 Poster: A snowHead
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I was chatting to someone who's in the process of reclaiming medical fee's paid in France through the GHIC scheme.
I confess I always assumed it would be a case of showing the card and the treatment being provided FOC with any fee's being sorted out between the UK and the country involved, but that's not the case.
Are there any countries in the scheme which do operate like that ? For some, paying and reclaiming could be problematic especially for a severe illness or accident.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@AndAnotherThing.., no, usually you will need to claim back unless you put the hospital/clinic in touch with your travel insurer. Some things need paying straight away though, like the fee at the docs. When I had my appendix out in France, I got my travel insurer to sort it, and all bills from the hospital were sent to them, so we didn't pay anything up front. I think we did that when Jules had his accident too. I think we had to complete a form giving the insurer permission to claim the costs back from NHS business services.
https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/claim-refund-treatment-costs
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Any co-payments are not refundable though as you are treated as if you were a resident of the country you were in, so docs fee, 20% of treatment costs would be refunded by your travel insurance. And it is only state hospitals that are included. Private treatment is a travel insurance matter.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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GHIC puts you on the same basis as a resident of that country, if they have to pay for something then so do you - it does NOT give you care as per NHS in other countries
"The UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) lets you get necessary state healthcare in the European Economic Area (EEA), and some other countries, on the same basis as a resident of that country. This may be free or it may require a payment equivalent to that which a local resident would pay."
https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/healthcare-abroad/apply-for-a-free-uk-global-health-insurance-card-ghic/
After that if you have insurance that will cover any costs you pay, you claim from them
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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That's why it is essential to have travel insurance, and not rely on GHIC/EHIC. You can then contact your insurer and get them to deal with any additional costs.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@AndAnotherThing.., In Germany it does work by simply showing the card and suitable ID. Some GP type doctors can be a bit sniffy about it as the paperwork is a bit of a pain for them, some specialists might not take it at all (but then some doctors only really want those with private insurance, not the "state" system most folk use) should be no issue at a hospital (assuming not private). I believe Austria is very similar. In Germany anyone in hospital has to pay €10 towards the cost of food.
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@AndAnotherThing.., A friend with us on a ski trip in the Dolomites broke his leg in three places and was carted off to "Krankenhaus Brixen", in Italy despite it's name. We took his passport and EHIC to the hospital, they recorded all his details, I then asked for the hospital details to notify his insurer, their response "You don't need insurance, it's all free with the EHIC". Indeed, piste rescue, ambulance, hospital treatment was all free, which quite surprised us. Obviously did still need the insurance for repatriation etc, and took quite a while to get the insurance company to find "Krankenhaus Brixen" in the directory of European hospitals, as they insisted on looking under Austria rather than Italy, and the directory had translated it to "Hospitale Bressanone".
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| munich_irish wrote: |
| @AndAnotherThing.., In Germany it does work by simply showing the card and suitable ID. Some GP type doctors can be a bit sniffy about it as the paperwork is a bit of a pain for them, some specialists might not take it at all (but then some doctors only really want those with private insurance, not the "state" system most folk use) should be no issue at a hospital (assuming not private). I believe Austria is very similar. In Germany anyone in hospital has to pay €10 towards the cost of food. |
This has been my experience in Austria on too many occasions 
Same in The Netherlands also....
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Another one here with first-hand experience of Austrian doctors and hospitals, where the process was just to show the EHIC/GHIC card. On one occasion, a mate had forgotten to renew his EHIC card (as it was then) so the card he presented at A&E was out of date. No problem - while he was being x-rayed and treated, the receptionist called NHS Business Services and got a reference number.
What was payable was a few Euros per night for food.
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Thanks all, that's mostly reassuring.
I doubt I'm alone and occasionally rely on the GHIC should things go bad or I'm mucking about with stuff not covered on the annual policy. Like others I'm a member of the AAC (which has limitations) as a backstop for snowsport\climbing related injuries and the remote possibility they might need repatriation.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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You should have both the GHIC and travel insurance, as without the latter you have to pay any charges, but without the former the travel insurance might say you had not mitigated the cost by not having GHIC and deny some of your claim.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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@ster, I'm sure I paid no excess on my claim because I'd used GHIC. Similarly for hubby with EHIC pre-Brexit. Daily hospital charge, x-rays, scans, blood tests, emergency treatment etc all add up. However easy enough to get a temporary GHIC if you need it in an emergency and already abroad when you realise it has expired, or you don't have one. Bureau des Etrangers in Grenoble sorted it for hubby- I had the card but couldn't find it as I was so stressed out. It was there all the time and I thought it was my own NHS ID card.
