EHIC - Do we need one?

Brooksy, I think you were very unlucky with the way your treatment was handled. It's worth pointing out that the EHIC is not an EU Agreement but an EEA one, under which Switzerland has formally agreed to provide access to limited medical care for certain foreign visitors despite the country not being in the EEA..if that makes sense!

bandit wrote:Brooksy, I think you were very unlucky with the way your treatment was handled. It's worth pointing out that the EHIC is not an EU Agreement but an EEA one, under which Switzerland has formally agreed to provide access to limited medical care for certain foreign visitors despite the country not being in the EEA..if that makes sense!

Thanks for your reply Bandit & yes you're correct in the distinction between the EU & EEA.There is a method of reclaiming costs while in Switzerland but the time to do it was not available,for reclaims in the UK a dept in Newcastle will deal with it,but over here its not simple.
It`s reputed that the canaires are 20 years behind the UK & 10 years behind Spain in respect of infrastructure so as you can see what used to be simplistic is now a pain in the ar#e.
Thats the price of going laid back instead of rat race,still worth it though. 8)
I am still hopeful that I will get some money back,although it will not be all of it,but will post results as & when,so don't hold your breath.

Brooksy, it did occur to me whilst day dreaming in the shower, that Switzerland is not really 1 country when it comes to laws. Each Canton is independent, and whilst the Federal Govt are meant to make overall legislation, each Canton has self governance, and does it's own thing. Cantons vary with tax rates and rules and regs in lots of areas. I can only describe how Valais behaves towards foreigners waving the EHIC.
I think I would be inclined to make representation to the nearest Swiss Embassy in the Canaries about how you were treated. (I'm a stroppy git mind you) )

I spent a long time sorting insurance out before Christmas, it was painful but easy now as I have to do nowt until I chose to change it. Indefinately.

Living in Germany you can pay for public healthcare or private, as an unmarried healthy 34 year old the private is substantially cheaper, meaning I can go to town on the options. Top level health and dental with worldwide coverage at worldwide rates puts me about level with the cost of public insurance.

This means I can be treated anywhere in the world and charged for it at local rates knowing I will never have to do more than send the insurer my bills. I also carry two sets of accident cover of 10k each which can both be claimed for the same thing. I carry this primairily for heli rescue or a minor injury so I don't have to claim on my health insurance and lose my substantial rebate (in Germany with private health you can get to a point where you get 6 months back, including employers half. This equates to free top level insurance).

You must carry liabilty in Germany for potential damage to others or thier property, this can be up to several million for next to nothing and can be used abroad. I carry a marginally expensive loss or damage insurance which covers 365 days travel a year private or business which pays for lost board/wallet/6-pack.

The only thing I don't have is delay or cancellation cover, however I don't use operators and know the workings of airlines like the back of my hand and always use credit cards that carry purchase insurance.

As I'm still young and crazy, I've dumbed down my pension given current economic conditions and gone nuts on life assurance for my daughter in case of the worst.

Easy.

Tino, out of curiosity, do you have deductibles on the health insurance ?

In the US, a good policy would only cover 90% "in network" (places the Ins co have agreements with), or 80% "out of network". Many policies also require co-pays of up to $50 per visit. Sounds crazy, but this is the system so many Americans are fighting to keep.

Trencher,

On healthcare there is no deductables, I am 100% covered for all eventualities, in any hospital on earth. Okay policies start to get interesting when something chronic occurs, but name an insurance that doesn't. Dental cover has varying excess applied depending on what you pay up front. Mine is 10% but that covers cosmetic work also.

I only realized all of this after my bike accident last year, fractured skull and broken collarbone. Proviso on the private is you pay and claim, this can be done simulteaniously at home as the bill sent in the post is evidence enough. with public the institution claims directly. My claim for my accident included the answer to the question " how did the accident occur?" to which I answered...... "I was riding along, and then I fell off". No more correspondance and €4000 in bank within 3 days.

bandit wrote:Brooksy, it did occur to me whilst day dreaming in the shower, that Switzerland is not really 1 country when it comes to laws. Each Canton is independent, and whilst the Federal Govt are meant to make overall legislation, each Canton has self governance, and does it's own thing. Cantons vary with tax rates and rules and regs in lots of areas. I can only describe how Valais behaves towards foreigners waving the EHIC.
I think I would be inclined to make representation to the nearest Swiss Embassy in the Canaries about how you were treated. (I'm a stroppy git mind you) )

Thanks Bandit for your thoughts on my Swiss dilemma.

I must admit to being more than a little disgruntled at the clinic,but what can you do,your strapped down all the way from the mountain to the clinic so escape is impossible.
On arrival at the clinic you are then asked how you are going to pay before examination & treatment, although you wont know what costs are involved till completion.The get out of jail card then goes from EHIC to VISA.
As said before I have set the wheels in motion here although I expect them to be very rusty so time will tell.

To cure daydreaming in the shower take them at night. )

tino_11 wrote:Trencher,
My claim for my accident included the answer to the question " how did the accident occur?" to which I answered...... "I was riding along, and then I fell off". No more correspondance and €4000 in bank within 3 days.

Interesting, thanks. One of the most annoying things about insurance companies here, is the way they try to weedle out of paying. Any claim for something which might have occurred in an accident, broken bones, concussion, etc, is denied until they are satisfied that a third party is not to blame. If there is a third party, they would expect you to sue for the cost, rather than the insurance pay for it. All the time and effort that goes into sorting out insurance problems here, is a major reason our cost are so high.