Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

Can anyone help. My mum has been admitted to Larnaca General Hospital after she had a heart attack on the plane when travelling over here. She has been in intensive care for the last 3 days.
The nurses on the ward took a copy of her European Health Insurance Card but today handed me a hospital form asking me to fill it in which is asking for details of the patient, next of kin and has a statement on the top saying to the effect that "I undertake to pay all expenses due to the hospital for the treatment".

My question is, I thought the E111 and now the EHIC card covered all costs. When I looked up the website tonight it says you may be entitled to have some or all costs paid. I am worried and my dad is distraught enough too without thinking about this one. We don't want to sign a form that doesn't have a cost stipulated on it, we could be writing an open cheque to the hospital.

What doesn't the EHIC card cover? Should intensive care treatment be included in the cover?

The EHIC card should cover to the equivalent as to what the local population would get. Not necessarily all costs, which it would cover foreign nationals holding one in the UK.

Teatime, you've hit the nail on the head as to the reason for my question " Not necessarily all costs". Does anyone know what costs are not covered?

Should I be signing a document from the hospital that does not state an amount for us to be charged on it?

Am pushing this to the top again just in case someone can give me any advice from the benefit of their experience???

I'm taking my laptop with me this morning so can try to log on later to pick up any information anyone can give.

Thanks in anticipation ...

Bump

Lets try again

The NHS letter that accompanied my card (issued in March 2010) says "The EHIC entitles you to reduced cost (or sometimes free) healthcare where treatment becomes necessary during a temporary visit to other countries of of the European Economic Area or Switzerland. The card is only valid for treatment offered under the state healthcare schemes operating in these countries; it gives you access to treatment under the same terms as people that live in the country you are visiting."

It then states that the card is not a substitute for travel insurance.

So you need to know what the state healthcare scheme in the RoC offers. I take it your parents are covered by travel insurance?

The hospital are bound to want a signature to cover themselves for any additional costs not covered by their own scheme.

Missed another thing in my letter. "Further information, including a full list of countries covered along with details of their 'health systems' can be found on line at http://www.nhs.uk/healthcareabroad. We strongly advise that you take this information with you when you travel, as it also tells you what to do if treatment does become necessary during your trip".

No guarantee of course, that the website link has not changed, but the info must be there somewhere.

Hi Pippie.
I do hope all goes well with your mum and she gets well soon. You must be frantic with all of this worry.
My friend recently broke her leg whilst out on holiday and claimed all medical expenses on her travel insurance.
Hope this helps.

If your Mum has travel insurance you need to contact them straight away the will give you all the advice. When I was in hospital in Turkey the hospital sorted everything out for me with the insurance

My deepest condolences Pippie I wrote and posted this before seeing your other post can't delete this one but have modified it.
I sympathize and know what you are going through as I have just finished paying for treatment received by my wife when she had a heart attack last month here in TRNC. I had to sign a form in Turkish when she was on her way to the operating theatre, didn't have a clue what it said but had to sign to save her life.
I had to ask friends and family to help with the bill and we got there yesterday when I got my passport back (surety).