For non-US based DUers ...... what would happen in your country if I was visiting and ........

[Stinky The Clown]

....... during my visit suffered a serious medical crisis? For the sake of this discussion, let's say it was a heart attack. Would medical care be available to me? Would I have to pay for it? (Many insurers specifically exclude care when out of the country.)


Now let's ratchet down a little. What are the answers to these same questions, except for a very bad cut with heavy bleeding .... or a broken arm?



Down a little more ...... a very bad cold or minor flu? Or an allergy attack?

[asdjrocky]

1. I'm from here.

But when my daughter was in England a couple of summers ago she stepped on a nail and had to get a tetnus (sp?) shot. No charge.

[malaise]

2. You'd receive full medical care

You'd pay if you had the money or insurance coverage - otherwise you'd receive free care and pay for the drugs.
Public Hospitals here are not allowed to refuse medical treatment to anyone.

[Turbineguy]

3. I had to go to the Emergency Room in Halifax.

The Physician was an extremely attractive redhead.

I can't remember the reason I went.

Anyway, there was no cost, they issued me with a green plastic card and invited me to come back any time.

[Canuckistanian]

4. For emergency care in Canada, it would be free

Depending on which province you're in. Some provinces would charge for things like canes or slings for a broken arm.

Some provinces would also provide a small amount of medication free directly from the hospital, others will make you pay for drugs at a local pharmacy, but then our drugs are a LOT cheaper than in the States.

But if you're thinking about checking in for a non-emergency cancer treatment, forget it. You'll need to be a resident.

[mainer]

5. friend's 10-year-old son got injured while in France

He was seen within hours in a clinic by a very nice female physician. Got x-rays, too. I think the cost, if anything, was minimal. She came home raving about the French medical system.

[question everything]

6. I don't know, but why would anyone give your post a "U"?

Why the meanness to just "U" a post that should not offend anyone, just for the sake of kicking you, or anyone else to start the juice flowing?

I canceled it.

[Liberal In Texas]

7. There be trolls about. Gave him one more rec. This is a very good question

that people should know about. Other countries don't suffer because they treat foreigners, be they visitors or ex-pats.

[Stinky The Clown]

9. Grazie!

Merci!

Danke!

Gracias!

etc.

:hi:

[robinlynne]

8. free public care in Brasil. (not a pretty hospital, but free.)

[SammyWinstonJack]

10. Rec for the unrec

:thumbsup:

[Stinky The Clown]

11. A sincere kick for the evening crowd

I am grateful for all the recs to overcome the trolls ...... thank you all ..... but ......

More than that, I am hoping for more anecdotes and replies.

[Lugnut]

12. K&R n/t

[Mnemosyne]

13. KnR for more info. n/t

[Shanti Mama]

14. third world Nepal, here.

You would not receive free care but the care would be decent, if carefully supervised, and it would be incredibly cheap. We have a brand new heart hospital that is, apparently, very good. There is also a cardiac surgeon who is, I've heard, the only one on the planet who operates on connected, beating hearts. A friend has seen it and tells all her nurse friends about it.

But, Nepal has no safety net and the poor use up their life savings, just as in America, to take pay for catastrophic illness. On the other hand, my daughter's compound fracture, including 3 days in a double room in which I paid for both beds, ran me about $500.

[Spider Jerusalem]

15. Emergency medical treatment, free in the UK regardless of nationality or length of time here.

That would include everything you've asked except for cold, flu and allergy (although if the allergy attack were severe and potentially life-threatening, it would fall under emergency treatment).

For non-emergency treatment, non-UK residents are liable for the full costs of treatment and the full costs of any prescribed medication (so medical insurance is advisable).

[Hannah Bell]

16. i arrived in england with an eye infection, treated + medication, no charge.

they looked at me like i was an idiot when i tried to make a donation.

[WillieW]

17. You will receive free medical care as you need it in Germany.

[Greyskye]

18. In my 2nd week of a month long trip to England/Europe...

I had to see a doctor due to the appearance of a painful, spreading rash. I saw a doctor in his office within an hour of showing up at the hospital in southern England. He examined me, and gave me a tube of non OTC medicine, and sent me on my way.

No paperwork.

No questions.

Just fast, efficient medical service. It was amazing.

[Greyskye]

19. My son cut his finger to the bone in Malawi, Africa.

Saw-grass is nasty stuff.

One emergency Dr. visit for cleaning and stitches: $25.00
No insurance needed.

Cleanly healed a year later, with just a small scar to show for it.

[Violet_Crumble]

20. In Australia you'd definately get medical care....

But if yr an American and you haven't taken out travel insurance, you'd have to pay out of yr own pocket. While there's reciprocal agreements with some other countries where visitors from those countries have access to our health system and the same happens for us when we go to those countries, for obvious reasons there's no recciprocal agreement with the US.

http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/public/migrants/visitors/uk.jsp

[MattSh]

21. Ukraine...

Technically, any visitor is supposed to have an Ukrainian emergency care policy. In the past, this was likely included in the cost of your visa. Now, Americans can generally travel here without a visa.

My guess then is that most Americans traveling here do not have this emergency care policy. But I don't think the local authorities are losing any sleep since a typical visitor is likely to spend $50 or more a day here, and the economy needs that. Something serious like a heart attack? I don't know. But a little money under the table works miracles in this part of the world. Doctors here are generally well educated, at least the Soviet era doctors, but vastly underpaid.

[WillieW]

23. Interesting.

[Stinky The Clown]

22. Thanks for all the helpful replies and for sharing anecdotes ......

..... that's what this thread was for. It is interesting that the further from formerly socialiist and third world, the "freer" the medical care.

I guess universal care is a democratic eventuality. :)