We went to France in May, and one of our party got severe sunburn, that required hospital treatment. The person concerned had their UK NHS card with them, (Which the hospital photocopied.) and we were also insured.
Today I received a bill for 35 Euros from the local hospital trust, and wondered who foots the bill in this case?
------------- Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.
Winston Churchill. 21st August 1940
Yeah David, that seems to be the measure of it from my estimation.
The guy in our party will probably pay it, because the excess far outweighs the cost of the treatment, but if you burnt here in the UK, the NHS would pay for it, so apart from the country, I can't see what the difference is.
I'm not grumbling, but just wanted to know what the facts were.
------------- Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.
Winston Churchill. 21st August 1940
But you don't get the equivalent to a UK NHS service. You get the same service that the host country provides for the locals. Would a local get free treatment for sunburn?
Hi maybe a call to the EHIC . We had bill for treatment to our daughter few years back we paid this direct to the hospital at the time.
When we arrived back home we looked into claiming this back but was more to pay excess on the insurance.
We contacted the office for the EHIC & they sent us a cheque for the amount paid. Wont hurt to phone/mail them to see.
Quote: Originally posted by Quinny on 11/9/2013
We went to France in May, and one of our party got severe sunburn, that required hospital treatment. The person concerned had their UK NHS card with them, (Which the hospital photocopied.) and we were also insured.
Today I received a bill for 35 Euros from the local hospital trust, and wondered who foots the bill in this case?
Self inflicted so probably no pay out. When in the army, my brother got badly sunburnt when he fell asleep in the desert and ended up being charged for damaging government property!
I once got a bol***king at work for being off with sunburn.
My manager - a National Serviceman at one time - said that in his day, it was regarded as a self-inflicted wound, and liable to get you stockade time
Anyhoo, the EHIC enables you to get the same treatment as a resident of the country you're visiting and as each country’s healthcare system is slightly different, it may not cover everything that would be free on the NHS. Hence the advice to have proper travel cover too.
Still not sure why the OP got the bill.
------------- Mike
My advice is worth no more than the price paid for it