Italy Republic Expat Health Insurance
The Italian Republic was a founding member of the European Union. Its famed boot-shaped peninsula juts into the Mediterranean Sea. Italy is well known for its rich culture, which is considered a cradle of Western Civilization, dating back to the Etruscans and the Roman Empire, which was for a time the largest on earth. Italy later attracted global attention as the “Birthplace of the Renaissance”. Decimated by the Second World War, today Italy is a global power and member of the G-8 Group of industrialized nations. It is a key member of NATO, the WTO, the OECD and is one of the most successful economies in the world. Italy is also one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations, with varied topography ranging from the mountainous north, to fields in the south and a large coastline all around, and plethora of opportunities to enjoy the arts.
Italy Healthcare System
As with most wealthy, developed countries, life expectancy in Italy is relatively high: 79 years for males and 84 years for females. Total annual per capita expenditure on health care in Italy is over US$3,000, which represents about two thirds of the European regional average, or about 9.5 percent of Italian GDP. Government spending represents 77.3 percent of total healthcare funding, and Italians enjoy nearly universal health care coverage. Private Italy health insurance represents about 4.6 percent of total private health care spending, with most of the remainder coming from out-of-pocket.
Antenatal, birth and infant care is widely utilized and nearly all births are attended by a skilled health care professional. Italy’s health care workforce is in line with regional averages, with 42.4 doctors and 65.2 nurses and midwives per 10,000 people. However, a significant number of doctors and nurses emigrate yearly in search of greater economic opportunity.
Due to its wealth and strong social network, the Italian population generally enjoys excellent medical services and standards of health. Incidence of communicable diseases is very low. Improved drinking water is available to the entire population, and modern sanitation facilities are also free to all. There are approximately 3 HIV cases for every 1,000 adults, which is less than half of the global average. Tuberculosis affects only 8 of every 100,000 Italians, though the global average is twenty five times this. The WHO Global Alert and Response team had reported a few incidences of SARS in the past decade, but has not released any health alerts for Italy since 2004.
The WHO also operates a number of WHO Collaborating Centers across Italy, which carries out research on occupational health and safety, tuberculosis and lung diseases, epidemiology, dentistry, burns and fire disasters, maternal and infant health, in addition to traditional medicines, such as Acupuncture. These centers for international cooperation engage in leading edge research, with resultant benefits to the provision of local care in Italy.
Italy is in every way a modern country with well developed health care infrastructure, but medical problems overseas inevitably carry additional consequences for travelers, and Italy is no exception. Although this has been limited in recent years, Italy has been prone to labor unrest, violent political protests and terrorist attacks. Although most crime consists of petty theft, violent assaults are not unknown, particularly in urban areas. Italy may also be prone to natural disasters such as flooding, landslides and volcanic eruptions.
The US Center for Disease Control based in Atlanta, recommend visiting a travel health clinic four to six weeks before departure for Italy to update routine immunizations. Rabies vaccines may be required for tourists planning to visit more rural parts of the country. Insect bites may present a problem, particularly in summer months; using insect repellent with DEET is advised. Western Europe is also host to a number of other diseases which can affect travelers, which include: tickborne encephalitis, leishmaniasis, variant Creutzfeldt-Jacob syndrome, measles and hepatitis. The Chikungunya virus is currently prevalent in the Ravenna area of Emilia Romagna.
Like with any travel destination, the most common travelers’ health problems involve gastrointestinal distress. Italy is justly famed for its quality food and drink, but even here raw and undercooked food should be avoided. Also, drinking only bottled water should limit exposure to contaminants leading to illness. Over the counter medication is usually sufficient to treat most cases of vomiting and diarrhoea, but persistent cases should require a visit to a physician or specialist.
Road accidents are another serious concern in Italy. Be sure to obey the local rules of the road at all times and exercise special caution in unfamiliar areas. Many tourists have accidents on motor scooters because of their lack of familiarity with this mode of transport. Similarly, many tourists suffer injuries in snow or watersport accidents.
Despite being a modern European country with very well-developed health care infrastructure, language barriers and cultural differences may make delivery of care problematic – especially in rural areas. Medical emergencies may require expensive air evacuation.
Italy Expat Health Insurance
Suffering injury or illness away from home is one of the biggest stresses in life. Therefore, having a quality international health insurance plan will contribute to your and your family’s peace of mind. There are myriad insurance options available to tourists and expatriates in Italy , expat health insurance plans that Global Health Insurance works with provides the best coverage from the world’s leading insurers . The range of Italy expat health insurance plans on offer via Global Health Insurance include dental, maternal, alternative and air ambulance care. Our experienced advisors are available around the clock to answer your questions about insurance coverage while you, or your family, are away from home. Contact a one of our Global Health Insurance advisors today.
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| Hi, My mom will be coming from north africa to visit me in the USA and stay for acouple of weeks. Recently she has been having a heavy hand and legs feeling. She has been prescribed a medication that is usualy prescribed for patients with mild parkinson's. I would like to get some second opinion and test(scans) performed on her in the USA. I don't think that she has parkinson's and I would like to confirn this in a center/hospital that I trust. My mom has an inssurance coverage with mutuelle Maroc,which is a partner with SwissLife and AXA. I wonder if she can get an international coverage with your company that will covers specialist evaluation, MRI, and oether scans if necessary. Thank you | |
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| Hi, We (Doanldson Europe BVBA in Belgium) are looking for a hosptal & medical insurance for one of our families (family van den Enden) we are relocating to Brockville, Canada. Up till now we haven't found an insurance compay willing to cover the pre-existing condition of Mrs. van den Enden which is bronchial asthma. Would you be able to offer us a solution with an insurance who is willing to cover also the pre-existing condition. Thanks in advance for your reply, Veerle Matthijs | |
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| do you have any insurance plan for Ivf treatment? Like if the first attempt is not successful then is there any plan to cover the next attempt? | |
