Health insurance

[KCristina]

If I get hurt on the Camino (broken leg, that kind of injury) would I receive free medical treatment as a Peregrino from Spanish hospitals or clinics?
I am a US citizen and will not be carrying insurance. Thanks.

 

[MilenaS]

You will receive treatment but will have to pay for it. I do not think any hospital would turn you away, but they will either ask you to pay there and than or send you a bill afterwards.

Citizens of the EU and some other countries (Norway where I am from) will receive medical treatment for free or for the same cost the locals do. But I carry a travel insurance which will cover the return home and other things that are not part of the local health system.

 

[gypsywind]

If I get hurt on the Camino (broken leg, that kind of injury) would I receive free medical treatment as a Peregrino from Spanish hospitals or clinics?
I am a US citizen and will not be carrying insurance. Thanks.

I bought Travelers Ins. for 140$ from AAA, and there are a number of companies on other threads. What is free in life? I feel better safe than sorry. Even if you got free medical treatment (which I doubt, but others may know better than me) if you had to leave the country to go back home, that can be pricey, unexpected transpo to airport, flight change fees ect ect.

 

[Alan Pearce]

If I get hurt on the Camino (broken leg, that kind of injury) would I receive free medical treatment as a Peregrino from Spanish hospitals or clinics?
I am a US citizen and will not be carrying insurance. Thanks.

As an Australian I am not a member of the E.U. When I attended the emergency department in Lugo hospital they insisted on copies of my passport and my travel insurance before they treated me. Obviously my case was not life threatening, but for minor stuff they wanted to see my documents. I don't know what happens if you don't have travel insurance - perhaps pay on the spot?

Alan

Be brave. Life i joyous.

 

[GettingThere]

If I get hurt on the Camino (broken leg, that kind of injury) would I receive free medical treatment as a Peregrino from Spanish hospitals or clinics?
I am a US citizen and will not be carrying insurance. Thanks.

Is there a reason you won't have insurance? Travel insurance is generally cheap in comparison to costs you could face if things went really wrong. I always have it and have never had to use it, but if the worst happened and I needed medical treatment I have that peace of mind. I simply could not afford major hospital costs. But to answer your question, no - there is no free treatment for non-EU pilgrims on the Camino. Although I have heard that often they will treat you and send a bill after you return home.

Buen Camino

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

If I get hurt on the Camino (broken leg, that kind of injury) would I receive free medical treatment as a Peregrino from Spanish hospitals or clinics?
I am a US citizen and will not be carrying insurance. Thanks.

Hi Cristina, why not have an insurance .
It's so much easyer when you have one.
Wish you well and a Buen Camino, Peter.

 

[scruffy1]

No insurance? Don't roll the dice if you can't pay the price. Influenza passed in packed albergue sleeping quarters, diarrhea and worse from eating ill prepared food, all sorts number of foot/leg/back injuries - any of which might require hospitalization; loss of backpack coming or going; emergency medical flights from a remote position; you get better odds at an Atlantic City casino.

 

[Kanga]

My friend once convinced his son to take out travel medical insurance to cover a trip to Cambodia. He simply explained that if his son was injured then he and his wife would spend all the money they had, including selling their house if necessary, to bring him home. Because they loved him. It is all very well to take risks that impact on ourselves, but what about others?

Being hit by a car and seriously injured has happened to a few pilgrims over the years.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Minor medical treatment is not expensive in Spain; probably less than the U.S. deductible if you have medical insurance. Most travel insurance plans will cover very little of the cost of minor treatment. Even major medical may not have particularly good coverage for treatment after deductibles. However, the real value comes on evacuation and return flights. It is not unusual to incur huge expenses getting home if you are hurt badly. A friend was helicopter evacuated (against his will) in Utah on a long bicycle ride, and is still negotiating a $40,000 bill! Europe might be a bit less costly, but if you need an attended return flight back to the U.S. in a body cast, you might need to tap your home equity!!

The $100-200 cost of a policy that will cover such an emergency is worth it. It is even worth it for a few hundred dollars of medical expenses for less dire circumstances.

 

[marbuck]

If you can't afford the travel insurance then you can't afford to travel.

