Holidaying In Spain? Be Aware

[ChillDoubt]

Some hospitals are refusing to acknowledge the EHIC cards(formerly E111).

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22712790

Worth a mention, as doubtless some here on AB will be travelling there in the coming months.

[netibiza]

As far as I am aware, these are the private hospitals, and they are suggesting that your holiday insurance pays for the treatment. Remember that Spain si struggling right now, and the volumnes of tourists that need medical health, albeit through through drinking, drugging or sunbathing is huge, I am a blood donor and we just cannot keep up with the demand.

[ChillDoubt]

Agreed netibiza, but every country in Europe is struggling at the moment but if Spain don't want the tourists money to help their dire economy I'm sure that there are some who will choose to holiday elsewhere!

The last thing Spain need right now is a fine, which is where this is heading.

[Sqad]

Chilldoubt........your points are well taken, this needs EU to sort it out.

EHIC cards are only for accidents and emergency and it has always been the case that Private holiday Insurance should be bought.

No cases will be turned away.

[jake-the-peg]

//No cases will be turned away//

http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/22715962

[Sqad]

Jake......read your link.....he wasn't turned away.

[annieigma]

What is the point of having a E111 or upgrade if you also need private medical insurance?? wouldn't it be better to do away with the E111 and tell everyone to take out insurance, Don't let them in if they have no insurance, that also means people holidaying here in UK. Got to be the answer.

[bazwillrun]

You mean to tell me theres fully paid up members of the eussr telling them where to shove it and doing what the want !?

[ToraToraTora]

No netbiza these are public hospitals. they should be honouring the E111 but they are not. Another example of selective adherance to the rules.

[sandyRoe]

How much would insurance cost to cover you while away on holiday? It could be money well spent.

[Sqad]

TTT...you are quite correct.......Spain needs to sort this out.

I have made some enquiries and they are still ongoing.

The Brits consider the EHIC card gives them the same Health Care as does the NHS. The Spaniards consider it to be for accidents and sudden illness only and anything that can wait until the end of their holiday should be treated back in the NHS

Yes.....I am struggling to justify the unjustifiable......

If any of my contacts come up with any further information, I will let you know.

[puternut]

sandyRoe: The cost of insurance can be quite prohibitive. I have quite a few medical problems (such as diabetes, blood pressure etc but all controlled) and when I tried the 'normal' insurance companies they advised a specialist one. The final cost was almost as much as the break itself!!

[netibiza]

I can assure that here today in the public hospital of Ca'n Misses in Ibiza,the Brits are being treated in their hordes for flu, sunburn, alcolholicism, been there helping to translate. It's the brits who go to the Artz 24hr doctors and private clinics who are getting charged, as do we if we use them!

On the other hand when my British daughter born in Spain took her EHIC with her to London and broke her hand, the hospital wanted to charge her £3,000, but she could produce a work contract so didn't have to pay, so it's not all black and white!!!

[netibiza]

I guess Spain is getting pretty fed up with the Brits who come to live here, without paying anything into the system and then want all treatment for all ailments and all midications for free, I know Ibiza is cutting down on them when it finds them, and rightly so. And same for all the illegals who come to work without permits for 6 months but want it all, makes my blood boil.

[snags]

''makes my blood boil''

You can get that treated on your EHIC card ;-p

[sandyRoe]

Not in Espana, you can't

[Sqad]

Just back from my Club and i have further thoughts given by my mate who is a Consultant Casualty Surgeon and before Jake -the -Peg makes a political issue out of this, he is a member, active member of the Spanish equivalent of the BMA and his politics are left of centre (Spanish centre)

Here is what he says and only applies to Menorca as far as he knows.

Any tourist who presents an EHIC card will get treatment, urgent or none urgent.
The hospital protocol is if they do not present the EHIC card they will be charged for treatment and if on return to the UK, their card is photostated and returned to Menorca then their money will be refunded.

He also made these comments:

Patients need to remember that many Spanish health workers speak good English, on occasions better than the tourists and they object to being treated as inferior to their home NHS workers.
e.g "I hope these dumboes know what they are doing"
Also a "please " and "thank you" helps to obtain compassionate care...not always seen by the holidaymakers instead of "bloody hell, this has spoiled my holiday"

I did point out, that not all Brits treated healthcare workers in this arrogant and confrontational way...........i apologised.........and we passed on.

It really does aggravate me to hear many Brits, ridicule or minimise the efforts of other Health care systems as compared to the "high standards of the NHS"
This is total nonsense and i will always take the chance to point this out.

There does seem to be a problem with the card in certain parts of Spain, but it seems to be isolated cases............I hope.

[ChillDoubt]

Sandy,
I've just paid £20 via UNISON for holiday insurance for myself and my teenage son, which covers delays, loss of passport etc.

[Prudie]

Some of this has highlighted the misconception that the EHIC covers us for all medical problems when on holiday. It's only for emergency/GP type ailments and wouldn't cover requiring an early flight home due to illness for example. You still need proper travel insurance and always have.

[Sqad]

Prudie...that is the way the Spanish see it, but the Brits see it as getting the same medical care as when the are in the UK.
Confusing.
P.S I haven't forgotten our triste.....;-)

[EDDIE51]

There has just been a woman on radio 2 complaining bitterly that her 80 year old Mum who was in Spain without medical insurance was asked to pay £3000 for hospital care when she had a stroke. The initial help was free the charge was for a 3 days hospital stay. Also in Spain relatives are expected to do the routine nursing care for patients, help with washing, feeding etc, how many on here know this?