Reply to How would you feel about losing your company-provided health insurance for "medicare for all"?

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[quote=Anonymous]Spain:
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Non-Resident Visitors to Spain

If you are visiting Spain, or staying here as a non-resident, it is important to know how you stand with regard to healthcare.

European Visitors

All EU and European Economic Area (EEA) nationals below retirement age who visit Spain for a short holiday are entitled to free or reduced-cost emergency medical healthcare and treatments at all Spanish public medical centres and hospitals on production of a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). …

Healthcare for non-resident visitors - Covered for medical emergencies

Reciprocal cover for medical emergencies

If you require emergency treatment while on holiday in Spain, ensure that you produce your EHIC on arrival at the medical centre. This reciprocal agreement only covers you for medical emergencies carried out within the state sector, and does not extend to repatriation due to illness, so you should not treat your EHIC as an alternative to private medical insurance.

Your EHIC can be used EU-wide and in EEA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

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Non-European Visitors

Non-Europeans requiring a visa for visiting or living in Spain will most likely have to prove they have adequate medical insurance before they are granted entry to the country. It is, therefore, highly unlikely that a legal non-European visitor to Spain isn't covered by at least some sort of healthcare provision. Nevertheless, all Spanish state hospitals are required to provide vital primary healthcare to any patient who is admitted to hospital with life-threatening injuries or illness, regardless of their ability to pay.

https://www.yourviva.com/living-in-spain/healthcare-costa-del-sol/non-resident-visitors
https://www.expatica.com/es/healthcare/healthcare-basics/healthcare-system-101467/
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Expensive health care lesson for American in Spain

I had a 9-day trip in Mallorca, my first time on the island. I've been to Spain several times and Europe almost every year.

I needed emergency care due to blood loss. I had had blood in the stool for about the last 4-5 days of the trip but didn't recognize it as such. So on a Sunday, the day before I was to leave, I fainted in the hotel lobby in Puerto Pollensa.

They called a doctor who checked my blood pressure, found it low and he believed I should go to hospital to test for blood loss. There were two hospitals in Puerto Pollensa but both were closed on Sunday.

He said I could go to a private clinic in Alcudia or to the national hospital in Inca. He did emphasize that it was a private company in Alcudia but I opted to go there since it was closer (though I realize later it was on the main highway so it would have been about the same).

The Alcudia clinic took some blood samples, found my blood pressure even way lower. They said I need to go to their hospital in Palma. I asked how much would all this cost, since I'm not an EU citizen. They said the private hospital will check my insurance and then if I don't have it, move me to the public hospital there.

…

At this point, the translator said they needed a deposit from me 1500 Euros. I asked again about public hospital. I said my credit card may provide some form of travel insurance (found out later that it did provide some but I'll have to make claims to see what happens). She again said it would be the same situation either way, I'd be paying a lot.

So she brought the little credit card terminal to the bed and charged. My iPhone instantly showed a charge of over $1686 for what is suppose to be a 1500 Euro deposit. I did the math and found that they were using an exchange rate of about 1.12 or greater vs. the official rate of 1.06. I complained about that and she said she will put a note to her colleagues for Monday (she wasn't working Monday).

Then Monday morning, another translator comes to my hospital room and says they need another deposit of 3500-4000 Euros to cover the "gastroscopy" though I will have a chance to talk to the specialist before going through with it.
…
The charges are pending so I can't dispute it yet. But as of now, some 14 hours after I left this hospital, I have over $8100 in charges, no credits, for supposedly a total bill of 5993 Euros.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g187427-i42-k10384209-Expensive_health_care_lesson_for_American_in_Spain-Spain.html
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