Last year in Condom in central France while walking the Le Puy Camino I accidentally put my passport through an automatic washing machine. The passport came out as pulp which required us to abandon our Camino and to travel back to Paris to obtain a new passport. A week later I was given an "Emergency Passport" with travel restrictions that meant I could not go home via Dubai so I had to change our tickets and go via Singapore. The tennis open was on in Paris so hotels rooms cost a fortune. A$3000 later we were on our way home. Thank god for good travel insurance. They paid. So DON'T leave home without it.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

If I get hurt on the Camino (broken leg, that kind of injury) would I receive free medical treatment as a Peregrino from Spanish hospitals or clinics?
I am a US citizen and will not be carrying insurance. Thanks.

Here is what happened to us. Peg and I are U.S. citizens. We bought travel insurance and she also had a health policy. Both these covered us for **reimbursement** of medical expenses (we pay the hospital/clinic and submit the bill and supporting documents to the insurance companies when we get home.)

Peg got a case of food poisoning in Leon and Castile and visited a clinic. We were ignorant then and thought that hospitalization had a cost but clinic care was free. They asked for Peg's passport and ID with our home address and they ended up sending a bill to our home (the care was fast, good and at a very reasonable price.)

But then later in our camino, still in Leon and Castile, Peg had to have her foot looked at (BTW, that caused 5 days of NO travel). At that clinic they again asked for our ID but also for proof of insurance (which we had but knew they were not likely to pay.) Again, the care was fast, good and cheap. We ended up with another bill sent to our home.

An email request to Leon's health services got them to combine the bills under under payment id so overhead costs in bank transfers and currency exchanges was minimal. Seven Corners travel insurance reimbursed us with no problems.

If you can do it, **pay your bill at the clinic** at the time you are there or at least while you are still in the province because our problems arose in getting the payment from home to Spain. Leon and Castile does not take credit card payments (at least internationally) and the U.S. requires the name of a **person** on international money transfers but I could not get one from the health service.

FYI, we stopped at the clinics in Sahagun (pop. 3,000) and Astorga (pop. 12,000), both reasonably large towns for the Camino Frances but English was not spoken there. At Sahagun my Spanish was just good enough to explain the problem and to get care instructions. It wasn't good enough to start asking billing questions. For the clinic visit in Astorga I had earlier typed a decription of the problem and possible reasons why her foot hurt into my tablet and had it translated. That worked well. I showed it at the admittance desk, again to the nurse and again to the doctor. Much faster in the long run.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

To give you an idea of costs...

Having forgotten to bring one of my meds, and the first farmacia I walked in refusing to sell them to me without an Rx, I was sent toa walk in clinic. They wanted 70€ for the consult. As reasonable as this I would hate to see the bill for a med evac.

 

[Angie94]

It is all very well to take risks that impact on ourselves, but what about others?

Kanga, I think that this is a very good point

 

[oursonpolaire]

Until the recent economic crisis, Spanish clinics would often forgive pilgrim medical costs but in recent years I have heard of no cases of this. While medical bills in Spain are much more moderate than in the US, they still need to be paid and, as others have noted, transportation costs home can be heavy and unavoidable. Spanish medical care is highly skilled and we cannot expect nurses and doctors to go without pay--- either we take care of our own costs through insurance, or we are freeloaders on our hosts.

 

[movinmaggie]

KCristina, I urge you to reconsider and purchase insurance. They will ask for proof of it before they treat you and you will be charged. Not sure how good your Spanish is, but if you can, do your best to pay before leaving. I never expected free treatment, but because they didn't accept payment, I did begin to woder. I had acute bronchitis and had to stop twice. My bill was mailed and it took more than a month to get it resolved. They spoke no English. I did manage with some Spanish but still could not pay on the spot.

 

[Leigh J Christensen]

If I get hurt on the Camino (broken leg, that kind of injury) would I receive free medical treatment as a Peregrino from Spanish hospitals or clinics?
I am a US citizen and will not be carrying insurance. Thanks.

I am also a U.S. citizen and will not go anywhere without travel insurance. It typically costs me about 200 U.S. for a years worth of coverage. I’ve had several friends wind up in foreign hospitals and a few that had to be transported (long term therapy for a broken leg or shoulder can take months). It’s worth every penny and not worth risking being without it.

 

[Annette london]

If I get hurt on the Camino (broken leg, that kind of injury) would I receive free medical treatment as a Peregrino from Spanish hospitals or clinics?
I am a US citizen and will not be carrying insurance. Thanks.

