geowhiz1

My family and I are leaving for Italy at the end of May. I am approaching 3 score years and have some minor health problems that pop up at inconvenient times (kidney stones...) ....I have BCBS under our state employees health plan in NC. They will reimburse expenses overseas. but would Trip Health Insurance be of benefit for peace of mind? If so, has anyone tried a plan that has proved helpful in Italy. What is the health care like there? I will be near Venice and in Rome. Are there any tips or guidelines that I should follow there in the event I need medication or treatment?

panecott

-Health care in Italy is free, and in my experience, excellent. A few years ago I fell and dislocated my finger. I went to the hospital in Levanto and b/c there was no radiologist on duty, the doctor on duty didn't want to try to set the finger, not knowing if it was broken or not. So he personally called the hospital in LaSpezia and told them to expect me, and he then called the Red Cross to take me there.

The Red Cross driver stayed with me the whole time and escorted me to the ER, Xrays, the orthopedists, etc. There were two orthopedists on duty and they were attentive and friendly, as well as competent and professional. They set my finger and then the RC driver drove me back to Levanto, where the first doctor checked me out just to see if I was okay.
The whole thing didn't cost me a penny.

Just two weeks ago while in Italy I met a Canadian couple and the husband told me he dislocated his shoulder while skiing in Italy a few years ago. He had the same great experience I did, and required a lot more care, and didn't pay a penny.

A friend's sister broke her leg in Venice a few years ago and she said the care she got was excellent.

kybourbon

I wasn't charged at the Ospedale in Siena. I think it's different whether you go to a hospital or just see a doctor. Many hotels will call a doctor to come to the hotel if you are just sick and I believe you will be charged. You would have to keep your receipt to file a claim with BCBS.

Underhill

I would strongly advise you to buy supplementary travel insurance that would cover your return to the United States in the event of a medical emergency so you wouldn't have to pay change-the-ticket fees to your airline. Check out various policies and coverages at insuremytrip.com.

Christina

Some BCBS plans actually have networks in Europe and can give you a list of institutions that will accept their insurance, so you really need to be asking your specific plan that question.

Since your insurance covers you abroad, as you seem clear on that, why would you think trip insurance preferable for that reason? I just don't understand what would make it better than what you have. At least every policy I've seen makes you pay yourself and reimburses you later when you submit claims, and I assume that's probably what your BC plan does, so what's the difference?

The problem is that you are thinking about this now when you have already bought tickets, it sounds like. So it seems like your existing health problems, which you admit are the main concern, wouldn't be covered under a trip insurance policy anyway as they are pre-existing conditions and you have likely passed the time when you can buy a policy that waives them. So it really sounds of no use if that is the case, and you can check out those terms if you want. Now you might want it for other reasons, but I wouldn't assume any policy is going to return you to the US from a country with excellent medical care for pre-existing kidney stone problems.

nukesafe

I have Blue Cross, as well, and it covered me in France. Ended up at a French hospital with pneumonia. I simply paid the bill, got a receipt, and was promptly reimbursed by Blue Cross after returning to the States. It is really to the insurance company's advantage for you to fall ill out of the country, as the bills are usually much less.

I also ended up in a hospital in Croatia, with a similar problem. In that case, the cashier at the hospital business office did not have change for the large Kuna banknote I had, so just said, "It's on the house." Never would see that happen in the States!

BTW, the care I received was top drawer in both cases. That is one reason I don't see much use for additional travel insurance that flies me back home for treatment. If I'm that ill, and recover, why not do it in Europe. If I don't recover --- plant me there, with a bottle of wine.

violetduck

We always get travel insurance that includes evacuation and repatriation. As mentioned
www.insuremytrip.com is a good site to check. We have used Travelux the last couple of trips.

thursdaysd

Definitely get medical evacuation insurance. Everyone should have that regardless of age and health status, you never know when you might have an accident. I have used tenweb.com, and they got me home from Switzerland when I broke my wrist. Some posters on the Asia board like Driver's Alert Network, which is cheaper.

ecat

Typically, with BCBS they will only cover emergency room/hospital stays after you meet a separate deductible. You would need to pay out of pocket and then submit a claim. If you have a cold or sore throat they won't cover this unless admitted to a hospital. Also they will want doctors chart notes translated (sometimes you can get around that). You can call the member services number on your card and ask them about specifics.Here's to a healthy trip!

nytraveler

Healthcare in large cities in Italy is excellent. If you have a problem your hotel will advise you where to go. American insurance will not be accepted anywhere. Many things are free. If you have to pay for anything you need to check is your plan will reimburse you (Medicare won't).

If you have the sort of chronic problem that can really be an issue I would definitely get health and evacuation insurance. Not that healthcare there isn't good - but you may need to get home while ill - and no US insurance plan covers that.

CarolA

Everyone keeps telling you to "buy" IMHO it may be too late.

A couple of things to check before you buy

1. Is there a requirement on WHEN you paid? Since you are going late May I am going to assume the plane tickets were bought quite a while ago. LOTS of policies require you take them out within 14 days of the first expense or "no coverage"(but they will take your premium so READ)

2. Same thing with your pre-existing condition. When was it last treated etc. Make sure you have all those dates and read the "preexisting" clauses VERY carefully!

The combination of a preexisting condition and "late purchase" may mean you won't get much coverage.

You need to read the stuff carefully, call and ask questions and doucment who said what when before you spend any money!

thursdaysd

It may well be too late to buy medical insurance for a pre-existing condition. It is NOT too late to buy medical evacuation insurance. The policy I buy is good for a year (although there's a max. amount of time per trip).

StCirq

The WHO ranks Italy as having the best healthcare in the world, and I'd have to agree, having had several encounters with the healthcare system there (at no charge). But Christina is right, your existing health conditions will probably disallow you from getting travel insurance overseas for those issues. Not to worry, though, if you get sick in Italy you will be taken care of with the best system in the world and charged nothing or next to nothing for it. If you have to be evacuated from the country, though, that's something you should have insurance for in advance.