EU Healthcare

Cyprus doesn't offer free healthcare but it is low cost.... With a max co-contribution of €150 per annum once that level has been reached then its free for rest of year ... Also a maximum number of visits to doctor depending on age plus specialist referrals at between €6-10....

@SimCityAT

Haven't the smoggiest, but I'm sure you'll have an interesting answer! :-)

However, in general, almost all of the EU provides access to some form of "national health system". And my guess is that most EU countries would be classed as having "universal health care", which is, effectively, provision to ALL citizens since birth. This is obviously a very good thing, and one of the reasons I chose to return to live in the EU.

Moreover, there is portability of healthcare access within the EU by virtue of the EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) and the S1 (entitlement to healthcare certificate for pensioners and certain other workers). I highly recommend that folks on the forum should have one or the other (or both), if they can.

Of course, treatment provided is often not strictly "free". Often, it's nearly-free, and you have to make some contribution, even if it's quite small. From my recollection, France has established a 30% copay which is typically covered by a separate private health insurance policy. The amount you have to pay varies considerably between countries.

In addition, these universal care systems are funded either by taxation or by some form of healthcare / social security contributions, or a combination of the two. Thus some argumentative folks will try to present these systems as actually not being free. They are, officially, "free at the point of access".

Again, I highly recommend that all folks on the forum make the necessary contributions in their new country so that they are covered by the system. If you're employed or self-employed, this is typically mandatory (and often pretty much automatic). Otherwise, it may be possible to register as unemployed and make smaller contributions. Personally, I pay about 20 euros per month as an unemployed person in Bulgaria.

While Bulgaria has a very good healthcare system, it's not, I think, "universal". It's possible to be uninsured, which means that care could be refused. Most other EU countries will typically provide some form of care in emergencies even for tourists, illegal aliens, and other uninsured (which is why they'd be classed as universal).

Cyprus is a very small country, and only introduced its national health fairly recently, so perhaps there are some gaps there too.

France, Germany, Spain and the Scandinavian countries have widely applauded healthcare systems. If you live there, lucky you. :-)

Bulgaria is still the poorest country in the EU, so I'd imagine some potential expats might have concerns about the implications of this on their healthcare. The public system is OK, and, unusually, (most) private hospitals are affiliated with this system and hence receive significant reimbursement. Private hospitals patients therefore pay a small surcharge (out of pocket or via a separate private health policy similar to France). My experience of private hospitals in Bulgaria is excellent and the surcharge is minimal. This is by far the best healthcare system I've ever used.

No such thing as free healthcare. Public options are  paid for through fees, usually monthly based on one's income. The UK does it through taxes, but they are no longer in the EU. Many have a dual system with public or private options. It is dis-concerning when people conflate terms like "free", single-payer and public options. It seems what most mean when talking about "free" is a public option, which may or may not be single-payer,  with no out-of-pocket payments. But this is often not much different than private insurance that pays the bills directly so that payments really just mean paying one's premiums.

Netherlands is via Healthcare Insurance.  Nothing is free, everybody pays; those who are on social security benefits will have healthcare insurance deducted from any payments they receive.

Further even those who work in Cyprus pay into the Cyprus national health system (GESY) and they do so at a rate of 2.65% of income and then still pay low fees for doc visits specialists and meds

@TominStuttgart

When people use the term "free healthcare" they are typically referring to a "national health system" or other form of public health system. As this is available pretty much in every EU country, this makes perfect sense.

As noted in my earlier post, most folks know that such "free" systems are not totally free. We all know they are paid for by direct healthcare related contributions, or taxation, or some combination of both. However, the key is that they are "free at the point of access". Even in this aspect, most folks also know that it's often not the case that it's 100% free (although sometimes it is).

The key issue is that it provides free or nearly-free care when you need it.

Private health options are a totally different animal. No money, or no healthcare policy, means no treatment. And even with a policy, there are often deductibles and exemptions which can be significant.

I like private hospitals and private treatment, and if you have the means I highly recommend it. But I also like public healthcare systems and I think that most folks, even if they have (or can afford) private options, should make sure (if possible, and if available) that they have public cover too.

    @TominStuttgart
When people use the term "free healthcare" they are typically referring to a "national health system" or other form of public health system. As this is available pretty much in every EU country, this makes perfect sense.

As noted in my earlier post, most folks know that such "free" systems are not totally free. We all know they are paid for by direct healthcare related contributions, or taxation, or some combination of both. However, the key is that they are "free at the point of access". Even in this aspect, most folks also know that it's often not the case that it's 100% free (although sometimes it is).

The key issue is that it provides free or nearly-free care when you need it.

Private health options are a totally different animal. No money, or no healthcare policy, means no treatment. And even with a policy, there are often deductibles and exemptions which can be significant.

I like private hospitals and private treatment, and if you have the means I highly recommend it. But I also like public healthcare systems and I think that most folks, even if they have (or can afford) private options, should make sure (if possible, and if available) that they have public cover too.
   

    -@gwynj

Actually, many, at least outside of Europe do NOT know they are not free. The term is misleading, very often misunderstood and should be avoided. And the misunderstandings seems to be common on both sides of the issue, for or against such public options. Any discussions of the subject needs to explicitly define the  terms. If one means a a public option, then they should just  say so and NOT use "free".