I could do that anywhere in Europe before 2016
You sure about that mate?
I was in a Spanish hospital a couple of decades back, the first thing that happened before the doctor arrived and the ambulance took me to hospital, was to check your insurance details. You could have the immediate required care, but after that certain protocols had to follow.
I remember my other half telling me, that as soon as we arrived at the hospital she was charged, I believe it was a small fee but it was still payable. Maybe it was because it was a private hospital, so I think the term free is used very loosely if it is. Especially as most travellers are advised to take out travel insurance, when we were a member of the EU.
Then once you are stable, they then need reports from your doctor, to check the condition was not something you had not declared. So my experience is it is not free, but I could have been exception to the rule because of how urgent it was and where I ended up as in particular hospital, but I'm sure I've read in the past similar stories, well before 2016, by at least a decade.
No insurance, no care was always my understanding, the health card only offered very basic care, so it was always recommended to take health insurance with you.