'
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In Switzerland just show the GHIC and that is pretty much all there is to do.
A very small local fee to pay...I was operated, in patient for 3 days, the fee was 64chf as I recall.
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You know it makes sense.
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Husband took a stroke in Belle Plagne, thankfully in the apartment. Fire Service were the medics on site and while assessing were on telephone to resort Doctor. Decision made to take Dougie straight to helipad and on to Chambery and then blue light to Grenoble. Fire service asked if we had EHIC card and travel insurance, we did, but they didn't ask to see and took my word. They airlifted him, thrombectomy, associated brain scans and a month neurology ward and then air ambulance back to Edinburgh. All I had to do was take EHIC card and Travel Insurance documents with Passport to the office within Grenoble Hospital the day he was admitted, they took relevant details and liaised direct with Travel Insurers, didn't need to pay anything at all up front or on departure. We did get a bill in for the heli lift out of resort after we were back in the UK, hospital must have shared our address with the helicopter folks - just emailed the bill on to Direct Line. Direct Line took complete control of all the finance and at no point were we out of pocket. How all this worked with the Travel Insurer or France claiming costs from EHIC I cant say, but it did work seamlessly, perhaps because we had both elements, travel insurance and EHIC and that Dougie's GP records had nothing untoward/undeclared to the Travel Insurer. With respect to the French Doctor initially via telephone to the medics in resort, I don't know if he submitted a bill for his time - I assume that may have been a private Resort Doctor and his claim would have been processed through the travel insurance, details provided by the hospital? Definitely need both forms of insurance though. The cost of the heli and repatriation would not have been covered under EHIC.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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| Timberwolf wrote: |
| This has been my experience in Austria on too many occasions |
That's also my experience at an Austrian public hospital (Schwaz Hospital) A&E dept, for a bunch of x-rays, ultrasounds and blood tests. I think they took a photocopy of the card, I signed a form and that was it, discharged without any payment.
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Poster: A snowHead
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@GixerGirl, absolutely not. I hope your hubby has recovered. I remember that office in Grenoble hospital when hubby fractured his neck. So efficient amd all sorted with Insurers before he flew home. Insurers weren't quite so spot on with the rest of the stuff but we never saw any bills from ambulance or hospitals.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@GixerGirl, was it a private helicopter?
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| GixerGirl wrote: |
| Definitely need both forms of insurance though. The cost of the heli and repatriation would not have been covered under EHIC. |
I agree. I was flown from Hintertux to the nearest public hospital, flight was accompanied by a Dr and I was given some pain meds en route. Total bill was nearly €8K, and not covered by EHIC/GHIC. That's a nasty shock if you're self-insuring.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Switzerland - 55,000chf charged back to the UK/ NHS. I made damn sure she wasn’t admitted to the therapy centre until I had it in writing  it was a cantonal hospital not a clinic she was first admitted to, then 4 weeks therapy centre then 4 weeks Occ, therapy and physio chez moi.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| davidof wrote: |
| @GixerGirl, was it a private helicopter? |
I'm sorry I don't know. I never saw the helicopter either, I wasn't permitted to travel with him. Just as well we had the car over so I could at least easily get about.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Hells Bells wrote: |
| @GixerGirl, absolutely not. I hope your hubby has recovered. I remember that office in Grenoble hospital when hubby fractured his neck. So efficient amd all sorted with Insurers before he flew home. Insurers weren't quite so spot on with the rest of the stuff but we never saw any bills from ambulance or hospitals. |
He has to a degree but can never work or ski again sadly, however, he still enjoys the chalet chat with the group ski crew, a glass of wine and the hot tub! Hope your hubby's neck is okay now too.
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@GixerGirl, it was 2009 so he's recovered well with no nasty effects although I think the arthritis is setting in now.
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Caught a bit too much sun in Malaga a couple of years ago. Cold shower might have solved the problem, but water in the tap was about 15 degrees, so ineffective.
Ended up going to the local hospital. Presented GHIC card, gave my details and was sorted. No request for travel insurance, nor passport.
All it cost me was 7 Euros for the prescription.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| GixerGirl wrote: |
| davidof wrote: |
| @GixerGirl, was it a private helicopter? |
I'm sorry I don't know. I never saw the helicopter either, I wasn't permitted to travel with him. Just as well we had the car over so I could at least easily get about. |
I remember your husband was badly affected by his stroke.
I was vaguely interested because there is an issue with people being charged for security civile or gendarmerie helicopter which are free for the user - the charge being picked up by the state.
I'm surprised they didn't go all the way to Grenoble, so probably private trying to nickel and dime.
France is often a PITA with hospitals looking for who is going to pay, in my experience and you often presented with a bill while dying in bed !
