Need Advice: Foreign Hospital Bill

LegacyUser · 28-01-2008 4:27pm #1

Hi There

Need someones advice on this

I needed to go to the ER while on holidays in france last year and i just received a bill for 1600 euros! I only needed 4 stitches but they probably did a few more tests as it was a knock to the head.

Now i realise vists to the ER cost but 1600 euros??? I had an EHIC but i think it is out of date at this stage. Can anyone please give me some advice on what i should do here?

much appreciated...

The Black Oil · 28-01-2008 4:43pm

Maybe ask your local citizens advice centre for some pointers.

BillyoftheBeast · 28-01-2008 4:54pm

I'm fairly sure you are covered under some EU scheme.

Option B you can always ignore it.

Victor · 28-01-2008 4:56pm

Specificly check where the comma is in the number. As we write sixteen euros €16.00 the French would write €16,00.

Check with your local HSE EHIC office. http://www.ehic.ie/contact.htm

LegacyUser · 28-01-2008 5:11pm

Victor wrote: »

Specificly check where the comma is in the number. As we write sixteen euros €16.00 the French would write €16,00.

Check with your local HSE EHIC office. http://www.ehic.ie/contact.htm

1693,20

LadyE · 28-01-2008 5:15pm

+1 to that!

I nearly had a heart attack in paris when handed my hotel bill..the comma thing wrecks my head!

JuliusCaesar · 28-01-2008 5:27pm

Did you not have an E1 11? may have a different name now

Victor · 28-01-2008 6:02pm

I think talk to the EHIC office, did you have you EHIC with you?

Ignoring it might cause problems the next time you are in France. I suspect they might even be able to sue you, however the figure seems out of whack.

JuliusCaesar wrote: »

Did you not have an E1 11? may have a different name now

Its called the EHIC, as mentioned. http://www.ehic.ie/contact.htm

maxheadroom · 28-01-2008 6:36pm

Is there any chance you ended up in a private hospital instead of a state one? Did you have any X-rays, or CT scans done?

Toots · 28-01-2008 6:42pm

Do you have health insurance? If so, give your provider a call and see does your policy cover this. Also did you book the holiday on a credit card? Some credit cards give you travel insurance if you pay for more than 50% of your holiday using the card. (This is definitely the case with the BOI Platinum, not sure about others, but worth look)

Hagar · 28-01-2008 7:39pm

Did you present your E111 form at time of treatment?

I had a similar experience where the girl who booked in my son did not register his EU status and E111 number.

The important thing is not to refuse to pay, rather query the bill, a world of difference. Don't get anyone's back up and don't name the person who actually made the error. If you do that they will be forced to justify themselves and you might loose out in their effort to save face.

Contact them with the E111 details now and claim it's all a terrible mix-up caused by your poor French and they should scrap the bill. They did for us.

jester77 · 29-01-2008 8:50am

Have you an up to date EHIC card?

Same thing happened me a few years back when the EHIC was the E111. Was working in Germany for an Irish company and managed to cut my head open. My E111 was out of date by a week (even though I had informed my company to take care of it for me and they said they would) and I got landed for a similar bill around 1600. Company was really slow to pay it and I received a few solicitor letters. The company eventually sorted it out for me. I wouldn't leave it. Contact your local health board and see what they can do for you.

LegacyUser · 29-01-2008 10:03am

Victor wrote: »

I think talk to the EHIC office, did you have you EHIC with you?

I didnt have my EHIC with me and i think its about a year out of date

maxheadroom wrote: »

Is there any chance you ended up in a private hospital instead of a state one? Did you have any X-rays, or CT scans done?

i think it could have been a private hospital, it was way out in the country somewhere and i was completely out cold so whoever checked me in didnt mention an EHIC and managed to get the address mixed up aswell (that badly mixed up that im very surprised i got the letter). I probably did get an x-ray as it was a pretty bad knock to the head

Toots85 wrote: »

Do you have health insurance? If so, give your provider a call and see does your policy cover this. Also did you book the holiday on a credit card? Some credit cards give you travel insurance if you pay for more than 50% of your holiday using the card. (This is definitely the case with the BOI Platinum, not sure about others, but worth look)

i dont have health insurance unfortunately, ill look into the travel insurance aswell but will contact the health board first

thanks for the advice guys...

Need Advice: Foreign Hospital Bill

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