Ambulance Charge?

[mpjacko]

Hi,

Can anyone tell me the fee (with a link) to the cost of calling an ambulance?

Just before christmas, we had to call 112 for an ambulance for my mother inlaw who has come across to Oulu to stay with us for christmas. After spending the afternoon in the hospital, my wife came home with a ambulance bill of 88,42 euros.

My mother inlaw will claim on her travel insurance for these expenses but on the British NHS website it says

There is a standard charge of €9.25 fro ambulance services in Finland. If you are transferred from one hospital to another, charges will be included in the standard daily hospital patient fee. In all cases you should present your EHIC as charges often are non-refundable in Finland but you may be able to seek reimbursement when you are back in the UK.

At the time, the paramedics were given her E111 form but the price of 88 euro seems quite excessive. Is this right?

Thanks

Mark

[AldenG]

Be glad you're not in the U.S., where it can easily be $800-1000. Dollars.

[luzuzulu]

First of all there is no stanard charge in Finland, it depends in what town you life. last time i had to go to a clinic is a few years back but then i payd 11e. If a ambulance has to pick you up, there will be a extra charge according to distance. Also when you have to stay overnight it will be a lot more costy.

[Upphew]

There is a standard charge of €9.25 fro ambulance services in Finland.

After KELA coverage.

[jmakinen]

€88 sure sounds cheap for a non-KELA patient. A taxi to the airport can be at least that in a lot of cases.

I think one should just say 'thank you'

[Rip]

Link in Finnish for the same 9.25€
http://www.stm.fi/sosiaali_ja_terveyspa ... ankuljetus

That is the price for people with KELA insurance.

Generally for non-insured foreigners charging the actual costs would seem common sense. 88€ in that case would probably mean they did not need to drive very far.

EU-citizens (and other legal residents?) are entitled when visiting other EU countries enjoy the public health care in the country they visit on the same terms and costs as the natives (so should put back to the 9.25€ again) - however you need to the proper documentation for it, and if Google search for e111 I get as the first result

http://www.e111.org.uk/
with:
"E111 for European travellers has now been replaced by the European Health Insurance Card" and "The EHIC is the replacement for the E111. As of 1 January 2006, E111’s are not valid."

So there is your problem (although it seems it is more problem of your in-law's insurance company).

[mpjacko]

Link in Finnish for the same 9.25€
http://www.stm.fi/sosiaali_ja_terveyspa ... ankuljetus

That is the price for people with KELA insurance.

Generally for non-insured foreigners charging the actual costs would seem common sense. 88€ in that case would probably mean they did not need to drive very far.

EU-citizens (and other legal residents?) are entitled when visiting other EU countries enjoy the public health care in the country they visit on the same terms and costs as the natives (so should put back to the 9.25€ again) - however you need to the proper documentation for it, and if Google search for e111 I get as the first result

http://www.e111.org.uk/
with:
"E111 for European travellers has now been replaced by the European Health Insurance Card" and "The EHIC is the replacement for the E111. As of 1 January 2006, E111’s are not valid."

So there is your problem (although it seems it is more problem of your in-law's insurance company).

We understand that non-KELA users would have to pay more but as you've pointed out the EHIC card we gave the ambulance crew should have meant she would be charged as a 'local', should it not?

The bill needs to be paid soon so we were wondering who we should contact to see if the amount is correct given she is an EU resident and had her EHIC card with her at the time? We will pay either way and claim back later but don't want to risk paying out 88e to find we'll only get 9.25e back as the 'standard' rate.

We know no one here is an expert but all advice and help is much appreciated! Happy 2011 everyone!

Thanks

[sinikettu]

Go visit the Kela office and ask ....
Notaarintie, Oulu or Mallasaitankuja 6, Oulu