if after treatment is given, it is determined insurance is available to cover the costs, why not make an effort to recover them particularly now when economies are so fragile?

I have never been anything but satisfied with health care in the U.S. and find the cost to be reasonable --a lower income tax rate and a lower cost of living than the U.K. more than offset the cost. However, I get really ticked off when the talking heads here constantly bad mouth socialized medicine and feature folks from the U.K. or Canada who only have horror stories to tell.

Lol Socialized medicine! I love that saying! It makes it sound like I must answer 20 question on Marx before they treat me!

[gleeber]

Socialised is a fine word word weezer. If Marx had been a Tory I suspect we would call it the poor house. :lol:

[Stefan]

In several european countries you will get free or mostly free emergency treatment, however, behind the scene the country will try and recover their costs. It will either be claimed from your insurer (Germany for example will bill the NHS if you are treated there), but if there is no evidence of where to claim it from some countries will either bill you directly or ask for their cost back from a fund many countries pay into.

My other half broke her finger few years back in Germany, got treated at hospital and although we gave our address we never heard any more of it.
I was in hospital beginning of this year in Germany and was billed for it as they had forgotten to scan my health card. Sent them a copy of it and all I had to pay was the 10 euro excess (that all german citizens have to pay as well).

[Alice in Blunderland]

The NHS do charge for care in certain circumstances even our neighbours South of the border who find themselves on the receiving end of care from the Scottish NHS will find a charge winging its way south of the border I am led to believe.. ;)

[EDDIE]

Nhs has its faults but i would never want it be privitised to make profit it should remain free for all and people that work pay for it direct out there wages it is fair play system that looks after the less fortunate or vunerable person

[Sandra_B]

My youngest was born in Germany 10 years ago and it cost us over 4000 DM for the birth and hospital stay.

[Stefan]

Giving birth is neither an illness nor an accident, so unfortunately it's exempt from free health care in all European countries...