Tourists be warned for the health care in Spain

"Tourists warned of health care in Spain"

"Could be forced to pay the full cost yourself."

"SOS International urges the tourists to see when they use the blue health insurance card in Spain. nPatienter can be forced to pay the entire cost for care and treatment themselves – despite the fact that they have the card. "

"It can be expensive to get sick or hurt themselves in Spain. In a number of years, SOS International received in cases where the hospitals sent the bills despite the fact that the patient has had with her EU blue card. "

"the Reason why patients are forced to pay for the treatment themselves is not that they are scandinavians, but to the Spanish laws provide space for hospitals to get paid. "

"One of the concerned hospitals refers to the Spanish health law and mean that you will not have made a difference between the scandinavian travelers and Spanish citizens. And as the blue EU health insurance card only entitles the holder to treatment under the conditions as shown by the Spanish health law can, therefore, the hospital send a bill. "

"An example of when the patient had to pay for care, when the patient moved from a private to a public hospital. Something that is common on Gran Canaria, where the public hospitals have a much more extensive treatment options in relation to the private hospitals."

"– this shows that an EU member state rules on the right to free hospital treatment can be complex and contain several exceptions and limitations that are reflected in the blue sjukförsäkringskortets insurance coverage. It makes it difficult for the traveler to know if you have the right to free treatment if an accident should occur during the journey, " says Karin Tranberg, vice president of SOS International."

"SOS International has examined the legality behind the hospital's practices and the rules that the hospital has referred. Because the passengers have received the same type of care as Spanish citizens, so, the hospital has not violated the EU's rules. The hospital's practice was within the framework of the legislation. Spanish public hospitals can, therefore in several special situations require full payment for treatment with the support of the Spanish legislation."

"– this emphasizes the need for a health insurance that is at least complementary to the EU blue sjukförsäkringskortets protection. When do you know you have an insurance coverage whether you are in an EU country with a full, partial or no entitlement to free hospital treatment, " says Karin Tranberg."

"the Problem for the patient"

"According to Karin Tranberg, there is a concern of SOS International, to this type of legislation could spread to more countries. "

"– From a patient and consumer perspective, this is a large problem, it is also why we have provided the data on to the Medborgarservice and the Board of directors for patient safety in Denmark, " says Karin Tranberg. "

"► EU-card gives you the right to medical and dental care when you are in a EUu002FEES country or Switzerland. The EU card is only for medical and dental care that"

"► With care that can not wait meant not only emergency care, but also care caused by chronic illness."

"► With the EU-card, you pay as much for health and dental care as those who live in the country. Therefore, you pay yourself patientavgiften. In some countries you must first pay the full costs upfront and then seek reimbursement from the country's equivalent of Försäkringskassan.’"

"► the Card does not give the right to compensation for repatriation, for example an air ambulance."

"Source: Försäkringskassan"