Is there anything better than a summer holiday in beautiful Italy? It’s one of Europe’s most ancient nations, packed with history and with superb countryside and beaches too. Whether you’re heading to Rome for a weekend sightseeing and eating pasta, or for a relaxing villa holiday in the Tuscan countryside, you must be prepared for every eventuality. So along with the phrase book and sun protection cream, make sure you’ve got your EHIC cover arranged for every member of the family before you get on the plane.

Basics of EHIC Cover

The idea behind EHIC is that people from across the EU can access healthcare in each other’s countries, and to complement the cover offered by travel insurance policies. EHIC doesn’t mean free healthcare everywhere in Europe though, as the system varies according to country. One thing which is true across Europe is that private healthcare is never included in EHIC, and some European countries have many more private clinics and doctors that we are used to here in the UK. In Italy, visitors who are staying in the country for less than three months are covered by EHIC, students or seasonal workers who are staying for longer must register with the Italian department of health in order to receive treatment. EHIC will not cover cosmetic treatment, or treatment when your only reason for travelling to Italy is to go to hospital.

Accessing Healthcare

The Italian Ministry of Health publishes information online about accessing healthcare in the country so always check this information as healthcare schemes are liable to change. If you need to see a doctor or go to A&E in Italy, ensure that you are going to a surgery or hospital which is registered with the SSN, the state healthcare provider. You will be asked to show your EHIC card on arrival to ensure you are entitled under the scheme. The Italian phrase for EHIC is “Tessera Europea di Assicurazione Malattia (TEAM)”. Out of hours, if you need to see a doctor but not ill enough for A&E you can call the Doctor on Duty in the town where you are staying, and they will arrange to see you if they need to. Italian doctors in larger cities and in tourist areas are much more likely to speak some English.

Co-Payment

Like many other European countries, Italy has a system of patients contributing towards their medical treatment. These contributions are called co-payments, and are set regionally and not nationally. The amounts you will be charged are generally reasonable, and far lower than the price of any private treatment. Always try to establish upfront what the contributions are likely to be, and keep all invoices and receipts for your records. If you do have a prolonged illness which costs more than your travel insurance excess, you may be able to make a claim. You cannot claim back co-payments under the EHIC scheme. There will also be charges for any medicines prescribed by the doctor, lab tests and other diagnostic tests carried out in hospital.