An American woman whose dad had to be taken to hospital while on holiday in Spain was shocked when the medical bill came to £157 ($200).



Anna Ochoa, 39, has been living in Spain for five months and her parents paid her visit last month.

During their trip, Anna's father fell while leaving a restaurant and injured his shoulder and face.

The 83-year-old was taken to a hospital, where doctors conducted X-rays, treated his injuries and provided medication.

When the bill arrived, Ana and her family braced for a hefty charge but were stunned to see the final bill came to £157 ($200), a fraction of what they expected.

Ana, a photographer in Marbella, Spain, said: "We were shocked."

"We knew it would be cheaper than in the US but we didn't expect it to be that cheap."

"In America, an ambulance ride alone can cost thousands and without insurance you can go into serious debt just for calling one."

Ana left the US and moved to Spain five months ago in a search for a better quality of life.

Ana said: " We moved to Spain because we wanted a safer life in general."

"We wanted to feel like our kids could walk down the street or go to school and that there was no gun violence. "

"We wanted to feel safe that if something did happen to us that we would be taken care of and we wanted healthier food because the food in the US literally tastes like it's being poisoned."

Ana's parents love Spain and decided to pay a visit to Ana in January.

Ana said: "My dad is a huge fan of Spain and after this he feels even more certain this is where he wants to be. "

"He always says he feels like a VIP here every time he is here to see me."

"People actually take care of the elderly in Spain instead of treating them like a burden."

During their trip, Ana's dad, who wasn't named, fell while leaving a restaurant in Madrid.

Police at the scene called an ambulance and the 83-year-old was transported to the Hospital Clínico San Carlos.

Doctors conducted X-rays, treated his injuries and provided medication before sending him home.

Ana recalled paying £3.9K ($5K) for an ambulance ride during her college days so her and her family braced for a hefty charge.

But much to their surprise, the hospital bill including the ambulance only came to £157 ($200).

She said: "In Spain, the priority is getting you healthy. "

"In the US, the priority feels like making money off you."

"This has completely changed how I see healthcare worldwide."

Ana says the biggest differences she has noticed living in Spain are the availability of fresh food and vegetables, the sense of safety and the strong emphasis on family life.

She said: "The fresh food and vegetables here make such a difference. You can taste the quality."

"But more than that, it's the feeling of safety. There's no risk of gun violence in schools or on the streets, which is a huge relief as a parent."

"There's also a great sense of family here, people take care of each other and it really feels like a community."