What happens if you get sick in Italy?
In Italy, patients are free to choose between public hospitals and private hospitals. Public hospitals normally provide both emergency and non-emergency services. At public hospitals, patients may receive emergency services at no cost or upon payment of a limited contribution, depending on the public hospital's policy.
Since 1978, healthcare in Italy has been provided through a mixed public-private structure. On the public side, the SSN, Servicio Sanitario Nazionale, provides free or very low-cost healthcare to all Italian citizens and non-citizens with residency status.
MEDICAL CARE IN ITALY FOR TOURISTS
You have certain health care rights during a temporary stay. You can access both emergency and standard healthcare services. In the first case, payment must correspond upon hospital discharge. In the case of “non-emergency” treatment, advanced payment is required.
You will have free access to Public Primary Care Physicians, Emergency Rooms (for emergency only!) and discounted access to specialists and diagnostic procedures, if prescribed by a Doctor within the Italian Healthcare National Service (SSN – Servizio Sanitario Nazionale).
Emergency treatment in Italy
Anyone in Italy can access emergency treatment even without documentation. Hospital admission is usually free but may require a small co-pay fee. If you are an EU resident, bring your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
Tourists can go directly to a GP's surgery. A list of GPs can be found through the local ASL. If necessary, the state GP will then refer the patient to a specialist. Regions and cities that regularly welcome a large number of tourists sometimes have separate medical practices for patients from abroad.
In Italy, foreign visitors, both from EU and non-EU countries, have the same rights as Italian citizens, which means that in the event of a medical emergency they are assisted and medicated for free in the emergency ward of public hospitals.
You will find private and public hospitals in Italy that offer quality healthcare. Many expatriates or travelers would rather depend on personal insurance to cover their medical costs and therefore avoid lengthy delays in public hospitals in Italy.
Emergency medicine
Emergency medical service is always free of charge. First aid is provided by all the public hospitals: for urgent cases it is completely free of charge for everyone (even for an undocumented non-citizen), while a copay (about $35) is sometimes asked for non-urgent cases.
Because Italy is part of the Schengen Zone, you have to get an insurance policy that meets the Schengen travel insurance requirements. As such, it must be valid through the entire Schengen Zone and cover a minimum of €30,000 in medical expenses. You can get more coverage if you wish to have further protection.
How much is a CT scan in Italy?
The average price of CT (computer tomography) in Italy is $12221, the minimum price is $524, and the maximum price is $27000. Check the hospital ranking based on requests and 0 reviews to pick the right CT (computer tomography) clinic for you.
Emergency service in Italy is always free of charge.
They won't sell you antibiotics without a prescription: while you can get basic antibiotic cream over the counter, you will not be given systemic antibiotics in Italy without a prescription.
While no system is perfect, Europe's universal health care does mean that everyone is taken care of — including foreigners. So if you get sick or injured while traveling, you will receive treatment, no questions asked.
Dial "112." Don't call 911 as you would in the United States; that number doesn't work in Europe. Dialing 112 from any country in the European Union (EU) will connect you to emergency services, such as police, fire, and ambulance services.
Healthcare in Italy
You can see a general practitioner for free but if you have a specialized medical visit, you will need to pay. Diagnostic tests and laboratory tests often come at a cost, as well as non-urgent care and non-emergency care that do not need a recovery period in hospital.
Enter guardia medica. —which is a form of urgent care. In Italy, it isn't the emergency room, and it usually is reserved for times when a person's regular doctor isn't available through normal business hours. Here in Rome, you can find guardia medica offices dedicated mainly to tourists.
According to the data, the average cost of antibiotics in Italy was 2.24 euros per daily defined dose (DDD) in 2022.
You can also pay online through the PagoPA service and at those locations that are part of the PagoPa network, such as the tobacconist, the post office, some supermarkets, banks or at ATM points. A ticket has a maximum cost of € 36,15. In some regions it may be as high as € 46,15.
Italy's healthcare covers most medical procedures for all legal residents. Dental care is free in emergency cases and for all children up to 16 years of age. Other procedures, such as orthodontics or laser eye surgery, are generally not covered but may be subsidized to some extent on a case-by-case basis.
Do Americans need health insurance in Italy?
Having public health insurance is mandatory if you are in Italy for work, family reasons, seeking asylum or international protection, or for medical treatments. The application to the SSN is free in this case and requires you to present the following documents to the local ASL: Valid passport.
Each doctor decides the price to charge for a consultation, we do not influence the doctor's fees. The price usually varies from about 20 euro up to 150 euro on average. To see a specialist the fee is usually higher, but hardly ever more than 250 euro, even for a world class doctor.
On average, a routine dental check-up can cost anywhere from 50 to 150 euros, while more complex procedures, such as a root canal or a dental implant, can cost several hundred euros.
Italy ranked 30th overall in the 2022 World Index of Healthcare Innovation, down from 28th in 2021 and 29th in 2020. Italy underperformed across all four dimensions — ranking 22nd for Quality, 30th for Choice, 27th for Science and Technology, and 26th for Fiscal Sustainability.
According to the Ministry of Health, foreigners entering Italy are allowed to bring personal medications for a period of 30 days, but it is recommended that travelers also bring a copy of their prescription with them.
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