Ripped off for medical treatment in Egypt? – How to protect yourself from extremely overpriced bills
Dear aqua med customers,
Sick on vacation – and then mercilessly ripped off! Especially in Egypt, cases of exorbitant bills,
unnecessary treatments, and even passport confiscation are on the rise. aqua med, along with other
insurers, is in close contact with the German Embassy regarding this issue.
What should you do if you are ill and need medical treatment
1. Call us first: If possible, contact our aqua med emergency hotline at +49 421 240 110-10 before your treatment. Your personal doctor in your pocket: Our medical team is available 24/7, and our assistance team will assist you with all your organisational needs!
2. Avoid advance payments: Ask for an explanation of the treatment and the expected costs. Especially in Egypt, we are seeing extremely high charges (e.g. 800 € for a simple infusion or 1,500 € for treating an ear infection). If the costs exceed 300 €, the doctor or clinic should contact us directly. This ensures you don’t have to pay upfront, and we can coordinate the treatment and cover the costs.
3. Keep us informed: Let us know what is happening on site! The better informed we are, the better we can support you.
4. Do not be pressured: If you are being threatened or put under pressure, do not give in. You can, for example, explain that you don’t have enough cash or that your credit card limit has already been reached. Always refer to aqua med.
Important: Your passport must not be withheld under any circumstances. This is illegal – your passport is the property of the United Kingdom.
5. Share this information: Please also share these tips with friends who do not have a dive card, as this problem currently affects all tourists – particularly in Egypt!
Why this matters
This rip-off ultimately affects us all: Rising treatment costs can lead to higher insurance fees in the long term. With your help, we can take action against such practices.
Thank you for your trust and support. We are committed to making your travels as safe and worry-free as possible.