Please, please do not travel without health insurance. This would be foolish and foolhardy. Even though we are EU citizens and entitled to reciprocal care within the EU, this is not always the case in Spain so we always have health insurance. Apart from needing treatment, what would happen if you needed to be transported home? 2 or3 seats on a plane would need to be booked if you broke a leg for example. Really it's not worth the hassle and expense NOT to have it and please god you won't need to use it anyway!! Best wishes Annette

 

[Leigh J Christensen]

Please, please do not travel without health insurance. This would be foolish and foolhardy. Even though we are EU citizens and entitled to reciprocal care within the EU, this is not always the case in Spain so we always have health insurance. Apart from needing treatment, what would happen if you needed to be transported home? 2 or3 seats on a plane would need to be booked if you broke a leg for example. Really it's not worth the hassle and expense NOT to have it and please god you won't need to use it anyway!! Best wishes Annette

Not only 2 or 3 seats, but many airlines will NOT take someone needing medical care. They can and will refuse to transport. And IF they agree you can be assured it will stipulate that you will be required to travel with qualified medical personnel (registered nurse at the least) VERY expensive indeed. It really isn’t worth the risk to be stranded somewhere with NO resources

 

[basquelady]

If I get hurt on the Camino (broken leg, that kind of injury) would I receive free medical treatment as a Peregrino from Spanish hospitals or clinics?
I am a US citizen and will not be carrying insurance. Thanks.

Why would you expect to receive free medical treatment when you pay no taxes in a European Community country? Spain has been going through very severe economic problems over the last 5+ years and is having to reduce the benefits for its own citizens, without giving free medical care to someone who can afford to travel to Spain and pay their way (I hope!) on the Camino.

 

[naplesdon]

If I get hurt on the Camino (broken leg, that kind of injury) would I receive free medical treatment as a Peregrino from Spanish hospitals or clinics?
I am a US citizen and will not be carrying insurance. Thanks.

I sincerely hope you have read the informative post on your thread.

 

[movinmaggie]

I understand there was a time, albeit many many years ago, that free medical care was available to some pilgrims, but I believe that time has long past, but the 'message' seems to have hung on. I don't think anyone should expect free medical care in a country where they are not a citizen. The responsible (and sensible) thing is to carry health insurance always when travelling.

 

[Urban Trekker]

If I get hurt on the Camino (broken leg, that kind of injury) would I receive free medical treatment as a Peregrino from Spanish hospitals or clinics?
I am a US citizen and will not be carrying insurance. Thanks.

I'm too am a US citizen and I have Medicare and free secondary coverage but it does not follows me outside of the US or US possessions and neither will Obama care so I purchase travel insurance. Emergency treatment or hospitalization is expensive anywhere. No one plans on getting sick or injured but even a small blister can become a life threatening emergency. If you don't have insurance, if you don't pay for your treatment or care, the tax payers of Spain will. Please be a responsible US citizen and get travel insurance. Buen Camino

 

[SabsP]

If I get hurt on the Camino (broken leg, that kind of injury) would I receive free medical treatment as a Peregrino from Spanish hospitals or clinics?
I am a US citizen and will not be carrying insurance. Thanks.

No you should! I would expect you to do the sensible thing and get insurance just like I would do if visiting your country.
Health care system here in Western Europe is based on solidarity via the tax system and this is a good thing but not something that should be misused or mistreated by someone who has not contributed to the system.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

The only reason I can imagine a person would consider not to have travel health inusrance is if they are expensive to insure due to known health issues. Which then makes me wonder: if that is why you are not going to have insurance, aren't you the perfect candidate to carry it?

 

[MilenaS]

I do not belive there is need to scold the person asking the question. It is just a question. The person did in no way try to indicate that they think they are entitled to health coverage. Again - it was a question. And I have seen it written in many places on the forum that there are no stupid questions. So I choose to give the OP benefit of the doubt.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Even though we are EU citizens and entitled to reciprocal care within the EU, this is not always the case in Spain so we always have health insurance. ] Annette, could you please explai what is not covered by Spain for EU citizens that would be covered elwhere? I know that even as a Spanish citizen, but not resident, nor of Spain nor another EU country, I am not entitled to free treatment. Is Spain different from its neighbours, or is it a residency issue?

