How much does it cost to stay in hospital abroad?
Written by: Jana Viljoen Travel Insurance Expert
Reviewed by: Tracey Culwick Compliance Officer
Read time: 4 minutes
Hospital treatment abroad can cost anything from a few thousand pounds to hundreds of thousands, depending on the destination, the treatment required and whether medical repatriation is needed.
The answer can vary enormously.
Costs vary according to the country, the local healthcare system, whether treatment is provided in a public or private hospital, the care required and the length of the hospital stay.
A straightforward hospital admission could cost a few thousand pounds, while intensive care, specialist treatment or surgery can quickly increase the bill. In some destinations, medical treatment can be particularly expensive, and if you need to be transferred to another country or brought home by air ambulance, the costs can become substantial.
Examples from real overseas medical assistance cases show how costs can vary according to the patient’s condition, the treatment provided and the transport required.
How much can hospital treatment abroad cost?
These figures are illustrative rather than typical prices. Actual costs depend on the circumstances of each emergency, and amounts shown in different currencies are not directly comparable.
Here are some examples of medical and repatriation costs recorded from real overseas emergencies:
- £3,944 - Intensive care and medical treatment following a serious illness in Agadir.
- £5,800 - Repatriation from Tenerife following a heart attack, including a doctor escort and other travel assistance.
- £2,300 - A hospital bill in Antalya following several days of treatment for severe gastroenteritis and dehydration, reduced from £8,300 following negotiation.
- US$12,500 - Estimated cost of surgery for a fractured ankle in Laos. Medical assessment determined that immediate surgery overseas was unnecessary.
- US$32,000 - Hospital treatment following a serious head injury in Antigua. The bill was subsequently subject to cost-containment negotiations.
- £46,000 - Air ambulance transfer from Barbados to the USA.
- £239,000 – Specialist ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) air ambulance transfer from the USA to the UK.
- £488,000 - Medical expenses incurred in the USA following acute cholangitis, septic shock, and multi-organ failure.
These examples show that there is no standard price for medical treatment abroad. Costs can range from a few thousand pounds for a hospital admission to hundreds of thousands for complex treatment or specialist repatriation, particularly when intensive care or an air ambulance is required.
Where you are can make a big difference
The destination of your holiday can have a significant impact on the potential cost of a medical emergency.
Healthcare systems, hospital charges, and access to specialist treatment vary around the world. A traveller who becomes ill in a major city may have access to a well-equipped hospital and the specialists they need.
In a remote destination, suitable treatment may not be available locally. The patient may therefore need to be transferred to another hospital, another island or even another country, adding transport, clinical support, and coordination costs to the original medical bill.
That can turn a medical emergency into a complex international transfer, with costs increasing accordingly.
What happens when specialist treatment is not available?
Medical assistance teams assess whether the patient can safely continue treatment locally or needs to be moved to a better-equipped facility. Their decision is informed by medical reports, scans, independent clinical assessments, and discussions with the treating doctors.
If a transfer is required, the patient’s condition and fitness to travel determine the safest option. This may be a commercial flight with additional support, a flight with a medical escort or, in the most serious circumstances, an air ambulance. The level of clinical support, distance and transport method can make these arrangements particularly expensive.
Why travel insurance matters
A medical emergency abroad can be costly.
Travel insurance with appropriate emergency medical and repatriation cover can help with the costs of treatment and the practical arrangements involved in getting a traveller the care they need and, where medically appropriate, returning them home.
Before travelling, check that your policy provides sufficient emergency medical and repatriation cover for your destination and planned activities. Review the policy conditions, exclusions, and any requirements for contacting the insurer or medical assistance team during an emergency.
Declare all pre-existing medical conditions when purchasing travel insurance so that the insurer can assess the cover available. Total Travel Protection has no upper age limit and can provide cover for declared pre-existing medical conditions. Its medical screening approach may also result in a more competitive price, depending on the traveller’s circumstances.