Medical Emergency/MedJet - Rome

When traveling you should always purchase insurance that covers medical costs and evacuation charges. For example a severe leg break which requires special seating to get you back home will cost a minimum of $20,000. There are many companies that sell this type of coverage I happen to use this one:
www.travelinsure.com

You can get free "out-patient" services at Italian hospitals for things like coughs or colds, a broken toe, or other minor ailments. However, for more serious events like broken bones, accidents, or illnesses, you will be charged. You should purchase medical coverage, which is offered by dozens of websites. Just check for the amount covered (say $500,000 to $1,000,000 in total medical costs), whether they'll ship you home (medical evac if necessary, or alternate airline arrangements if acceptable to your doctors), whether they'll fly over a spouse if you fall ill, and, God forbid, send your remains home should the worst happen. It's not that confusing if you compare them side by side...and don't hesitate to ask questions. Policies are relatively cheap, compared to the cost of paying medical charges yourself...they could ruin you.

Bonnie,

For minor problems requiring a Doctor's attention, you might also consider IAMAT (www.iamat.org). For a donation (as I recall, no particular amount is specified), they provide a list of English-speaking Physicians in many locations around the world. Treatment is provided for a pre-determined charge (as I recall about US$75.00 per visit). I was aware of the option to use free service at Hospitals, however felt there was no guarantee the Physicians there would be able to communicate in English. Also, there might be a considerable wait!

I always take full travel medical insurance as well, in the event of any serious injuries or illness.

Hope this helps? Have a safe trip!

Thank goodness for my Group Health (HMO) / Kaiser Permanente medical coverage. They will reimburse me for medical expensives in Europe and fly me home if necessary - or so their paperwork for my plan says. Here is hoping I don't have to find out if that is true or not. charlie

medjet alone probably isn't right for you; while they will fly you back to the US, presumably you want some medical care in Italy. Don't count on it being free.

Buy a travel insurance policy that includes coverage for medical evacuation. Typically all evac policies cover transportation to the nearest facility that can provide care; for example you're in Tuscany and you need an ambulance ride to a big city. Not all cover medical evacuation back to the US for you to finish your convalescence. There's no easy way around it; your simply going to have invest an hour of your time to see which ones do and which ones don't. Try www.insuremytrip.com and click on the "evacuation" link for policies you're looking at.

(cont'd) Look for something like the following which is in the IMG plans:

"In addition to the above Covered Expenses, when You are confined in a medical facility more than 120 miles from Your primary residence and Your treating Physician and We determine it is feasible and medically Necessary to transfer You to a medical facility nearer to Your primary residence to recuperate in familiar surroundings, medical repatriation will be provided."

Thanks to everyone for all your help. Did you say "spend an HOUR of my time"?? I've spent most of the day, went to all the links suggested by you good people, and it's not as easy as it sounds. Some policies have lousy medical coverage, some lousy medvac. When you read the small print, it's full of disclaimers. I've sent for additional information and quotes on several policies. I also have to consider my 13 year old grandson. I think his health insurance covers him, but doesn't cover medvac. I'll figure it out eventually, but it's going to take time. So many hurdles when traveling internationally, but all worth it.

Thanks again for all your helpful input.

Bonnie

I've had MedJet insurance for several years; it is one of the only policies that allows YOU, rather than a potentially marginally educated clerk, to decide whether you need to be evacuated for treatment elsewhere. It also applies to illnesses within the US, provided you are a certain distance from home. It's a pretty nominal cost for some great protection.

That said, it won't cover your treatment if you get sick--just transporation and medical care in transit--so I'd really suggest getting routine travel medical insurance.

Our problem has always been that we travel for two months at a time. This time we are going to several countries in Europe. Last time we checked into it the company will insure for up to a month at a time for so much a day, but when you go over a month the cost gets prohibitive. So we go and hope we can pay for any emergency and a trip home if need be. We are both in our 70's but in good health. Of course we know anything can happen, but so far for the past 4 trips we have managed the few things that have been medical problems (including a very inexpensive trip to the dentist).
So now we hope Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, Belgium and the Netherlands will provide whatever we need.

Zombie thread from six years ago.