 

[Anemone del Camino]

I do not belive there is need to scold the person asking the question. It is just a question. The person did in no way try to indicate that they think they are entitled to health coverage. Again - it was a question. And I have seen it written in many places on the forum that there are no stupid questions. So I choose to give the OP benefit of the doubt.

It's not the question we are irked by, but the fact the op stated from the start she was not getting insurance and then hoping for a freebe. The reaction may have been fifferent if it had been "how important is it to get good medical travel insurance".

 

[MilenaS]

It's not the question we are irked by, but the fact the op stated from the start she was not getting insurance and then hoping for a freebe. The reaction may have been fifferent if it had been "how important is it to get good medical travel insurance".

I see that. But I also read that it for some time was usual to provide free health care to pilgrims and that this practice stopped some time ago. Therefore I feel that the question is valid. Maybe put forward in a clumsy way. Seeing that the poster has only 1 post this line of answers does not invite one to join the forum.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

I see that. But I also read that it for some time was usual to provide free health care to pilgrims and that this practice stopped some time ago. Therefore I feel that the question is valid. Maybe put forward in a clumsy way. Seeing that the poster has only 1 post this line of answers does not invite one to join the forum.

I can see your point. And there still is some free care, but for basic issues, sch a blisters, shin, splints, often dispensed by volunteers or doctors not wanting to bother with the paperwork. But anything more serious will be billed.

 

[Kanga]

The simple answer to the original question is "No, you will not be provided with free medical treatment in clinics or hospitals".

 

[MilenaS]

I can see your point. And there still is some free care, but for basic issues, sch a blisters, shin, splints, often dispensed by volunteers or doctors not wanting to bother with the paperwork. But anything more serious will be billed.

Good info to have. Thanks!
I am from Norway and have the same rights as EU citizens. I also travel with travel insurance. I do not take any chances. I just feel for the OP. Some of the answers are really judgmental.

 

[Carmo]

Any reccomendations for travel insurance for an American senior on medicare in Spain?

 

[James R B]

No way I'm going to another country without travel insurance.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Any reccomendations for travel insurance for an American senior on medicare in Spain?

We only got travel insurance once (stupid of us.) We used Seven Corners for our Spain trip. Easy to buy and to work with on claims. One reason we used them was because they would cover hiking. We intended to go backpacking in the Pyrennes as well as walking the Camino (in the end we just did the camino.)

The travel insurance wouldn't have helped us much for missing stays at lodgings as we had practically no reservations. We were flexible for flights so didn't really need emergency cash to get us to Spain for a certain time. Peg had compensatory health care coverage for important care from her Medicare provider but I did not. So we picked up the travel insurance primarily for my health care and for medical evacuation. We ended up just using it for two inexpensive clinic visits.

Possibly you may find a better deal by buying just the pieces you need but all I found was firms selling packages intended for all-round use.

 

[jefferyonthecamino]

If I get hurt on the Camino (broken leg, that kind of injury) would I receive free medical treatment as a Peregrino from Spanish hospitals or clinics?
I am a US citizen and will not be carrying insurance. Thanks.

we will patch you up and you will not be left with a broken leg on the ground.

however, spanish medical treatment is NOT free, we pay for it with our hard earned wages through taxes.

so, even if you are not billed as you leave the hospital (it can happen), please play fair and purchase a travel insurance before coming.

Buen Camino

 

[Annette london]

Dear anemone, I will reply to your query in a conversation in case it is deemed too political and not meant to be . Annette

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Dear anemone, I will reply to your query in a conversation in case it is deemed too political and not meant to be . Annette

Didn't mean for my question to be sensitive, but looking forward to your answer.

 

[oursonpolaire]

Good info to have. Thanks!
I am from Norway and have the same rights as EU citizens. I also travel with travel insurance. I do not take any chances. I just feel for the OP. Some of the answers are really judgmental.

I understand that it might well look this way, and perhaps a few of us have been hanging around these threads too long for our own good!! However, I have often heard Canadian and US pilgrims talk about how health care is free for them on the Camino-- this urban legend is more widespread than is good for anyone. Sometimes more informational responses can display too much impatience but I feel it is useful to be quite clear.

 

[jpflavin1]

Any reccomendations for travel insurance for an American senior on medicare in Spain?

