What happens if you have to go to the hospital in another country?
Asked by: Kaia Jacobi | Last update: October 3, 2025Score: 4.6/5 (53 votes)
What happens if you have an emergency in another country?
If you are a U.S. citizen who needs assistance outside the U.S., find and contact the nearest U.S. embassy for help with: Foreign crises and natural disasters. Lost or stolen passports. Medical emergencies.
What happens if an American goes to the hospital in Europe?
Be aware that you will likely have to pay out of pocket for any medical treatment, even if your insurance company provides international health care coverage. A visit to the emergency room can be free or cost only a nominal fee, or it can be expensive, depending on where you are and what treatment you need.
What happens if you don't pay a hospital bill in another country?
If no action is taking on your medical bill and you do not pay what is owed, additional charges can be added to your account balance in the form of late fees and interest. Additionally, the healthcare provider can move your balance into international debt collection or file a lawsuit against you.
Does health insurance cover you in a foreign country?
Before you go, consider your insurance options.
U.S. Medicare and Medicaid do not cover medical costs overseas. Private U.S. insurance policies also might not cover any or all expenses. Check with your insurance before traveling to see if it provides coverage overseas.
What happens if you have a medical emergency abroad?
What if I get sick in another country?
Special care if you become ill or injured while traveling
Contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for a list of local healthcare providers and medical facilities. If your illness is serious, consular officers can help you find medical assistance. If you want, they can inform your family and friends.
Can you go to a hospital in another country?
Find out if your health insurance covers medical care abroad. Travelers are usually responsible for paying hospital and other medical expenses out of pocket at most destinations. Make sure you have a plan to get care overseas, in case you need it.
What happens if you ignore hospital bills?
If you do nothing and don't pay, you could be facing late fees and interest, debt collection, lawsuits, garnishments, and lower credit scores.
Do foreigners have to pay hospital bills?
Since the United States does not have universal healthcare, visitors to the United States will be left paying out-of-pocket for medical expenses if they don't have travel medical insurance or have additional expenses that aren't eligible for coverage to pay for.
What happens if you leave a hospital without paying?
In short, you have the right to leave the hospital without paying your bill. Whether you have paid or not has no impact on your right to make a medical decision. Additionally, you may leave without signing the discharge form. The healthcare provider would still consider this as leaving against medical advice.
What happens if you need to go to the doctor in another country?
The U.S. government does not pay overseas medical bills. The patient must pay all hospital and other expenses. You can find lists of doctors and hospitals in the country you are visiting. Check the website of the U.S. embassy in the country you are visiting.
What happens if a tourist gets sick in the US without insurance?
If a tourist gets sick in the USA without insurance, they are responsible for covering all medical expenses out of pocket. Healthcare in the USA is expensive, and even basic treatments or emergency services can result in significant bills.
How do Americans get healthcare in Europe?
Publicly Funded Insurance
A lot of countries in Europe offer publicly funded health insurance. Taxation is the primary means to cover cost and everyone has the option for health care no matter what their situation. Depending on the country, social health care can cover part of or all of prescription medication.
What happens if you dial 911 in a foreign country?
In over 98 percent of locations in Argentina, Sint Maarten, Panama, Belize, Anguilla, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Jordan, Ethiopia, Liberia, Saudi Arabia, Philippines, Uruguay, the United States, Iraq, Palau, Mexico, Tonga and Canada, dialing 911 from any telephone will link the caller to an emergency dispatch office—called a ...
What happens if a US citizen gets kidnapped in another country?
The U.S. Department of State provides advice, guidance, and assistance to its embassies and consulates and, through the Office of Overseas Citizens Services, facilitates the exchange of information between U.S. embassies and consulates and victim service providers. Immediate assistance, in person or on the telephone.
What happens if you get stuck in a country with no money?
If you have no other way to get money, you may be able to get a temporary repatriation or evacuation loan through the U.S. State Department. Look up and contact a U.S. Embassy or consulate to ask about evacuation and repatriation loans.
What happens if a foreigner goes to a US hospital?
Foreign visitors without travel health insurance will have to pay out of pocket for their medical treatment. While there are a few welfare hospitals in the US, most have gone bankrupt and those who remain have very long wait times for non-emergency treatment.
What happens if you don't pay medical bills under $500?
Waiting to pay can be beneficial
That means if the card becomes delinquent, even debts under $500 can appear on your credit report and hurt your score. Despite the potential consequences of ignoring a medical debt, there are some advantages to letting the bill go unpaid.
Do foreigners get free healthcare in the US?
Undocumented immigrants are not eligible to enroll in federally funded coverage including Medicaid, CHIP, or Medicare or to purchase coverage through the ACA Marketplaces.
Can a hospital turn you away for unpaid bills?
Even if you owe a hospital for past-due bills, that hospital cannot turn you away from its emergency room. This is your right under a federal law called the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA).
Do unpaid medical bills ever go away?
Do Unpaid Medical Bills Ever Go Away? After enough time has passed, unpaid medical debts may become uncollectible under your state's statute of limitations for debt. This means you can no longer be sued for those medical bills. That does not, however, erase the debt or the associated credit reporting.
Is it safe to go to Mexico for surgery?
“For over 10 years of operating in different Mexican cities, we have never had any incidents or harm to any of our patients.” – Dr. Ron Elli, Ph. D., CEO of MBC. Mexico has an excellent safety record as well as the highest success rates for weight loss surgery and cosmetics procedures.
What if an American gets sick in France?
In Case of Medical Emergency
If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please contact French Emergency Services. For life or death emergencies, dial 112 for immediate assistance.
Does health insurance cover out of country?
Generally, most domestic health insurance policies are not accepted abroad, so there is a benefit to purchasing travel medical insurance as a supplement to your health insurance coverage. The travel medical coverage is only valid while you're traveling.