Claiming back medical costs

[Im a BusyBee]

We are just back from a nightmare holiday in france where my husband had to visit doctor twice and dentist once and over the fortnight had 9 prescriptions. The doctor said we had to pay and then claim the money back from our nhs. does anyone know the address to send the form to? also its totally in french and im not sure what information i need to fill in where! Any help would be appreciated, thank you

[dzug]

Claim from your holiday insurance - far simpler

If you are relying on your EHIC then the booklet that came with it tells to the refund process - you have to claim from the local sickness office in the area you received the treatment.

If you had neither insurance nor EHIC you are probably stuck with the cost.

EHIC Enquiries
PO Box 1114
Newcastle on Tyne
NE99 2TL

0845 605 0707

may be able to help

[Im a BusyBee]

thanks for your quick answer. we do/did have holiday insurance its just that the doctor told us to claim back from our nhs (his words exactly!). I have my EHIC card but dont remember where the booklet is. I shall do as you suggest and get in touch with my insurance company. I could not understand why the doctor said we could claim back for prescriptions when, over here, we have to pay for them anyway??

[dzug]

You are entitled to the same services as a French resident. That includes partial refund of prescription charges.

If you want another booklet just ask for an application form in your local Post Office - they should give one out with every form (it's part of the application pack). Ask if they don't.

[buildersmate]

There's some info on the EHIC website if you don't fancy a trip to the Post Office, but I don't know if it is the identical info (you'd think it should be). However it does have the added advantage of being available in Welsh, for our minority readers.
https://www.ehic.org.uk/Internet/home.do

[mirkle]

I've spent about two hours searching for the answer to this question on the internet as had sprained ankle in Barcelona and went to A & E to have it checked out. I didnt have insurance or the EHIC card. At the hospital they said I could claim the money back. I think I can fairly safely say that NOWHERE on any DOH or DWP website does it say how you go about this. I have discovered that there is a phone number (0191 218 1999) you can call which allows you to request a form to be sent to you which you can fill out with the details of your emergency treatment. As I havent received it yet I cant give any more details. Presuambly such secrecy is intended to force more people to take out EHIC cards. Indeed in NI38, the leaflet from the Inland Revenue on 'Social Security Abroad' it states 'You cannot get back from the UK National Health Service money you have paid for medical treatment abroad'.