Carmo:

This original post was about Medical/Health insurance. Travel insurance can be something different or include medical.

If you are on Medicare alone, it will not cover you. You should get a supplement package like Plan F. There are also travel insurance packages that include medical. It depends on what type of coverage you want.

The type of insurance you procure has to do with the level of risk you are willing to take. If you choose to take a risk and not purchase any insurance, please be prepared to pay the bill yourself. Otherwise, think of the potential risks you are taking (travel, health) and purchase an appropriate policy that meets those needs.

Ultreya,
Joe

 

[jpflavin1]

I understand that it might well look this way, and perhaps a few of us have been hanging around these threads too long for our own good!! However, I have often heard Canadian and US pilgrims talk about how health care is free for them on the Camino-- this urban legend is more widespread than is good for anyone. Sometimes more informational responses can display too much impatience but I feel it is useful to be quite clear.

Oursonpolaire:

Just to be the Devils Advocate to this response, I have walked five Camino's and never met a Canadian or American who believed Health Care was free on the Camino.

Ultreya,
Joe

 

[Wokabaut_Meri]

If you can't afford the travel insurance then you can't afford to travel.

Last year in Condom in central France while walking the Le Puy Camino I accidentally put my passport through an automatic washing machine. The passport came out as pulp which required us to abandon our Camino and to travel back to Paris to obtain a new passport. A week later I was given an "Emergency Passport" with travel restrictions that meant I could not go home via Dubai so I had to change our tickets and go via Singapore. The tennis open was on in Paris so hotels rooms cost a fortune. A$3000 later we were on our way home. Thank god for good travel insurance. They paid. So DON'T leave home without it.

Ditto. Don't even think of leaving home without travel insurance and read the fine print. Know what's included and, more importantly, excluded in the policy that you have purchased. Luckily, I always do. It's not just medical incidents that need to be covered - as many of the replies from Forum members show. You can also tailor policies to cover what you need.

Also the 'beneficiary' of an 'Emergency Passport' from the Australian Embassy in Paris following a mugging by a gang of youths on the Paris Metro, my Round the World ticketed trip came to an abrupt stop in Ireland. From that point I couldn't continue to travel west to Australia as I needed a full biometric passport to enter or even transit the United States. Our travel insurance covered all extra accommodation, the cancellation and re-ticketing costs as well as new documentation and lost/stolen passport fee.

 

[Robo]

If I get hurt on the Camino (broken leg, that kind of injury) would I receive free medical treatment as a Peregrino from Spanish hospitals or clinics?
I am a US citizen and will not be carrying insurance. Thanks.

I can't think of many countries in the World (any) that would give a Foreigner free medical treatment.

I always take out travel insurance, that includes medical, when travelling. It's not the minor treatments, that cost very little, that worry me. It's the serious illness or 'getting hit by a bus' type accidents. As others have said, for loved ones at home it could end up costing them everything they own to get you treated and brought home.

A further word of caution on travel insurance. It's not normally expensive, and can sometimes be free as part of a 'deal' through your credit card company or travel agent.

The caution is.....make sure you are covered for walking the Camino.

I have travel insurance through my work, which also covers me on holidays. So we just double checked that they would cover me walking the Camino. They wouldn't.

I had to pay a small excess to obtain cover. Even though I explained it was just like a Sunday stroll, for a few days in a row

People do get injured......I think it makes sense to plan for such an event, just in case. One less thing to worry about

 

[C clearly]

This original post was about Medical/Health insurance. Travel insurance can be something different or include medical... ]The type of insurance you procure has to do with the level of risk you are willing to take.

The major medical insurance, including transportation home, is the most important part. Many of us are comfortable without travel insurance for trip cancellation, theft, delayed flights, lost luggage, etc. If you need to buy the medical, those other parts usually come as part of the package.

 

[Robo]

If I get hurt on the Camino (broken leg, that kind of injury) would I receive free medical treatment as a Peregrino from Spanish hospitals or clinics?
I am a US citizen and will not be carrying insurance. Thanks.

As many people say. There are no dumb questions KCristina. Hopefully your question has been answered, though perhaps a bit more vigorously by some than you might have expected

They mean well, and don't bite.

Keep the questions coming

Welcome to this very special but somewhat quirky community !

