Cost of healthcare for Americans visiting Italy who fall ill

Many of us here on the helpline take out supplemental medical coverage while traveling that includes medical evacuation.

Here's an article on the subject from this website:

Travel Insurance

You absolutely must carry supplemental insurance for Europe. While it is reported that the European medical system is kind to Am tourists for routine treatment, there is no requirement that they do so. If you scan back a month or so, you will find a discussion from someone who incurred a couple thousand in medical expenses and was being billed directly by the Italian medical services.

Judith,

As the others have mentioned, it's extremly important to purchase supplementary travel medical insurance. These sometimes have exclusions for pre-existing conditions, so you may have to shop around to find the best policy for your particular circumstances. Check with local travel agents or insurance firms. Have a look at www.travelguard.com/ for information on one provider. In some cases, the insurance provider requires a call prior to treatment being initiated.

If you think you may need to see a Physician at some time during your trip, you might also have a look at www.iamat.org and consider taking out a membership. They provide a list of english speaking Physicians in various countries who will provide treatment for minor issues for a "set fee" (which I believe is currently US$100).

If there's a possibility that you may require medical transport back to the U.S., you might also have a look at www.medjetassist.com/. It's a bit on the expensive side, but for those with serious medical problems it provides some "peace of mind".

Good luck and happy travels!

I forgot to mention that AARP, if you're a member, has discounts on travel insurance and medical evacuation insurance.

While you may be able to get care at a reasonable cost for a minor injury or illness, a major one could be VERY expensive. I totally agree with the other posters that you should consider travel insurance (I've used Travel Guard several times). Most important is to ensure the policy covers medical evacuation in case of a serious situation where you would want or need to be returned to the US.

The US State Department website offers list of doctors and other health resources while traveling abroad. www.travel.state.gov

Point of clarification: Many (not all) health insurance plans here in the U.S. will, in fact, reimburse you for expenses incurred when using medical services overseas, but you’ll need to pay out of pocket at the time services are rendered. You need to check with your insurer before you travel. Yes, Medicare is invalid overseas. There are many reasons to purchase separate travel insurance, even if one’s US health plan is in effect: airline or tour bankruptcy, personal layoff, cancellation/interruption due to illness before or during your trip, slip and fall accident on trip, medical evacuation, medical upgrade to first class, lost luggage, delays, etc. I just used Travelex, underwritten by Nationwide.

You are responsible for your medical costs while abroad, and any insurance or Medicare that you enjoy at home will not be valid. I ALWAYS purchase travel insurance while traveling abroad. Anything can happen. I use Travel Guard insurance (AIG) and always purchase their most comprehensive (Platinum) plan. It covers most contingencies and there are optional "add-on" coverages as well to choose from. Go to their website to configure a plan and find out costs for yourselves. Insurance is very important!