No, US citizens cannot get free healthcare in Europe generally, except in limited circumstances, because free public healthcare in Europe is for residents and EU citizens with European Health Insurance Card, not for US tourists. If you are a US tourist visiting Europe, you must pay for all medical treatment unless you have travel insurance, and hospital costs in Europe can be $1,000 to $3,000 per day. You cannot use EHIC or GHIC as a US citizen unless you are also EU citizen or UK resident. However, there are exceptions where US citizens can get free or low-cost healthcare in Europe. If you are a US citizen who is also a permanent resident of an EU country, such as Germany, France or Spain, and you pay taxes and social security there, you are enrolled in that country's public health system and get free or low-cost healthcare like locals. If you are a US citizen working in UK and paying National Insurance, you get free NHS care. Some European countries have Reciprocal Health Care Agreement with Australia but not with US, so US has no reciprocal free care with EU. Some US students on long-term visas in Europe can access public system. For emergency treatment, some countries like UK will treat you in emergency department for free regardless of nationality, but you will be charged for admission. So for most US tourists, answer is no, you need travel insurance with at least $100,000 medical cover for Europe, Schengen visa requires €30,000 medical.
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