 

[trevorcc]

Why should another country pay for your illness???, I always travel with insurance and thank God I do as my first pilgrim had me in hospital for 8 days (in intensive care) with chronic renal failure, the doctors and nurses were great, the bill was over 30,000 Aus dollars so I ask why should another country pay when they need every dollar to look after their own so pay insurance or dont go simple.

 

[jirit]

If I get hurt on the Camino (broken leg, that kind of injury) would I receive free medical treatment as a Peregrino from Spanish hospitals or clinics?
I am a US citizen and will not be carrying insurance. Thanks.

Don't expect to get free coverage because you are a pilgrim. In other words plan to pay for it, therefore purchase suitable travel medical insurance for your time away.

 

[Kurt5280]

My travel insurance was AIG Travel Guard Platinum with Medical Upgrade Coverage (Cost = $220 USD) ...the Medical Upgrade includes "Hospital of Choice", "Emergency Evacuation", and "Escort and Travel Companion" coverage...so if I was seriously injured on the Camino I could be evacuated directly to an English speaking country for medical treatment...or even the United Kingdom because it is closer.

 

[Tia Valeria]

Travel insurance (health) is vital as others have said, even for those of us with an EU health card. Also if you do have a medical problem then make sure that it is covered, even if it means paying extra for the insurance. We have to declare any medical issues in the previous 12 months, they are assessed and if needed to be covered then 1 condition is allowed, others are not covered without added cost.
It is worth reading the small print, talking over the issues with the insurer and making sure that you carry all the relevant paper work.

 

[Annette london]

Why should another country pay for your illness???, I always travel with insurance and thank God I do as my first pilgrim had me in hospital for 8 days (in intensive care) with chronic renal failure, the doctors and nurses were great, the bill was over 30,000 Aus dollars so I ask why should another country pay when they need every dollar to look after their own so pay insurance or dont go simple.

Dear Trevor's and Jirit, by now I think that Kcristina will have got the message that health insurance with all that entails would be a good idea. I am agreeing with Milsub that some of the answers may be getting a bit"nasty" for want of a better word!! The OP asked a question and she has been given a lot of good advice. She now has to digest all this information and make her own decisions, so maybe it's time to close this post. In my humble opinion of course. Good health to everyone out there and as you slide down the banisters of life,may the splinters never point the wrong way.

 

[naplesdon]

Any reccomendations for travel insurance for an American senior on medicare in Spain?

I am on Medicare and have supplemental insurance with UHC's Plan N, it provides 60 days of coverage from the day you start your trip. The deductible is higher for overseas coverage v. services in the US.

 

[Kurt5280]

Question: Has anyone tried the Camino de Santiago Insurance Card (http://caminodesantiagocard.com/web/)?

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Question: Has anyone tried the Camino de Santiago Insurance Card (http://caminodesantiagocard.com/web/)?

View attachment 24149

Unfortunately the website is down at the moment .... I am curious to find out more about it.

 

[domigee]

I found this info for UK based people.... Apologies to the others, I don't know anything about the US, Canada, Australia, NZ....
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/healthcare-in-spain

 

[oursonpolaire]

Oursonpolaire:

Just to be the Devils Advocate to this response, I have walked five Camino's and never met a Canadian or American who believed Health Care was free on the Camino.

Ultreya,
Joe

Joe-- you hang out with more elegant and better-informed folk than I ever will!

 

[peregrina2000]

I've participated in a number of these threads over the years, and I have walked both with and without extra medical insurance. I am not sure whether I'll buy it for this summer. There are a couple of things to consider -- for one thing, my credit card will pay for medical evacuation and repatriation of remains. My current employer-based insurance will cover emergency treatment out of the country. So I think that the years I got additional coverage were the years when the forum had a lot of live posts about the importance of travel medical insurance, and that at other times my cost-benefit assessment led me to think the odds were very low that there was something that would happen to me that wouldn't be covered by the CC and/or the home-based insurance.

But for those of you who do buy travel insurance, make sure that you read the fine print. I have a friend who did some serious scouring and comparison of policies and found there are many potential issues -- I don't remember the exact details, but some policies "provide for repatriation of remains" or "provide for medical evacuation," but when you read the fine print you see that what that means is that they will take it upon themselves to find you a company to bring your body home or to evacuate you, but you will bear the actual cost of transportation. You can expect to find lots of other title coverage carve-outs if the travel insurance industry is anything like the domestic (US) insurance industry. Definition of pre-existing conditions is another thing that jumps to mind as well.

