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jpflavin1 said:My first Camino I only made it to where the road splits off to Arneguy. My heart rate was 225. I was sitting on the side of the road and a passing German Pilgrim asked if I was ok. I said, I was not and He stopped and sat with me. I had Atrial Fib that I believe was exacerbated by the altitude. He got in contact with the Pilgrim office and the head of the CSJ in the area drove up and brought me to the care center in SJPdP. They asked me several questions and took my vitals and said they thought I had a minor stroke, which they could not test for or treat. They billed me 264 Euro's and called an ambulance. The ambulance took me to the regional hospital in Bayonne and charged me 178 Euros. I spent two days in the cardiac ward in Bayonne. Had an MRI, 2-ECG, and an Echo cardiogram. Total bill $2,450. Euro's. The ambulance and clinic bills were very similar to what one might pay in the U.S.. The hospital bill was very inexpensive in comparison to the U.S.. I had insurance and was re-imbursed when I returned to the States.
Before leaving the States, I got a letter from my insurance provider with contact information while traveling that was very helpful. I would recommend anyone traveling to have insurance.
The major difference in the U.S. vs. E.U. system is that American doctors and medical institutions are for profit. I found the French system to be every bit as efficient as any good hospital in America.
There is much more to this story that I may share in another thread some day.
As a footnote, my German friend and I met the next year in SJPdP and walked the entire Camino w/o incident and still remain good friends.
Ultreya,
Joe
That notation got me a free vital signs checkup in Sarria when I was feeling "weak." It was only five minutes for a blood pressure and blood sugar test, but it would have been $500 in any U.S. emergency room.I did see on my file that I was classed as a pilgrim.
falcon269 said:That notation got me a free vital signs checkup in Sarria when I was feeling "weak." It was only five minutes for a blood pressure and blood sugar test, but it would have been $500 in any U.S. emergency room.I did see on my file that I was classed as a pilgrim.
I passed out in a shop in Madrid two years ago, and I received excellent and immediate medical attention. When I asked how much it would cost, they laughed and told me that the care is completely free. Now, my husband is a Spanish citizen, so I don't know if that had anything to do with it, but I certainly am not. Regardless, I am so appreciative of the care and attention, even if it had cost me something, I would have been glad to pay.
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