Got sent a bill even though my ehic was accepted

Hemrone

I had to get some treatment for my ear when I was in Germany and although they accepted my ehic card, I've recently received a bill through the post with them demanding money I can't afford to pay.

Does anyone know where do I stand with this? Is there much chance they will will pursue the matter if I choose not to respond?

pollypenny

I would respond, reminding them that you gave your EHIC card details.

Grumpelstiltskin

Have you read what the NHS say about EHIC and Germany?


http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcareabroad/countryguide/Pages/healthcareinGermany.aspx

Hemrone

Yeah, I clarified they were public before I used them and they accepted my number. I'm gonna give the ehic help team a buzz asking them what happened before doing anything else I think cheers for the replies

ellay864

Do you have travel insurance? My understanding is that EHIC limits you to access to local state-healthcare at reduced rate or free, but what is free in one country might not be in another, and certain treatments would not be covered at all. Travel insurance is more likely to cover more treatments

zagfles

Hemrone wrote: »

Yeah, I clarified they were public before I used them and they accepted my number. I'm gonna give the ehic help team a buzz asking them what happened before doing anything else I think cheers for the replies

Have a look at http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcareabroad/countryguide/Pages/healthcareinGermany.aspx

It's happened to me before, in Sweden, I just sent them a letter stating they'd accepted the EHIC (or might have been E111 then) and heard nothing more.

knightstyle

Could be like France, some charges are not covered by EHIC, meals, housekeeping and a few others.

martindow

EHIC should entitle you to the same benefits as locals in the EC. As others have said this does not necessarily mean it is entirely free. They could well be asking you to pay the same bill as a German would have to.

Archergirl

But I expect you could then claim that back from your travel ins, you did have some I hope.............

murmeltier

This happened to me a couple of years back in Germany. Had to take my son for emergency treatment in hospital, EHIC was taken & accepted, received a bill a few weeks later for a few thousand euros.


I phoned them up and pointed out that they had taken copies of EHIC, passport etc at time of admission. They couldn't find anything in their records, agreed it was probably their bad and asked me to send a copy of EHIC & passport. Never heard anything again from them. This was in 2010.


I also spoke to the UK EHIC team at that time who said that I could pay the bill myself and then submit it to them for reimbursement. They did warn me though that this would take some time to process.