European Health Insurance Card

[maureenandtom]

I received my regular newsletter this afternoon. I don't think this is a warning to have travel health insurance, and it says the problem is being attended to, but maybe something to bear in mind.

Warning as EHICs illegally declined in Spain and Greece

I regard moneysavingexpert as a useful and reputable site but I've heard nothing of this anywhere else. Maybe just one or two isolated instances.

 

[John H]

Been in Spain since October last year and have not only used their Health Service ourselves (on EHIC) but have met many others who have also; no indication of the EHIC being refused. The Spanish health service remains one of the most efficient, accomodating and FREE services I have ever come across.

 

[Deleted member 9237]

I 2nd that John:wave:

 

[maureenandtom]

Hey, I'm just passing on a website address!!

Tell Martin about it!

 

[GeoffB]

Britain, no doubt, will retaliate by refusing NHS treatment to Greeks and Spaniards. Dream on...:rolleyes2:

Another good reason to avoid these places?

 

[maureenandtom]

Actually, now I think about it . . .

Apart from my trips to the USA, I've never had travel insurance. Maureen has twice had treatment in France and I've once had treatment in France. This was in the E111 days and, all three times we passed the documentation to the local CPAM (?) and each time there was a (sterling) refund cheque waiting for us when we got home. The treatment worked out much cheaper than would have been the case with travel insurance (because of the excess) and even cheaper than the NHS at home would have been – because of the prescription charges which were substantially refunded – I think about three quarters we got back.

(I had shingles and I was told, back in the UK, that the drug prescribed to me in France wouldn't have been prescribed in the UK because of being too expensive. Don't know about that but it sounds right.)

However, now I think about it. Quite a few years ago, maybe ten or so, we had a package holiday in Corfu. Maureen had a little rash that concerned us a bit so we hied along to a local doctor who first wanted insurance details. “Not got any”, I said. He huffed a bit and charged ten Euros for the interview and I think there was a five Euro (or so) charge for the prescription and we never tried to get a refund – just paid the small fee.

So, something like the website describes did actually happen – though quite a long time ago.

Never needed treatment in Spain. Quite prepared to accept that it's the cheapest and best in the world . . . but, if I'm ever ill again, I'm going to France.

 

[Gemani2]

Ehic card

I'm afraid that the card is being declined in some areas in Spain. I know this as work in travel insurance claims department. Some Spanish hospitals are refusing to accept the card .

 

[John H]

I'm afraid that the card is being declined in some areas in Spain. I know this as work in travel insurance claims department. Some Spanish hospitals are refusing to accept the card .

It is important to point out that it is illegal to refuse the card. If any EU public hospital says they can't accept it or asks you to sign something you are not sure of then the best advice is to refuse. I think the problem occurs because some hospitals in Spain do both private and public work and they are, illegally, trying to get people to sign up for private care. The problem is compounded by the UK government pushing advice to take out private insurance and not rely on the EHIC. The reason they are doing this, I believe, is because the NHS has to pay for any work done under EHIC but not for work done under insurance. You have to keep your wits about you but if you do there is not a problem.

 

[Gemani2]

Ehic

Unfortunately it is a problem and nothing to do with private v's state care. If the hospital will not accept the Ehic, the insurance is refusing to pay cos it's should be covered under Ehic...policy holder left with massive bill...the insurance will try and help the polcy holder, but policy holder is ultimately responsible for paying the bill until such time as someone else will cover it , when your ill and no one will pay your bills it's a bad situation to be in ..and your helpless when in the hosp when stuck in the middle between hosp/ Ehic/ insurance

 

[John H]

Unfortunately it is a problem and nothing to do with private v's state care. If the hospital will not accept the Ehic, the insurance is refusing to pay cos it's should be covered under Ehic...policy holder left with massive bill...the insurance will try and help the polcy holder, but policy holder is ultimately responsible for paying the bill until such time as someone else will cover it , when your ill and no one will pay your bills it's a bad situation to be in ..and your helpless when in the hosp when stuck in the middle between hosp/ Ehic/ insurance

I don't follow your reasoning. It is illegal to refuse to accept the EHIC. If a public hospital refuses to accept it it is breaking the law and cannot enforce charges.

You talk about the insurance company refusing to pay because treatment should be covered under EHIC but this implies that the individual had private insurance which entitles him/her to treatment beyond that provided by EHIC (just the same as private v public health care under the NHS). Those people will not lose out. The people who are caught are the people who unwisely signed a paper without reading it and without having insurance to cover that private treatment.

