healthcare in Ireland for American tourist
 

My wife and I are going on holiday to Ireland next week. Anyone know about getting medical care while we are there?I had heard that it was free. Any truth to this? Our Blue Cross insurance here in the Sates doesn't cover us there.

Then you need to look at getting a policy to cover you while there. Try insuremytrip.com

We have an American Express travel medical policy that we pay for annually as we travel regularly. Not having insurance is not a risk I'd care to take...even if the care were free, how would you get home if you couldn't take a regular commercial flight?

As Judy says, not only do you need medical insurance, you need medical evacuation insurance.

Double check your Blue Cross coverage. Very often, while Stateside insurance doesn't cover you overseas, it does reimburse you after your return.

But, yes if your BC doesn't include that coverage -- that is what travel insurance is for.

My BlueCrossBlueShield of Texas covered me in Ireland...though I never had to use it. They mailed me a brochure outlining the coverage and methods of reimbursement.

I agree; you need some sort of coverage even if just for major medical and evacuation.

I don't think health care is 'free' even for citizens of Ireland, so a foreigner certainly shouldn't expect it!

As others have said, check your current insurance policy for health care overseas, or buy travel insurance.

Our Anthem Blue Cross covered us for medical care. We had to request a special card to bring with us. We also purchased travel insurance that included emergency medical and transportation for such through AccessAmerica. Fortunately never had to use it.

Agree with all the above. Why would Ireland subsidize free health care for American tourists?

I needed to see a doctor when I was in Ireland 2 years ago, nothing too serious.

Went to the clinic; waited about 10-15 minutes; saw the doctor; paid approximately $40 and got a prescription. Walked across the street to the pharmacy, waited about 5 minutes and picked up my prescription, which cost about $7.

The whole thing took less than one-half hour. All in all a very pleasant experience, totally unlike what I experience here.

I could have submitted the bills for some reimbursement, but figured it wasn't worth the hassle.

My Blue Cross policy covered me when I had to go to hospital in Paris a few ears ago. I paid by credit card, and submitted my bill when I returned to the States. I was reimbursed quickly with no fuss. Medicare, however, does not cover you overseas.

Thanks for all the help. I saw the Michael Moore movie SICKO a couple of years ago. According to the movie (which was suuposed to be based on FACTS) health insurance in countries that practice 'socialized medical care' is free or very inexpensive for everyone... including tourists from countries that don't have such a system.I guess I was taken in by his BS.I now stand corrected! I talked to someone else at BC and she told me to charge the costs and I would get reimbursed as if the provider was 'preferred'. Thanks again. And to michael Moore>> pog mo thoin

IME the treatment in Europe was not free (France and Croatia), but was so low cost as to be almost so. When I spoke to my Blue Cross person, she said they would not make any fuss about reimbursement because the prices charged by the hospital were MUCH lower than any American health care facility would charge.

As an aside, when I went to the emergency room in Dubrovnik and tried to pay for the exam and diagnosis, the clerk could not make change for the large banknote I had with me. "Oh, just forget about it", She said. Imagine that happening in a U.S. hospital!

It's certainly much cheaper than anything in the US, on that count Mr. Moore is certainly correct. Even for tourists.

Socialised health care as you call it is cheaper than US profit driven health care, but it is not free - it is paid for by the taxes and social insurances of the inhabitants of a country, sometimes with an extra compulsory insurance, such as we have in the Netherlands.

It can still prove very expensive should you need more than a quick visit to a doctor and a prescription, so you should always make sure you are covered for all health care. Whether you feel the need for additional medical evacuation insurance is up to you.

Don't expect Europeans to be too happy at Americans assuming health care in Europe is free to all.

I wasn't 'expecting' anything. Just trying to get information.

<i>Why would Ireland subsidize free health care for American tourists?</i>

In Italy ER treatment is free even for tourists.

because Americans are special

"In Italy ER treatment is free even for tourists."

I think that depends - I was charged 25 euro as a "code white" patient when I visited a hospital in Sorrento with a sore throat and cold, but not charged when I saw a Guardia Medica in Cefalu on Sicily with a similar problem.

Whether you are charged may also depend on the country: I've been charged in the UK, even though I'm a citizen as I'm no longer a resident, and also in Switzerland, but I seem to remember reading that tourists aren't charged in France.

Yes, tourists are charged in France - I have plenty of experience with that - but again, it's such a nominal amount it hardly matters, unless you end up needing some serious treatment.

Still, the notion that any country would offer free healthcare across the board to American tourists is...well...naive.

Hi EMV,
Not sure about Ireland, but since others are sharing their experiences, I will add mine. Last summer I broke my wrist on my way to Edinburgh (late morning, smooth sidewalk, who knows?) I went to the Royal Infirmary in Edinburg that night. The admitting staff would not take my insurance cards – said the care was “free.” I was x-rayed, given a splint which provided relief, and told to return in the morning.

The next day the young doctor who treated me was great. When he told me that my injury required surgery, he said that it could be done immediately. There was no talk of expense.
At that point, I said “Thanks so much, but I will return to Boston tomorrow and have it taken care of.” The doctor then wrote up my “condition” stating that I could fly and gave me my x-rays to be used at home. I was stunned that I was not billed. In short, I had trip insurance so I was reimbursed for the part of the trip I had missed and also the flight from Edinburgh to London. Parenthetically, I will say that the staff at Roxburghe Hotel in Charlotte Square were great in helping me change my plane reservations, etc.
Bottom line, after this experience I will ALWAYS buy trip insurance. I could have (painfully) absorbed my losses on this trip if necessary. But if my condition had necessitated medical evacuation, it would have been a totally different story.

to latedaytraveler... thanks for the story. after reading all the posts it seems that each story or opinion is different than the other. All of this goes in to making an informed decision if we are unfortunate enough to have to make one. Thanks to all.