I broke my wrist outside of Portomarín. Went to the hospital in Lugo and had it set. I only knew a little Spanish, and my vocabulary did not include any anatomy or medical words. They did not speak any English. The cast was too tight, and did not accommodate the swelling. I went to the hospital in Santiago five days later to have it checked out. They did their best, but I had to have an open reduction with a plate when I returned home. I had three great weeks in Spain with the my family, ibuprofen, and vino tinto.
When I checked in at the desk in the hospital in Santiago, they called a translator (on staff) to escort me around the hospital. She helped me check in, escorted me through the various departments (emergency, x-ray, billing, etc.). She helped translate with each of the doctors and nurses, and made sure I understood exactly what was going on. She was friendly, helpful, and supportive. I even got a stamp on my credential from the hospital. I wish I had my cast stamped instead of my credential along the way. It would have been a unique souvenir.
I did incur a hospital bill, but it was cheap relative to US standards. I may have been able to avoid it by just giving my insurance information. However, when asked how I wanted to pay … I offered up my credit card. I may have been too liberal in the use of the word free, but I was referring to the translator. There was no specific charge for the translator only the normal x-rays, etc.
FYI, in Lugo they only took my insurance information and passport. I have still not received a bill for the services incurred on May 25. I am not sure if it was gratis because I was a pilgrim, the lack of billing infrastructure, or it is in the mail.