My fiance and I will be in Italy for 6 - 12 months volunteering and traveling. My insurance doesn't cover abroad and I'm wondering if I should purchase critical/emergency style health insurance? I've read that Italy has one of the best healthcare systems and they cover non-residents. Does it make sense for me to buy something additional incase we experience an emergency or is the cost of care potentially nominal? We are both heathy 30-somethings.
Thanks in advance!
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16240 posts
The Italian National Health System does not cover non-residents, unless they reside in the EU.
It doesn't even cover me, and I'm an Italian citizen residing in the US.
If you need medical care, the cost will not be nominal, it will be substantial, albeit lower than what an uninsured person in the US would face.
Also, if you plan to go to Italy for 6 to 12 months be aware that you will need to apply for a long term visa before you go, as the limit for a tourist visa within the EU Schengen area is 90 days over a rolling six month period.
Posted by
Eugene, Oregon...Formerly Ventura, CA
2262 posts
I would say yes, you should purchase insurance. There are several companies, such as Travelguard, who can provide health-medical insurance and, a biggie, emergency medical evacuation insurance. If you break your leg in Italy-or worse-and cannot fly on a conventional passenger aircraft, or need medical supervision for that flight, it's an extremely expensive trip home.
Others can perhaps comment on the likelihood of the Italian Government covering expenses like this, but I would be very surprised if that is the case at all.
Edit: Is it possible that the organization you'll be volunteering with/for would offer some coverage?
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23666 posts
I think I would carry emergency evac insurance just to cover a serious accident. Those policies are available for less than $200/person/year. Then some type of routine medical insurance just to cover a minor issues. Second, have you started getting you long stay visa in place? That generally requires some indication of medical insurance but don't know exactly what is needed to qualify. Third, I assume you are in the process of getting a proper work permit in place for the volunteer work. That is a big requirement in the Schengen zone so don't treat it lightly. The penalties can be severe.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
Perhaps you have begun the visa process, perhaps not. You will not be permitted to work (or receive in-kind services for volunteering) and you must prove you have health insurance and enough money to live on, without working.
If you have a sponsoring agency for your volunteering, they may help you with the visa.
Posted by
Long Beach, California, USA
3398 posts
Since you plan to stay for so long I recommend looking at insuremytrip.com. I don't know if conventional insurance will cover you for that long. At this website you can enter your specific needs and it will direct you to companies that can cover you for a long stay in Italy.
Several other posters have mentioned that a long-term stay visa won't allow work of any kind, which includes volunteering. Are you going through an agency? We had a poster here a while back who was moving to Italy. To obtain a long-term-stay visa she needed to prove substantial financial resources and jump through many paperwork hoops. This is common for any country you would want to stay in within the Schengen Zone for more than 90 days.
I'm sure you have done your homework!
No one here wants to see anyone fined and banned from Europe because they overstayed the 90 day limit.