In some of the small town health clinics in Spain, there is simply still no way for anyone to be charged. In 2013 on the Camino Olvidado, I had a tick in my back. Walking alone, I asked one of the senoras in my pension if she would feel comfortable trying to get it out. She did, but it was bloody and clumsy, not her fault of course. The pharmacist strongly urged me to go to the in-town clinic (this was in La Robla), where the doctor checked me out and prescribed me an antibiotic and took care of the bite on my back. When I told her I had no EU insurance and asked about payment, she launched into a half-serious rant about how she was a doctor and not a cashier, her duty is to take care of people, etc., etc, and that the US would do well to follow that example. I think that these rural small town clinics may be feeding the misperception that Spanish health care is free for foreigners.

 

[jpflavin1]

Joe-- you hang out with more elegant and better-informed folk than I ever will!

Oursonpolaire:

That could be the case but I just show up and walk Camino's like everyone else. I almost exclusively stay in Albergue's and eat Pilgrim meals. I noticed we both walked the Norte in 2014. I did it in April.

Best regards,
Joe

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Thank you Laurie for prompting me see what coverage I do have with my credit card comapany. I am one of these people who had to switch banks last year as part of a deal between two banks and had not looked at the new medical coverage.

Turns out I'm covered for up to 1M$ but only for the first 15 days I am out of my home province. I wonder if this means that if I require care beyond the first 15 days, let's say from day 10 to what would be day 20, if the last 5 days would be covered or not. And this same card only covers people 65 years and older for 4 days. And this is only for hospital costs only.

Will now go check my work policy!

 

[domigee]

I once had to take a very comprehensive insurance policy - when I walked across Europe to Jerusalem - and it was oh so very upsetting.... (Honestly, I felt 'that' high')
The questions!
You're......what did you say? - over 60??? Really? And...you're walking!!??
REALLY? With a rucksack??? Where did you say you were walking to again???



But the end of the story is:

 

[waveprof]

I've had an emergency room trip in Spain (without insurance) and it was all pretty cheap, relatively speaking. Certainly compared to the USA (though that isn't saying much).

My wife and son have dual US and French citizenship, but has never lived in France (though we may be buying property in Spain this summer, jointly with my mom) nor had to pay taxes in Europe. Does anyone know if that automatically qualifies her for the full health care services in the EU while traveling in the EU? Or does she have to do something specific to "register" herself within the health care system?

 

[domigee]

I would contact the Spanish health authorities (the spanish Consulate in your country?).
From what I can gather, if you aren't from a EU country with reciprocal health arrangements, you're considered as a private patient. I could be wrong so please check.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

I've had an emergency room trip in Spain (without insurance) and it was all pretty cheap, relatively speaking. Certainly compared to the USA (though that isn't saying much).

My wife and son have dual US and French citizenship, but has never lived in France (though we may be buying property in Spain this summer, jointly with my mom) nor had to pay taxes in Europe. Does anyone know if that automatically qualifies her for the full health care services in the EU while traveling in the EU? Or does she have to do something specific to "register" herself within the health care system?

It will not. You need to have a residency on top of citizenship. The only time I was fully covered was when I was living and working in Belgium. And what a hassle getting that residency card was (equivalent to the DIN).

 

[Leigh J Christensen]

Ditto. Don't even think of leaving home without travel insurance and read the fine print. Know what's included and, more importantly, excluded in the policy that you have purchased. Luckily, I always do. It's not just medical incidents that need to be covered - as many of the replies from Forum members show. You can also tailor policies to cover what you need.

Also the 'beneficiary' of an 'Emergency Passport' from the Australian Embassy in Paris following a mugging by a gang of youths on the Paris Metro, my Round the World ticketed trip came to an abrupt stop in Ireland. From that point I couldn't continue to travel west to Australia as I needed a full biometric passport to enter or even transit the United States. Our travel insurance covered all extra accommodation, the cancellation and re-ticketing costs as well as new documentation and lost/stolen passport fee.

