Health care for visitors to Europe.

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A professor at my university told a story about how he suffered a heart attack while attending a conference in Japan. The doctors performed surgery and he stayed in the hospital for several weeks. When he was discharged he offered to pay for part of this but the hospital would have nothing of it. This brought home the difference between American and Japanese health care with a vengeance.

What I'm wondering is, what is the situation for non-resident visitors (esp. long-term visitors, such as those on a student visa) to France and Germany. Is emergency care provided without charge? Preventative care? Etc.

Anyone have experiences with the health care systems in these countries?

― Amateurist (amateurist), Wednesday, 12 February 2003 03:38 (twenty-two years ago)

I was travelling without health or travel insurance in Europe [I'm American], and I got a terrible throat infection. I just showed up at some clinic in Berlin, expecting to pay a fee to see the doctor, but she inspected my throat, handed me some pills and kept waving me away "auf wiedersehn". Though probably she just took pity on me and actually was supposed to charge me.

But either way, you need proof of health insurance that will cover you in Europe in order to obtain a student visa for France. At least I did in 2000.

― phil-two, Wednesday, 12 February 2003 03:44 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh, in case you're trying to get around the health-insurance requirement - I just waved my father's blue cross/blue shield card at the French consulate and they gave me the visa with nothing more than a cursory glance.

― phil-two, Wednesday, 12 February 2003 03:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Bump.

― Amateurist (amateurist), Wednesday, 12 February 2003 16:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Depends on the country and the visa, there's no easy answer but unless you're an EU citizen you'll probably have to have appropriate insurance and travel insurance might not cut it.

― Ed (dali), Wednesday, 12 February 2003 16:27 (twenty-two years ago)

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