As is the case in your country, If you get sick in Europe, you should go or be taken to an appropriate health service facility to receive the appropriate care for your health needs.
But being in another country, obviously your rights are not the same as the health system works differently. So before you travel it is advisable to be aware of what your rights are if you get sick in Europe, where to go for medical help and what procedures you should follow to receive medical care in Europe. Such if your Health Assurance is covered by the health system of the country you are/going to.
What are my rights?
Unlike the USA, most European countries have universal healthcare, which means that visitors should and will also be cared for. So, if you get sick in Europe, you have the right to be treated in any hospital or clinic. Does that mean even in private facilities? Yes, even many hospitals are usually private.
Even though the health system is public, universal, it is still paid, just like the private one, although it is expressively more affordable. Therefore, you have the right to basic quality care, but it is not free and varies according to your treatment (consultation, exams, hospitalisation, etc). If you do not have travel health insurance – compulsory to enter Europe – that covers your hospital situation, you are still entitled to be treated, but you will have to pay the costs yourself. If you cannot pay, you will not be allowed to leave the country and contact will be made with the country you came from to negotiate the costs.
Where should I seek help for my situation?
Depending on the severity of your illness situation, there are recommended alternatives for you:
| MOST COMMON PROBLEMS | |
|---|---|
| Type: | Fever, sore throat, muscular and joint pain, stomach and sinus problems, insomnia and/or urinary infection. |
| Solution: | Go to a pharmacy; in every town there are some open 24 hours a day and indicated by a green cross. Pharmacists can diagnose simple problems and prescribe medicines. |
| FOR NON-EMERGENCY SITUATIONS | |
|---|---|
| Type: | Need to have tests, go to the doctor and/or treatment. |
| Solution: | Going to a clinic, they work like the one in the USA: you go in, talk to the receptionist, answer a few questions and wait to be seen by a doctor or nurse. |
| FOR EMERGENCY SITUATIONS | |
|---|---|
| Type: | Accident, emergency and/or life-threatening. |
| Solution: | Go to a hospital. You can ask anyone nearby to call a taxi or ambulance, or call 112 (the European Union’s universal emergency number) or the equivalent of 911 that most European countries have. |
What procedures should I follow?
If you were a European citizen the procedure would basically be to make an appointment or go straight to the establishment and be served. Or, if you are a European in another European country than your own, just present the CSED insurance and that’s it. However, since you are a visitor, you have three options of procedures.
1st option: call your insurer
When you contract travel health insurance, your insurer covers some hospitals or clinics in the place you are, so it is recommended that if you are ill, you contact the agency. They will inform you of the most recommendable and suitable establishment for your needs.
2nd option: go straight to the nearest hospital
If you are unable to contact the insurance company, go straight to the nearest hospital and before you leave, contact the insurance company so that someone can negotiate the payment for you. If no negotiation is made, you must pay the costs yourself and keep all receipts for reimbursement when you return.
3° option: ask for home care
From the hotel room itself you can ask to receive a doctor who will examine you, just call the reception and request it, the receptionist will contact the doctor. This option costs more than just going to the pharmacy or clinic.
How to find medical services in English?
One concern is finding clinics or establishments that cater in English, however, many doctors and pharmacists usually speak at least some English.
You can also ask for information about hospitals that can attend in English with people who attend Americans at the entrances, for example tourism offices. Or check the US embassy website for a list of doctors and hotels.
How much does European healthcare cost?
The cost varies a lot in each city, because, although the health system is universal, it is not so simple and homogeneous; each country has its own implementations. However, they all have something in common that can be said about European healthcare prices: they tend to be very affordable.
One example is the price of a medical consultation in Portugal, which is €4.50, with the post-consultation fee being the same, making a total of €9. Also in Portugal, the price of a blood test is around €2. In France, the price for a night in hospital is €18. It is worth noting that the higher the expense, the higher the hospital cost.
