Health insurance emergency number: what is it, and should you take it with you on a trip or while backpacking?
- What is the emergency number of your health insurance?
- What do you use the emergency number of your health insurance for?
- What should you have ready when you call the emergency number?
- Where can you find the emergency number of your health insurance?
- What do you do if you do not have a phone or internet, when you have to contact the emergency number?
- Do you always have to call the emergency centre for medical assistance?
What is the emergency number of your health insurance?
- This is the emergency number of your health insurer, specifically intended for when you need urgent medical assistance abroad. Think of hospitalization, an operation, or medical repatriation.
- Please note: with some insurances company, the emergency number goes through a separate organization, such as Eurocross, Allianz Global Assistance or SOS International.
What do you use the emergency number of your health insurance for?
- You use the emergency number, when need to be admitted to hospital urgently.
- You use the emergency number, when you need help getting home with a medical indication.
- Use the emergency number, when you need treatment that is expensive or specialist.
- When the doctor wants to discuss payment or medical approval, use the emergency number.
- Use the emergency number, when you really want to talk to someone with medical knowledge and insurance logic.
What should you have ready when you call the emergency number?
- Your insurance number.
- The patient's details (if you are calling on behalf of someone else).
- A brief description of what happened and what is needed.
- The name of the hospital or clinic where you are.
- If applicable, the doctor's contact details.
Where can you find the emergency number of your health insurance?
- You can find the emergency number on your physical health insurance card - keep it with your passport!
- In the app of your health insurer (often also accessible offline).
- In your policy schedule or e-mail confirmation is the emergency number of your health insurance stated.
- On the website of your insurer (search for: "alarm center" or "medical assistance abroad").
- In a note in your phone or notebook.
- On paper in your wallet or backpack (extra safe).
What do you do if you do not have a phone or internet, when you have to contact the emergency number?
- Ask a local hospital, pharmacy or hotel for help - they often call emergency centers free of charge.
- Have your travel companion call with your details. Use an international telephone (for example via a hotel reception or local telephone shop).
- Make sure you have the emergency number on paper in advance – possibly in multiple languages (English/Spanish/French) when you are in areas where little English is spoken.
Do you always have to call the emergency centre for medical assistance?
- Yes, especially in the case of:
- Admissions.
- Operations.
- Emergency care with high costs.
- Why? Because the staff of the emergency number can help with
- Paying the bills in the hospital directly.
- An indication which clinic or doctor is reliable and recognised.
- Arranging help with translation, transport or repatriation.
- Preventing you from finding a bill of 12,000 euros on your doormat afterwards.
- For smaller matters (doctor's visits, antibiotics) you usually do not have to call the emergency number, but you can – then you know for sure whether you will be reimbursed.
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