EU Healthcard Has Given Me Free Surgery - Is This For Real?

Hello...

I have a question. I have a small health problem that I require day surgery for to correct. I have a European Union healthcard (you know the purple one), that I got from the UK. When I seen the doctor at the hospital about my surgery I showed him my healthcard and he told me that because I have this card they can do my surgery for free.

I am a little surprised because I thought I would have to pay private fees as this is not an emergency. I thought the healthcard only covered emergencies. Is this correct? Not that I am complaining because it is great that I can have the surgery for free, but what happens for payment? After surgery will the hospital contact England for payment? And may England refuse to pay and then I am saddled with a large bill? I am not sure how this works and I am not sure if I am missing something here. It all seems too good to be true.

Thank you in advance,

Ian

The rules say that it only covers emergency medical treatment.

In theory, but the general attitude seems to be that the EHIC card entitles you to the same care as a national of the country would receive. Which is quite sensible and actually goes further than they intended - but seeing as you're entitled to receive care anywhere in the EU anyway, it's a much less bureaucratic solution.

I have one and I got a visit to the doctor for free, and cut price antibiotics. Also, I didnt have to hang around while they got numbers etc for paperwork (I dont have my insurance book yet)..... on the other hand, the staff in the medical centre had never seen the card before, only heard of it, and weren't really sure what to do with it so it may have been an accident!