Faremax: Travel Forums

Have you ever ended up in a hospital whilst on vacation overseas? What was your experience there? Was it an English/your native tongue speaking hospital, or did you need or get an interpreter? How did you deal with the issue of payment up front-were you able to do that or did your insurance company cover it for you?

Hospitalisation overseas is my greatest fear.

I got ill once at an amusement park in France - I didn't have to go to hospital but I saw the doctors on the park and they kept me in the first aid building for a while. If I had been more seriously ill, then at least in Europe we have agreements with other EU countries that mean you either don't have to pay for treatment, or can get reimbursed once you get home. I try to always have travel insurance on top of that though.

In Europe, when I was still an NHS patient, I admit that I only ever carried my E111. Now, it's different because I am not entitled to NHS treatment, so I purchase insurance even to be in the UK.