Insurance card

It is a good idea if you are covered overseas, even partially, in case serious medical need arises. As to the issue of countries wanting that proof , this is rare. Normal travel will not usually require that. We have traveled to 12 European countries
during the past 4 years . We have not needed to produce proof of health insurance.

Your insurance has rules for what you are supposed to do if you need assistance overseas. It's good to know those rules and take your account number and a contact phone number so you comply with your policy. If you don't follow the rules you will still get care, but you may have to pay for it yourself. We haven't needed care but I review my policy and take the information just in case. The card itself is pretty much meaningless overseas.

In January, 2007, I had to spend 4 days in the Regional Hospital in Mestre. Everybody there was extremely nice, very gracious, kind, and the hospital was IMMACULATE! If it can be fun to be sick, this probably was it.

Regarding payment: Italian hospitals are not interested in your American Health Insurance(unless, perhaps, you purchased some kind of travel health insurance). As a matter of fact, since they mostly deal with their citizens covered by national health insurance, they are a bit perplexed when it comes to billing individuals.

Basically, they figured up my bill for the number of days room and board,EKGs, Echocardiograms, lung x-rays, numerous blood tests, visits by cardiologists, pulmonologists, IVs, special tests, medicines, etc. and asked us to pay about 1500Euros, out the door. They copied my Passport and indicated that if there were more charges involved, they would bill me and if I didn't pay, they would get the US gov't involved. They also indicated that if I had overpaid they would issue a refund! Imagine my surprise, six months later, when I received a letter from them asking for my bank details so they could wire the 400Euro overpayment into my account.

Be sure you leave with as much of an itemized account bill as you can and a person's name to help you with your US insurance company's demands for supporting documents.

My company treated this as an Out-of-Network hospitalization, which means they paid 60% of the bill.

When you consider the amount of work this hospital did for the price, it was the biggest bargain in Italy.........the hospital also had a wine bar downstairs for visitors as well as patients!

suzanne,
Since my husband & I are getting a little older since we first started travelling overseas I have become more aware over health issues these last few years. I contacted our medical ins co before our 2 week trip to Italy recently & they told me exactly & in detail what I would need to do if either of us found the need for a doctor or hospital. So I would just suggest to contact your ins co.

Stephanie,
Thanks so much for the info. I will contact my ins. company so I'll know what to expect if anything happens.

I always carry my insurance card with me wherever I go. Talk to your health provider about what your insurance will cover abroad (I know with mine they'll cover most stuff under my plan). However, do be aware that medical evacuation will typically not be covered so it may be worth it to invest in insurance for that (MedJet Assist is a good company).