Need to purchase cheap disposable phone for use in Paris, Florence and Venice.
Where is the best place to purchase this item?
Also, my health insurance only covers a one-time hospital emergency visit; I'm only going to be in Paris, Florence and Venice or 9 days. What is the best, most reiable insurance co. who provides this covearge?
Go to https://www.insuremytrip.com/. You can get coverage including transportation back to the US. I consider that essential. Take a peek into the hospital when you are in Venice and you'll see why I say that. We had a friend of means who was a native Venetian but had a place in NY. I asked her where she went when she became ill. Her answer: "I go to the airport".
You have lots of choices for a phone. Kiosks in airports, malls, departments stores and small stores all sell phones for different plans. I found at least three options on my last trip for a phone, charger, SIM and some minutes for 25 euro. Vodaphone and Orange were two of the companies; I can't recall the third off the top of my head. I'd say those three were the tip of the iceburg. If I'd looked hard, I could have found more choices.
The SIM is only "local" in the country where you purchase it. You are still roaming when you leave the country. The rates aren't as bad as most American plans but they can add up. You may want to buy a phone at your first stop, use up your minutes on the SIM, then get a new SIM when you get to Italy. It really depends on how much calling you anticipate doing.
regarding the reply up thread :=
It is fine to beat up on the hospitals in Italy, but they are effective. The OECD - well respected, no? - did a study http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/countries/united-states/ and http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/countries/italy/ showing that life expectency in the United States is 79 (81 women, 76 men) compared with Italy at 83 (85 women, 80 for men).
So they are doing something right, despite appearances. 4 years additional life expectancy for both men and women isn't chicken feed.
And can your hospital do everything by boat? And without charging the patient?
Nigel, with all due respect, this has nothing to do with life expectancy as that can be influenced by much more than. local health care (such as genetics, socioeconomic status, etc). The point is not one of population health, but an individual American traveling overseas. Assuming something serious happens that person should have a health insurance policy and evacuation coverage. Not taking anything away from Italy, but if I broke an ankle and needed a complex orthopedic repair followed by rehabilitation and convalescence, I'd want to get home for that. But that is a personal choice, and I choose to buy that insurance each time. In 30 years of working in health care I've seen many instances of people having a medical catastrophe overseas and having no coverage, no way to get home. For a few $100 you can avoid all that heartache and bills that can push an individual into bankruptcy.