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| davidof wrote: |
| you often presented with a bill while dying in bed ! |
I presume you are still with us 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| davidof wrote: |
| I was vaguely interested because there is an issue with people being charged for security civile or gendarmerie helicopter which are free for the user - the charge being picked up by the state. |
I wondered about that. Am I correct in thinking that if skiing back country in France and you get into trouble heli rescue if required is usually free ? Resort rescue seems to operate on a different basis.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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@AndAnotherThing.., yes usually if rescued outside the ski domain the helicopter is free but you may pay if there is a doctor on board for his services.
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Whenever we've had an incident, one value of the GHIC has been that it just streamlined the A&E admissions process - just handing it over, rather than having to provide further details. This may seem trivial, but bear in mind that with a helicopter evacuation, the injured party arrives at A&E well ahead of anyone else, so they're on their own. Often in shock/pain and under a heavy dose of pain-killers. Anything that makes the patients' life easier at that point is very welcome.
Although an obvious point, you should ensure you actually have your GHIC on you. I have met a couple of people on group trips who actually left all their cards behind, on the assumption that their partner would pay for stuff and provide details. Which doesn't really work if you're separated on piste, or when you arrive alone by helicopter.
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You know it makes sense.
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| LaForet wrote: |
| Whenever we've had an incident, one value of the GHIC has been that it just streamlined the A&E admissions process - just handing it over, rather than having to provide further details. |
Thank you for that brilliantly simply piece of advice!
Not having had any admissions in our 18 weeks (& counting), we've been leaving ours in the accommodation. They've been living in with the passports & other docs in the room safe ...until now.
Will be adding one's *own* GHIC to the daily skiing check-list, and likely popping it into the same pocket as my lift pass.
Cheers LaForet - there'll be a beer waiting for you over in Boris' Bar whenever you feel one!
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Having broken my arm in France last year. I would recommend having your GHIC AND Plastic credit/Debit card on you!
I keep both in a small wallet with a few Euros for a drink stop.
The plastic paid for the immediate doctors fees. I tried the GHIC but they wanted money (so presumably private). The cash paid for the taxi back to my hotel.
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Poster: A snowHead
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@skitrack, doc's fees in France aren't free for French people, hence the charges even with the GHIC.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Hells Bells TVM for the info. Makes sense
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| brianatab wrote: |
Caught a bit too much sun in Malaga a couple of years ago. Cold shower might have solved the problem, but water in the tap was about 15 degrees, so ineffective.
Ended up going to the local hospital. Presented GHIC card, gave my details and was sorted. No request for travel insurance, nor passport.
All it cost me was 7 Euros for the prescription. |
My dad had a heart attack in Spain, he was taken in to the public hospital near Marbella. He also had a pacemaker fitted. Just had to show his EHIC card in their admin office and he was good to go.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@Dylan_T42 We also have a photo' of our GHICs on our mobiles as well, just in case it's lost, or we simply forget to bring them along. The card itself isn't chipped - it just has the relevant info printed on it. All the hospital admin are after is the information.
Having had my passport stolen once, I'd also recommend having a photo' of your main passport pages. It's useful to know the passport no etc if you have to report it to the police and when you notify the Home Office (who were very helpful when I called them).
Last edited by You need to Login to know who's really who. on Wed 7-05-25 17:47; edited 1 time in total
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| LaForet wrote: |
| @Dylan_T42 We also have a photo' of our GHICs on our mobiles as well, just in case it's lost, or we simply forget to bring them along. The card itself isn't chipped - it just has the relevant info printed on it. All the hospital admin are after is the information. |
Aye, very good shout - Mrs.T42 has previously taken & shared passport photos & numbers, as well as boarding cards & assorted booking confirmations (transport, skis, accommodation) - GHIC obviously needs adding to that list
BTW, I think that deserves a second drinks round! 
While having local copies on one's device is definitely 'a good thing', for me it'd be in addition to the physical card, as there's no guarantee of one's device being available/unlockable/working order/battery in the event of an emergency. (And yes, there is an ICE number to call on the lock screen)
But add a chaser to the drinks order, we also share stuff to a Telegram channel, so is not restricted to one's main mobile device (looking at you WhatsApp!) Aside from email, there aren't many multiple-device apps that are OS-agnostic (ruling out Apple iMessage), so it is ironic that Meta's Messenger does actually tick all the boxes (albeit also the one marked 'Dumb F*cks')
I have experimented with RCS the not-so-new-kid on the instant messaging/voice/video/file-sharing block, but if you want that multi-device it means giving everything to *yet another* bunch of billionaire tech-bros...
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