A visit to the hospital is never a cakewalk, especially when you are not in your country of origin. In addition to your health worries, you will also have to worry about the cost of your care, which can rise very high in some parts of the world. So, how to be well reimbursed during hospitalization abroad?
Hospitalization abroad in the European Union
It was not supposed to be part of your tourist itinerary, but a small accident leads you to visit the hospital in Madrid or Berlin during your vacation. If you have been planning, you may have applied for your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before your departure, which works in all member states of the European Union and the European Economic Area as well as in Switzerland. . Learn more about the role of Social Security abroad.
According to the legislation in force in the country of stay, by presenting this card to the hospital you may not have to pay your medical expenses. However, it is also possible that you have to advance the costs, then make a request for reimbursement once you return to France by completing the S3125 form . Your request will then be processed by the French Social Security, and possibly reimbursed. In this form, you will be asked to choose between coverage calculated on the basis of the rates of the French Social Security, or on those in force in the State of stay. In either case, even if the process is successful, your reimbursement does not necessarily correspond to your actual expenses.
Obtaining the European Health Insurance Card is therefore a good reflex before going on holiday in the European Union, because it can be very useful. However, in some cases, it will not save you from a long and complicated administrative process, without any certainty that your care will be fully covered. To travel in Europe with peace of mind, we therefore recommend that you take out travel insurance with your broker.
Hospitalization abroad outside the European Union
A sprained ankle while visiting national parks in the United States or a monkey bite in Asia, and here you are in hospital on the other side of the world. The situation is quite complicated if you have not thought about insurance, because French Social Security has no obligation to cover your care. This is clearly indicated on the Améli.fr website:
When you go on vacation abroad, in a country outside the European Union / European Economic Area (EU/EEA) and Switzerland, only urgent and unforeseen medical care may possibly be covered by your health insurance fund. on your return to France […] Please note : this is a possibility, not an obligation. ( Source )
As soon as you cross the borders of the European Union, it is therefore wiser to take out travel insurance that will cover your care from the first euro spent, regardless of the French or local social security system.
Hospitalization abroad and bank card travel insurance
If you pay for your plane tickets with your credit card, you can benefit from travel insurance included in your means of payment. Nevertheless, depending on the cards and the banks, it is advisable to pay attention to certain points , such as the limited duration of the trip (90 days), the fairly low coverage ceiling (between 10 and 12,000 € against 150,000 € for insurance private trip). Above all, most credit card travel insurance only offers an advance of costs in the event of hospitalization and not coverage, which is a real game-changer. Find out more about credit card travel insurance.
Hospitalization abroad and private travel insurance
As you will have understood, taking out private travel insurance is the solution allowing you to travel with peace of mind, in Europe and around the world. With Globe Partner travel insurance, your treatment is covered from the first euro spent, with no deductible or waiting period. In the event of hospitalization, two scenarios are possible:
Passage to the hospital of less than 24 hours : if you spend a few hours in the emergency department for a small incident, you will have to advance the costs by paying the hospital, and keep all the medical documents in your possession to make a request. reimbursement. This request can be made by email (for requests under €300) or by post. A single approach, a single interlocutor without any intermediary, it’s simple and fast! Treatments reimbursed are 100% directly to your bank account.
Hospitalization for more than 24 hours : If your state of health obliges you to spend at least one night in the hospital, you do not have to advance the costs. All you have to do is contact our 24-hour support platform to inform them of the situation. They will then take over with the hospital to organize the direct payment of your healthcare costs. You do not have a euro to pay!