Paying for Dialysis

(If you live in Europe, please read about the E111)

Paying for dialysis can make a big dent in your holiday budget,  so we are trying to compile a list of options. Please let us know if you are aware of any other options or believe the information below is incorrect.

Kidney Patient Associations

Before you travel, contact your kidney patient association. Some of them have their own holiday dialysis units for patient members and some will contribute towards the cost of your holiday.

Dialysis Networks

If you are using a centre that is part of a network (eg. Fresenius has 1000 centres around the world), then you might be able to use another centre in the same network without additional cost? It makes sense, but we have never asked the question! 

Reciprocal Agreements

European Economic Area

The EHIC covers treatment for nationals of the EEA and Switzerland, it also covers treatment in some EEA dependencies:

• Guadeloupe (Overseas Department of France) the AUDRA centres accept E111.

There are other dependencies - but we haven't yet verified that they accept EHIC.

United Kingdom

• European Economic Area
• Reciprocal agreement with parts of Australia and New Zealand - According to the NHSIS Guide : "Renal dialysis is the subject of a specific understanding between the UK and Australia, to the effect that such care would be regarded as immediately necessary NHS treatment, and thus within the scope of the UK/Australia reciprocal health care agreement, subject to prior arrangement and spare capacity in the renal unit. In view of this no NHS charge should be made. This provision is unique to Australia."  
• We did mention a reciprocal agreement with Canada, unfortunately the information is incorrect and we are not aware of any agreements.
• US/Canada - we have heard from a couple of patients that have travelled to the US and Canada that had  60% (2 patients) and 100% (1 patient) of their treatment paid for. It would seem you need to check with your unit or health authority.

The NHSIS Guide published by the Scottish Office lists reciprocal agreements with several countries, for visitors to and from the UK, but only mentions dialysis with Australia. This may be because this is a specific arrangement and the other agreements include dialysis.

Australia

The Australian Health Insurance Commission web site has some excellent information for Australians travelling abroad. The page lists reciprocal agreements with Finland, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. We haven't yet verified that the agreements cover dialysis treatment.

There is also a page for visitors to Australia.

Netherlands

We have been informed by a patient from the Netherlands that their public health insurance paid for their dialysis in Canada.