It seems this started out about health insurance and it's now travel insurance. They are "not" the same. Typically and often, there is some travel insurance inclusive of the credit card you pay for your flight/hotels with. As far as health, THAT you have to purchase. Yes, you can purchase both, but know what your credit cards already cover to save yourself buying something you don't need. Health insurance to cover you out of your country is a necessity (travel insurance for expenses can be viewed as luxury coverage) You do NOT want to be stuck thousands of miles from home with a broken ankle or worse and no health coverage. Your personal health care will not pay. You need an additional policy specific to your travels

 

[Anemone del Camino]

It seems this started out about health insurance and it's now travel insurance. They are "not" the same. As far as health, THAT you have to purchase. Health insurance to cover you out of your country is a necessity. You do NOT want to be stuck thousands of miles from home with a broken ankle or worse and no health coverage. Your personal health care will not pay. You need an additional policy specific to your travels

My credit card covers health insurance, up to a million for the first 15 days away from home. Not as good as my work policy, but still there.

 

[Kanga]

One of the problems is that people don't read their policies - health or travel, or any kind of insurance for that matter. We tend to think in global terms but an insurance policy only covers certain very specific events and only in very specific ways. Then people are surprised and upset when they do read their policy, usually for the first time, when they are refused a claim.

On the camino the classic problem occurs when someone is injured and cannot continue to walk. They may not require medical evacuation, but they can no longer stay in albergues, and must stay in far more expensive hotels, something for which they have not budgeted. What about additional travel costs - buses and trains instead of free feet? Will the policy cover these expenses?

 

[Leigh J Christensen]

One of the problems is that people don't read their policies - health or travel, or any kind of insurance for that matter. We tend to think in global terms but an insurance policy only covers certain very specific events and only in very specific ways. Then people are surprised and upset when they do read their policy, usually for the first time, when they are refused a claim.

On the camino the classic problem occurs when someone is injured and cannot continue to walk. They may not require medical evacuation, but they can no longer stay in albergues, and must stay in far more expensive hotels, something for which they have not budgeted. What about additional travel costs - buses and trains instead of free feet? Will the policy cover these expenses?

Very good points. I think the old adage of "plan for the worst, hope for the best" applies here. Be prepared with a backup plan and a way to pay for it. Hopefully you won't need it. But if you do, you won't worry about how to pay for it

 

[lbpierce]

I have dual citizenship with the USA & Ireland, but am a resident of Mexico. So, as a non-resident of Europe, I don't qualify for EU health coverage (citizenship is not enough). It's been tricky to get travel insurance at my age as a non-resident of the US (68) and almost impossible for my husband at his age (72). We were however able to purchase it through American Airlines when we bought tickets for this year's visit to Spain. And we always buy an annual policy from Medjet Assist, which covers medical evaluation (with medical support) to any hospital of your choice provided that you are an in-patient in a hospital and are deemed stable enough to travel.

 

[tomas segundo]

I'm too am a US citizen and I have Medicare and free secondary coverage but it does not follows me outside of the US or US possessions and neither will Obama care so I purchase travel insurance. Emergency treatment or hospitalization is expensive anywhere. No one plans on getting sick or injured but even a small blister can become a life threatening emergency. If you don't have insurance, if you don't pay for your treatment or care, the tax payers of Spain will. Please be a responsible US citizen and get travel insurance. Buen Camino

 

[tomas segundo]

I am a us citizen of some age and have Medicare and Blue Cross/Blue Shield when at home. Medicare does not apply out of the US but BC/BS does. On Sept. 9, 2016 I collapsed on the Camino Frances just short of Zubiri. I was taken by ambulance to Pamplona where I was examined and released. I offered to pay but was told there was no charge. I returned home the next day. There was a ticket change exclusion as I had not been in Spain for 7 days.. I paid for one way tickets home. Several months later I received a bill from the hospital which I paid. It was very difficult to obtain reimbursement from BC/BS because the bill was not in their usual format. After some threats I was reimbursed nearly fully. My advice is to carry both trip insurance to cover unexpected changes in air travel plans, repatriation expenses; and health insurance. Tomas Segundo

 

[K Turner]

The only reason I can imagine a person would consider not to have travel health inusrance is if they are expensive to insure due to known health issues. Which then makes me wonder: if that is why you are not going to have insurance, aren't you the perfect candidate to carry it?

Some of us don't get that choice. I can't get travel insurance and I'm on the Camino Frances right now.

That said, of course I still recommend it to others.