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Sorry, this is going to be vague as I'm currently collating information. I'll add more detail as I get it.
On holiday to a Greek island last month, I collapsed from dehydration and apparently had a seizure (I have no prior history of such things). I was admitted to hospital for a couple of days where they gave me a CT scan, pumped me full of fluids, gave me a bag of drugs and sent me on my way.
Everything in the hospital was covered via the GHIC, so that's fine. However, because she didn't have my card my partner paid for the initial triage I think at what we'd call a pharmacy (I was slightly unconscious at the time). TL;DR, I'm fine now but am €1300 out of pocket.
I've called the travel insurance people who asked me a load of questions before sending me a form which I have to complete and pass to my GP to have them release medical details before processing a claim. One of the things that the insurer asked was whether the triage would have been covered and thus they could simply reclaim it, something which hadn't occurred to me.
After speaking with them I did a bit of legwork and discovered that I can reclaim on the GHIC retroactively. So I've spoken with the NHS, the process seems to be simpler on my end (understandably, they're reclaiming costs rather than paying out themselves, and one would assume that they already have my medical history) but will rely on the authorities in Greece refunding the NHS before the NHS can then refund us and that could take however long it takes.
The slight fly in the ointment is the only documentation I have pre-admittance is a till receipt from the pharmacy which is light on detail. I've got a stack of paperwork from the hospital stay itself but that's all been dealt with (it's literally all Greek to me but Google Lens is pretty hot on translation and there's nothing relating to the initial admittance, just the subsequent treatment).
So. Ahead of me sitting down with my partner and trying to extract more details and hopefully (but unlikely) forgotten paperwork, has anyone been through this before? Am I better off pursuing the insurance claim? Putting that on hold whilst I try to reclaim directly? Pursue both? Something else?
Thanks in advance.
I think… I’d be speaking to my insurer and quoting consumer duty at them. Have you done anything that a reasonable person would see as wrong? You were ill, you did a thing.
I’d be expressing some dissatisfaction
Something like 18 years ago our eldest got an ear infection in Switzerland and we had to pay a GP to diagnose and arrange antibiotics. It was fairly modest £100-200 that we paid, and on returning home it was the insurer that pointed us to claiming it back through the NHS reciprocal scheme. Long time ago but seem to remember it was painless but very slow (only got paid once the Swiss had agreed to cover it).
I think… I’d be speaking to my insurer and quoting consumer duty at them. Have you done anything that a reasonable person would see as wrong? You were ill, you did a thing.
I’d be expressing some dissatisfaction
I don’t know what the OPs policy actually states but it probably isn’t unusual if it says it only covers medical costs you can’t claim back yourself. So the insurer could refuse your claim and you’d be no further forward. I’d claim through NHs/GHIC and if no progress in a timescale you think is reasonable then ask insurer, with the evidence that you’ve tried and no got anywhere. I would tell the insurer this was my plan so if you do need them there’s no “undue delay”.
Now how long will Greek and U.K. authorities take - I’m guessing 4-5 months! But an insurer might take at least half that anyway, maybe more if your GP is slow replying to their request. My caveat would be does GHiC cover at least the paid sum less the excess? If not you need to factor that in - the deal is it covers the same as a local citizen.