• albert180@piefed.social
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      4 days ago

      From commercial providers. It’s not necessary for EU Citizens travelling inside the EU/EEA as they are treated like people in the national systems for emergencies.

      But it simplifies a lot because you can go to any doctor and sometimes they play dumb and pretend they don’t know about the rules and want to force you to pay out of pocket (Happened to me in Austria, I’ve just reported them to the Austrian Health Insurance, he wanted 200€ which is outrageous overpriced and was a contracted doctor of ÖGK). Especially in Eastern Europe. But that applies only to GPs, Hospitals usually play by the rules.

      And it’s also useful for travelling outside of the EU

      • ℍ𝕂-𝟞𝟝@sopuli.xyz
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        4 days ago

        Especially in Eastern Europe.

        In post-Soviet countries, it was sadly normal that doctors would demand bribes on top of state insurance. The most outrageous shit I heard was and ob/gyn charging a months salary for a birth, half a month if it turned out to be a girl.

      • SkunkWorkz@lemmy.world
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        4 days ago

        Not necessary but some countries have a deductible. Like in the Netherlands hospitals will charge you up to €380 and only claim the costs above that amount from your insurer. So cheaper to get travel insurance.

        • albert180@piefed.social
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          3 days ago

          If that’s all you’re worried about then paying a insurance 20-80€ a year to insure a risk of 380€ would be a pretty stupid idea, and on average certainly not cheaper

          • SkunkWorkz@lemmy.world
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            3 days ago

            You don’t have to pay every year if you are not going on holiday every year. Also not everything will be covered by your normal health insurance, like if you need to get air lifted back home.

      • Einstein@sh.itjust.works
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        4 days ago

        Thanks. I should have been more specific on my question, thats on me. Like, would I get it through my current health insurance in the US, like an addon to my plan? Or would I get it through a provider in the country/EU where I would travel too?