Question on Medical Care in Europe
 

Question - When you travel to Europe,do most of you buy additional medical insurance that flies you back to the U.S. or your home country in case of emergency?
We'll be in Paris and Rome.

Do you have any insight as to the level of health care one would receive in those cities? We just aren't sure whether to buy the Medevac Insurance at about $325.00 for the year.

Thanks

Complex question: the answer depends on your health care coverage in the US.
I have BC/BS Indemnity Ins through the TMA which covers me world wide.
As such, I am free to choose any local hospital or Physician - public or private.
M (MD)

Personal experience and anecdotal evidence (gathered over the last 18 years) point to French medical care as excellent. A few U.S. health plans, certain Blue Cross Blue-Shield plans for example, do cover treatment at the American Hospital in Paris, so it may be worthwhile to ask your insurer. Doctor's visits and prescription drugs are much less expensive here than in the United States, though we do pay a premium for attention by English-speaking physicians.

You will receive excellent medical care in any large city in the First World. Since you are not (presumably) an EU citizen, you will not have treatment costs covered by a National Healthcare Plan. Check with your current insurance carrier to see if they cover you internationally- many do not. Some require you to pay in full in the other country and then present receipts for reimbursement when you return home. Cash costs for healthcare in France and Italy will be less than in the U.S. but it still can get very expensive and you may have to pay cash only (i.e. no checks or credit cards). I would have no problem being treated in either city in case of an emergency. $325 seems like a small amount to pay for piece of mind just in case you need longer-term hospitalization.

We are covered outside the US with our BlCr/BL Sh and we always take the info from them on how to handle med care in another country. Last yr in Italy we met a couple from FL who had the experience of going to the emergency room of an Italian hospital. The wife missed s step getting off a train and dislocated her shoulder plus cut her chin & had to have stitches. They paid nothing at the Italian hospital. Unfortunately she was not able to carry any luggage because of her shoulder and her husband was having a tough time with all their stuff.

Hi
You have a couple of threads going on this same topic

here's your other one
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34572171