 

[Deleted member 9237]

On the Spanish new,s last week they were talking about how long it is taking England and Holland to pay for the treatment that they have done in the past i have never known anyone here that has been told they cant use the EHIC here.:wave:

 

[Gemani2]

Ehic

Unfortunately there is no reasoning . We all know it's not right, we all know what should happen. You go into hospital , you present your Ehic, you have insurance , you presume the costs are being met by one of them. Then you get home and are being chased by a Spanish debt collector for the hospital costs...it's hard for most people to argue the case if they don't speak the lingo...and this has nothing to due with any private health care . It takes weeks for the insurers , Ehic and the hospital to work things out but in the meantime the person is ultimately responsible for any costs until such time as someone agrees to pay them. It's nothing to do with signing any forms to trick people . It's Spain refusing to accept Ehic, nothing more and nothing less. It is happening , it's a night mare for those people affected. In some cases the person leaves a credit card as security until cover is confirmed by the insurance policy ( normal procedure) goes home to a massive bill from the hospital as the insurance won't cover cos it's supposed to be covered on Ehic which the hospital won't accept.

 

[John H]

Unfortunately there is no reasoning . We all know it's not right, we all know what should happen. You go into hospital , you present your Ehic, you have insurance , you presume the costs are being met by one of them. Then you get home and are being chased by a Spanish debt collector for the hospital costs...it's hard for most people to argue the case if they don't speak the lingo...and this has nothing to due with any private health care . It takes weeks for the insurers , Ehic and the hospital to work things out but in the meantime the person is ultimately responsible for any costs until such time as someone agrees to pay them. It's nothing to do with signing any forms to trick people . It's Spain refusing to accept Ehic, nothing more and nothing less. It is happening , it's a night mare for those people affected. In some cases the person leaves a credit card as security until cover is confirmed by the insurance policy ( normal procedure) goes home to a massive bill from the hospital as the insurance won't cover cos it's supposed to be covered on Ehic which the hospital won't accept.

Mmm! Do you have specific examples with details? Spain is NOT refusing to accept EHIC and has no legal grounds for doing so. Why should anybody leave a credit card number as security for something that is free? If they are asked to do so by anybody then that is ILLEGAL and the insurance that accompanies that credit card should protect them. I find your posts very strange - do you have a vested interest?

 

[shortcircuit]

I am taking you literally, but if it is the same card you would be wise to update which you can do on line.

 

[Gemani2]

Ehic

Reply to John h; No vested interest, ..strange? Not at all, just advising fellow travellers to be aware as, in my professional capacity , am I dealing with this topic, I.e a Spanish hospital refusing to recognise the Ehic, it is unfortunately , fact. As for credit card as security....if you are taken ill and costs are mounting up it can take hours even a day or two for an insurance to 'confirm cover' to any treating hospital, that hospital has to know that payment will come from somewhere especially if there is no ehic , the hospital will ask for a card details as security of payment until cover is confirmed by insurance..this happens , I deal with this every day . Don't misunderstand the Ehic thing..it is not widespread just one or two places that have refused...sure it will sort it self out, I just feel sorry for the people stuck in the middle, with a large bill for payment

 

[Deleted member 21686]

hey, i'm just passing on a website address!!

Tell martin about it!

don't worry about about what some are saying about this post.
It's damn good information that will encourage folks to be wary.

Keep up the good work.

 

[John H]

Reply to John h; No vested interest, ..strange? Not at all, just advising fellow travellers to be aware as, in my professional capacity , am I dealing with this topic, I.e a Spanish hospital refusing to recognise the Ehic, it is unfortunately , fact. As for credit card as security....if you are taken ill and costs are mounting up it can take hours even a day or two for an insurance to 'confirm cover' to any treating hospital, that hospital has to know that payment will come from somewhere especially if there is no ehic , the hospital will ask for a card details as security of payment until cover is confirmed by insurance..this happens , I deal with this every day . Don't misunderstand the Ehic thing..it is not widespread just one or two places that have refused...sure it will sort it self out, I just feel sorry for the people stuck in the middle, with a large bill for payment

It may be fact but it is illegal and therefore any charges incurred cannot be enforced. I am still suspicious about your interest in this subject. You should be telling people that they cannot be forced to pay rather than telling them they may incur costs.

 

[Gemani2]

Ehic

Ok..some one posts a thread , (not me, ) about Ehic being refused in Spain, I agree that this is happening, ( i dealt with this in work yesterday) I try to help my fellow wild campers by sharing a bit of my knowledge as I work in travel insurance claims .

Nothing strange, no vested interest, just sharing knowledge of how insurance works, if someone has Ehic, or if they don't


Just trying to help !

 

[screevin]

Just checked my card and it says

"Make sure you have valid travel insurance"

Trying to squirrel there way out of their responsibilities.The EHIC IS MY BLOODY INSURANCE. It's cost me plenty over the years too and I expect it to be honoured.

 

[screevin]

Ok..some one posts a thread , (not me, ) about Ehic being refused in Spain, I agree that this is happening, ( i dealt with this in work yesterday) I try to help my fellow wild campers by sharing a bit of my knowledge as I work in travel insurance claims .

Nothing strange, no vested interest, just sharing knowledge of how insurance works, if someone has Ehic, or if they don't


Just trying to help !

Can you tell us what advice you would give to a customer who has an EHIC and it has been refused? I understand that what you are instructed to do and what you think yourself may be two different stories, tell both if you can please.