European countries are known for their high-quality health care system and medical insurance, which provides citizens with access to the necessary services. Find out if the policy applies to foreigners and if expats can count on free medical care in EU countries

When choosing a country to move to, future expats pay attention to many factors - features of the climate and local culture, laws, language, atmosphere, cost of living, job search prospects, etc. However, the latest polls show that the quality of the health care system is also important for almost 70% of people, and most of all, almost all would like medical care to be free of charge.

Which countries in Europe and the world offer health care services to foreigners for free, and are there any at all? We tell.

Is it possible for a tourist or expat to receive medical care in Europe for free?

Among European countries, many states have the so-called "universal", i.e., free health care system. However, this does not mean that anyone can use free services.

Most often, only citizens of the country can receive free medical care in this case. A little less often, this rule applies to foreigners who are officially employed in the state. And tourists can rarely count on free treatment.

Medical service rules in the most popular European countries

- Is medicine in Great Britain free for expats?

If you have permanent residence in the UK, you have access to the country's National Health Service (NHS). However, it is not completely free. Resident visas include an NHS contribution of £1,035 (€1,207) per year for full access to 'free' UK healthcare.

Tourists generally have to pay for all medical services in the UK themselves, except for emergency care.

Read more about the health care system in Great Britain at the link.

- Is medicine in France free for expats?

French law requires all residents to have a health insurance policy. In most cases, it is provided by the French public social security system known as “Assurance maladie”. However, it should be noted that this system does not cover 100% of health care costs. That is why the French and expats additionally buy a private health insurance policy.

Importantly! Foreign nationals who live but do not work in France, such as digital nomads or pensioners, may receive an annual health care bill known as “cotisation subsidieaire maladie”.

Read about the peculiarities of health insurance for foreigners in France in this article.

- Is medicine in Spain free for expats?

Spain's Sistema Nacional de Salud (SNS) is similar to the UK's NHS. Citizens have the right to visit family doctors and receive treatment free of charge. Legal residents also have the right to use this system.

However, as in Great Britain, you should not count on free dental treatment, consultation of an ophthalmologist or a psychiatrist. In such cases, you need a private health insurance policy.

A guide to the Spanish healthcare system in this article.

- Is medicine in Italy free for expats?

Italy divides foreign residents into two categories: those who must register with the National Health Service (“Servizio sanitario nazionale” or SSN) and those who can register voluntarily.

The "required" category usually includes all employed foreigners, as well as those who have a residence permit or apply for citizenship.

Those in the "mandatory" category are eligible to register for SSN free of charge, while those in the "voluntary" category must pay for registration.

Most services in the Italian healthcare system are provided free of charge.

Read about health insurance for expats in Italy in this article.

- Is medicine in Germany free for expats?

Germany's healthcare system is considered one of the best in the world, but unfortunately, it is not free. Health insurance is mandatory for both residents and citizens:

- State health insurance, or “Gesetzliche Krankenversicherung” (GKV), is the most common form of health insurance. If you choose public insurance, you will pay a monthly premium to your health insurance provider that is calculated according to your income. Your employer will also pay the mandatory contributions to your insurance.

- If you are self-employed, own a small business, freelance or work for the public sector, you will most likely have to take out private health insurance or “Private Krankenversicherung” (PKV). The cost of a PKV policy is usually calculated based on a risk assessment carried out by the insurer and usually varies depending on your age and health.

Read more about health insurance in Germany here.

Importantly! The above rules apply exclusively to foreigners who have received a residence permit in the countries. Tourists must have a travel insurance policy during their trip. If it is not available, then you will have to pay for the received medical services yourself.

Are there countries in the world where everyone can get free medical care?

There is only one country in the world where healthcare is free for everyone and that is Brazil.

The healthcare system here is universal and free for everyone, including tourists. According to the Brazilian constitution, health care is considered a human right and is therefore available to all free of charge.

Although the health care system of European countries provides free treatment for expats, it does not always cover a wide range of services, therefore, before moving, study the specifics of the health insurance of the chosen country in detail and, if necessary, take out an international health insurance policy for expats.

We will remind you! In recent years, certain countries in the world have turned into real centers of medical tourism. The list of countries to which you should go to get high-quality treatment at a reasonable price is in this article.

---