Purchasing Medical Coverage

Excellent health doesn't prevent you from being hit by a bus! Medical costs, although they may be slightly lower in Europe, are still extraordinarily high.....an operation to set a broken leg and the ensuring hospital stay could break you, financially. If you have medical insurance at work, first ask if it will cover you overseas. Make sure it has evacuation insurance, so you and your loved ones can get back home. If you aren't covered, then check several sites on the web.....$110 pp seems a little high for anything less than a month's travel overseas. AAA may be another option, and possibly AARP, as well as other firms you'll find on the web, or those recommended by other RS'ers.

Absolutely you must purchase insurance to cover yourself
for emergency evacuation even if your personal insurance will cover you in Europe.

Also if your are on MEDICARE you are NOT covered while traveling out of the USA.

Doesn't matter how healthy you think you are, you can be in an accident, need an emergency appendectomy (one of my friends), have an aneurism. et al. Never leave the US without insurance no matter what age you are or the state of your health.It is a matter of being penny wise nad poubnd foolish.

If you wouldn't go on a trip in the US without medical insurance, then it would not make sense to go on a trip in Italy without medical insurance, as the percentage odds of an accident on a European trip are, if anything, probably somewhat higher than walking around here: somewhat more hazardous traffic conditions in Italy, whether you're just a pedestrian or a driver, etc. After you cross your first busy street in Rome, you'll be glad you paid the $220 for peace of mind. Go to insuremytrip.com and compare policies. Many of us don't get the extra coverages, just travelers medical and medical evacuation. We've heard a few horror stories here, of the extremely high cost of medical evacuation back to the US, for the few people to whom the unexpected actually did happen.

"peace of mind" I agree with Kent. Are you willing to play the odds? However, I must say that I travel twice a year and have never purchased insurance. The only exception is my recent trip this month to China. I purchased not only travel but medical insurance as well. I needed peace of mind. The cost varies to what you need/want and the company who underwrites the policy. I looked into at least 20 before I purchased the policy. Only purchase what you need.

Two things. If you want to know if you are covered, look at your policy. I know mine says I'm covered as long as I have a little suitcase on my insurance card (I do). However, that is typically only medical coverage, not evacuation.

If you want evacuation coverage, contact a company like MedJet Assist (http://www.medjetassist.com/) and purchase a short-term policy.

Thanks for starting this discussion. Medical insurance was not something I would have even considered. After looking into it, I've found out that my husband and I are both covered abroad through Blue Cross Blue Shield, and our cards do have the suitcase picture.

Hope others find out good news about their coverage.

This story was in our paper: http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/columnists/merryman/story/385856.html

My husband and I don't know the couple, but we know other people that were in the group. Accidents happen!

This is a general thank you to all who replied about the importance of medical insurance, not just for illnesses, which is pretty much how I was viewing it, but also for those accidents that DO happen, especially when they are least expected! We are going to look into our medical coverage carrier and see if there is international coverage offered; if not, we will do some research (the information we were given was from our travel agent, and we haven't done any comparisons yet) to see what is available. If anyone has additional information on good places to purchase medical coverage, or hints at what sort of coverage would work best, I'd still appreciate hearing from you. Thanks again!

Having been hospitalized for three days in Maestre's Regional Medical Center, outside Venice, I can speak with some authority on this. I am 59; was insured through my husband's group policy. Hospitalization in Italy is cheap compared to the US! I was seen by a cardiologist, neurologist, otolaryngologist, internist, had EKG's, Echocardiagrams, numerous X-rays,lab and blood work, IV's, medications, plus three days room and board. The degree of cleanliness was phenomenal. The care I received there was fantastic!To spring me, we had to charge 1500 Euro to a credit card, but we received 400 Euro back from the hospital because they had mistakenly overcharged us! In short, all those specialists, procedures, treatment, for less than $2000-total. No separate bills from specialists, labs, pharmacies-all inclusive My insurance policy called it "out-of-network" and and covered 65%. Later, we found out, that is how most US group policies handle it. Medicare will NOT pay for out of US medical care. If you buy insurance through Medex or some other outfit, they will sometimes be secondary to any policy you already have.

I think it comes down to how much peace of mind the $220 will buy for you, and how much you can afford to pay out of your own pocket if things go wrong. In my case, no one at the hospital ever asked anything about insurance, payment, if we could afford to pay, etc. until they had diagnosed my problem, started to treat it and I was 24 hours away from leaving.

One of the biggest travel insurance deals is joining DAN (Diver's Action Network; on the web). You do not have to be a diver. $29 a year gives you $100,000 coverage for emergency extraction if you need to be brought home (body, too, if it comes to that). You will still need medical coverage, but in a real critical situation their doctors and the doctors overseas consult, and if needed send you beck to the US for treatment/recovery. My daughter in Berlin (22) just spent 5 days in the hospital with a kidney infection; 1,800 euro bill was covered by my medical policy. All I had to do was call them immediately upon learning of her hospitalization. Check with your insurer, watch both ways when you cross the street, and don't slip on the dog doo in Paris.

Watch your step on uneven concrete AND on gravel. Don't be reading and walking at the same time. I just returned from England/Wales and while crossing the bridge right in front of Big Ben, I stubbed my toe (I guess) and fell right into a concrete pillar. Ouch! FORTUNATELY, no blood and no concussion that I know of. I was sort of stunned. I fell a second time in Lacock on the gravel walk. This time I banged my knee pretty good. (Be sure to take a well stocked FirstAid Kit). Again just a big whole in my knee and pants. I did take out medical insurance before our trip. I would certainly take it out again. The first fall could have been disasterous if I hit my head an inch or two more toward my temple. Also take an extra pair of glasses. Mine broke when I hit my head. I thought the insurance price was high for us - 68 and 64 but I'm glad I had it. I "should" have gone to hospital after the first fall but didn't. Get the insurance!!

In Italy, if you are sick as a foreigner or need medical attention it is free!!! It is called univeral health care which in Italy covers anyone who is in need of medical attention.

This "free health care in Italy" routine surfaces every once and a while...but be assured, it is NOT true. Italian hospitals will give you free emergency room care for things like bumps, bruises, cuts, sprains. But if anything requires admission, like a broken bone or illness you will be charged! We have "universal" health care in Canada....but it does not mean it covers the "universe."

What a great topic. We are going to look into evacuation insurance. Our insurance that we do have will cover us in Italy in an emergency so that is good. Could someone please tell me what a "suitcase' cover for my card would be. Thanks Ron.