EU nationals can take
advantage of Italy's
health services under
the same terms as the
residents of the country
- to obtain this benefit
you'll need to present a
form E111, which you can
get over the counter at
main post offices.
However, the E111 won't
cover the full cost of
major treatment, and the
high charges for medical
treatment make travel
insurance essential if
you're a non-EU citizen
- and the risks of theft
or other unforeseen
setbacks make it highly
advisable even if you
are. For medical
treatment and drugs,
keep all the receipts
and claim the money back
later. If you have
anything stolen
(including money),
register the loss
immediately with the
police, as without their
report you won't be able
to claim; the department
you should go to is once
again the
Questura.
Insurance
It's always advisable
to make sure that you
are insured for loss,
theft and illness.
Bank and credit cards
(particularly American
Express) often have
certain levels of
medical or other
insurance included,
especially if you use
them to pay for your
trip. It can be quite
comprehensive,
anticipating anything
from lost or stolen
baggage and missed
connections to charter
companies going
bankrupt; however,
certain policies
(notably in North
America) only cover
medical costs. Note
also that very few
insurers will arrange
on-the-spot payments
in the event of a
major expense or loss;
you will usually be
reimbursed only after
going home. In all
case of loss or theft
of goods, you will
have to contact the
local police to have a
report made out so
that your insurer can
process the claim.
British cover
Most travel agents and
tour operators will
offer you insurance when
you book your flight or
holiday, but these are
often more expensive
than if you shopped
around. As ever, you
should check the small
print: if you feel the
cover is inadequate, or
you want to compare
prices, any travel
agent, insurance broker
or bank should be able
to help. If you have a
good "all
risks" home
insurance policy it may
well cover your
possessions against loss
or theft even when
overseas, or you can
extend cover through
your household contents
insurer. Many private
medical schemes also
cover you when abroad -
make sure you know the
procedure and the
helpline number.
Many credit cards
offer travel insurance
if you buy your tickets
using the card, but
these packages rarely
offer the full cover of
normal travel insurance.
In Britain and Ireland,
travel insurance schemes
are sold by almost every
travel agent or bank,
and by specialist
travel insurance
companies; Rough Guides
now offer their own
scheme too. Cover
varies, but a standard
policy will cover the
cost of cancellation and
curtailment of flights,
medical expenses, travel
delay, accident, missed
departures, lost
baggage, lost passport,
personal liability and
legal expenses.
Insurance for North
American travellers
Before buying an
insurance policy,
check that you're not
already covered.
Canadian provincial
health plans typically
provide some overseas
medical coverage,
although they are
unlikely to pick up
the full tab in the
event of a mishap.
Holders of official
student/teacher/youth
cards are entitled to
accident coverage and
hospital in-patient
benefits - the annual
membership is far less
than the cost of
comparable insurance.
Students may also find
that their student
health coverage
extends during the
vacations and for one
term beyond the date
of last enrolment.
Bank and credit cards
(particularly American
Express) often provide
certain levels of
medical or other
insurance, and travel
insurance may also be
included if you use a
major credit or charge
card to pay for your
trip. Homeowners' or
renters' insurance
often covers theft or
loss of documents,
money and valuables
while overseas.
After exhausting
the possibilities
above, you might want
to contact a specialist
travel insurance
company; your travel
agent can usually
recommend one, or try
Rough Guides' own
scheme. Travel
insurance policies
vary: some are
comprehensive while
others cover only
certain risks
(accidents, illnesses,
delayed or lost
luggage, cancelled
flights, etc.). In
particular, ask
whether the policy
pays medical costs up
front or reimburses
you later, and whether
it provides for
medical evacuation to
your home country. For
policies that include
lost or stolen
luggage, check exactly
what is and isn't
covered, and make sure
the per-article limit
will cover your most
valuable possession.
Note that most North
American travel
policies apply only to
items lost, stolen or
damaged while in the
custody of an
identifiable,
responsible third
party - hotel porter,
airline, luggage
consignment, etc. Even
in these cases you
will have to contact
the local police
within a certain time
limit to have a
complete report made
out so that your
insurer can process
the claim.
Doctors and
pharmacies
If you need minor
treatment, go to a
doctor
(
m้dico ),
taking your E111 with
you if you're an EU
citizen: this should
enable you to get free
treatment and
prescriptions for
medicines at the local
rate. If you're
looking for repeat
medication, take any
empty bottles or
capsules with you to
the doctor - the brand
names often differ. An
Italian
pharmacist
(
farmacia ) is
well qualified to give
you advice on minor
ailments and to
dispense
prescriptions; most
speak good English. A
rota of
Farmacie di
Turno ensures that
there's always a
pharmacy open all
night: every
farmacia
should display the
address of the nearest
night pharmacy on its
door - or you can ring
192 for information.
If you get taken
seriously
ill , hunt out the
nearest hospital and
go to the
Pronto
Soccorso
(casualty) section, or
phone 113 and ask for
ospedale
or
ambulanza.
Dental treatment
is expensive and is
not covered by the
Italian health
service; private
insurance is the only
way to avoid getting
seriously out of
pocket, and even then
you'll have to pay on
the spot and claim
later.
No vaccinations are
required for entry to
Italy.
