Best not to rely wholly on your EHIC
If you're thinking that you will get free healthcare if you have the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and happen to fall ill whilst on holiday in Europe, it would be wise to think again!
A recent case study has shown that some holidaymakers have found themselves being denied medical care and have in some cases been faced with paying huge on-the-spot hospital bills. The reason for this is because some clinics within the European Union (EU) are so-cash strapped that they are refusing to treat them via the EHIC.
Holidaymakers are now being advised not to rely on their EHIC and make sure that they have adequate travel insurance before they travel. Those holidaymakers who do not have the correct travel insurance are either being refused treatment, having to pay on the spot or being turned away from the clinic. Spain, Greece and Portugal are just some of the countries that have been known to ignore the EHIC and demand payment for any medical treatment that the holidaymaker receives.
Technically, any resident of an EU member including Switzerland, Iceland and Norway is entitled to receive free state healthcare in a fellow member country by taking out an EHIC. This does not mean that British travellers will receive the same level of care as provided for by the NHS but they should be treated the same as local residents especially if they provide a valid EHIC. Unfortunately, some countries are so cash-strapped with shoe-string budgets that they are demanding insurers pay for any treatment.
Understandably, insurers are not happy about footing the bill for medical treatment that should technically be provided free of charge via a valid EHIC but they are finding that holidaymakers are being swayed by authorities to accept private hospital treatment meaning the insurer has to pay! This in turn increases costs for the insurers which ultimately means that British holidaymakers are faced with increased premiums when sourcing holiday insurance.
The cost of paying for healthcare in Europe can be extortionate, for example, if you end up spending four days in Intensive Care in Spain followed by five days in a general ward, it could add up to a total bill of more than £12,000 according to figures from the AA. A tummy bug such as gastroenteritis could mean a charge of £3,000 whilst an allergic reaction to an insect or animal bite could cost the same.
A spokesperson for the Association of British Insurers says that in most cases when an EHIC is refused, the insurer should pay up. If your EHIC is refused and you have to pay on the spot for medical care, make sure you gather as much information as possible so that you can prove that it was a medical emergency. Holidaymakers are also advised to complain to the British Embassy and report the problem to SOLVIT which investigate breaches of EU Law.