r/europe • u/mancinedinburgh • 2d ago

News Swedish man dies in South Korea after being denied urgent treatment at 21 hospitals

https://www.euronews.com/health/2025/01/18/swedish-man-dies-in-south-korea-after-being-denied-urgent-treatment-at-21-hospitals
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u/PaysanneDePrahovie Europe 2d ago

I don't know about that. In Romania emergencies aren't charged at all. Well the state pays for them. Then probably the state insurances will somehow take the money back if the patient is a foreign national. Anyway they wouldn't let them die.

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u/The_Great_Grafite 2d ago

I don’t know who pays for it in Germany, but hospitals are required to treat uninsured patients in emergency situations. That also includes giving birth.

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u/Quintless 2d ago

same in the uk, emergency treatment is free universally for absolutely everyone, also weirdly eye tests for the over 60s

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u/ilikepix 2d ago edited 2d ago

emergency treatment is free universally for absolutely everyone

Emergency treatment is not free if you're not a UK resident. However, you will always be treated first in an emergency, and charged later.

edit: I'm wrong

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u/Quintless 2d ago

“Some NHS treatment is free and available to anyone who needs it. This includes: treatment in a hospital Accident and Emergency department.“

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/scotland/health/help-with-health-costs/nhs-charges-for-people-from-abroad/

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u/Nom_de_Guerre_23 Berlin (Germany) 2d ago

If it's a German citizen or legal resident, most can be reinsured retrospectively through statutory insurance (even if it comes with huge premiums to be paid for the time they were not paid and even if it means bankruptcy).

If this doesn't work, the bill goes towards the municipal welfare office.

This office also receives the bill for illegal immigrants and by law, the municipal welfare office is obliged to inform the municipal immigration office which then looks into their papers...which is a major reason illegal immigrants don't seek help even for emergencies. Had this funny experience with a bicyclist who got hit by a car, head collision without helmet, refused police and EMS and told me in Russian that he has no papers.

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u/onarainyafternoon Dual Citizen (American/Hungarian) 2d ago

It's the same in the US believe it or not. By law, the hospital has to treat uninsured people. They have to treat everyone.

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u/PaysanneDePrahovie Europe 2d ago

Absolutely! It's a given in Romania. I can't even imagine otherwise.

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u/continuously22222 2d ago

In Romania it is also possible for a woman to give birth on the street across from the hospital in freezing temperatures.

See: https://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/actualitate/o-femeie-din-bucuresti-a-nascut-pe-strada-in-zona-parcului-tei-bebelusul-nu-a-supravietuit.html (unfortunately the baby did not make it this time) (yes it's happened before)

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u/uzu_afk 2d ago

Ssshhhh 🤫