Health & Insurance

Staying Healthy

There are no special health risks you'll encounter in Italy. The tap water is safe -- excellent even -- and medical resources are high quality.

General Availability of Healthcare -- With Italy's partially socialized medicine, you can usually stop by any hospital emergency room with an ailment, get swift and courteous service, receive a diagnosis and a prescription, and be sent on your way with a wave and a smile -- without filling out a single sheet of paperwork. However, the benefits of Italy's partially socialized medicine really only apply to Italians, so foreigners should be prepared to pay medical bills upfront.

Pharmacies offer essentially the same range of generic drugs available in the United States, plus a lot of them that haven't been approved yet by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Pharmacies are also the only place you'll find simple stuff such as aspirin and run-of-the-mill cold medicines: You won't find Tylenol at any old corner store (even if there were such a thing as a corner store).

Strangely, though, I have found it very hard to locate decongestants in Italy the way you can in other countries. If you regularly suffer from a stuffy nose, it is best to pack a good supply of Sudafed with you before you leave.

Common Ailments

In general, Tuscany and Umbria are extraordinarily healthy places, and as a result, travelers to Central Italy will encounter very few health risks. The greatest health risks in Tuscany and Umbria are exposure to too much sun or too much wine -- both of which can be avoided with some caution and common sense. Every few years there is a new outbreak that makes headlines: mad cow disease, meningitis, or swine flu -- but these ailments are no more endemic to Central Italy than they are to North America or Britain.

What to Do If You Get Sick Away from Home

For travel abroad, you may have to pay all medical costs upfront and be reimbursed later. Before leaving home, find out what medical services your health insurance covers. Your health insurance in your home country may not cover any extended treatment abroad. However, even if you don't have insurance, you will be seen and treated in an emergency room, just as you would at home.

Tuscany and Umbria have good hospitals, and Italy's public health-care system is generally well regarded.

Pharmacies in Italy are ubiquitous (look for the green cross) and they serve almost like mini-clinics, where pharmacists diagnose and treat minor ailments, like flu symptoms and general aches and pains, with over-the-counter drugs. In Italy, most over-the-counter drugs are available in either generic form or a local brand. You may want to pack a simple decongestant, which is oddly rare in Italy. Pack prescription medications in your carry-on luggage, and carry them in their original containers, with pharmacy labels -- otherwise they won't make it through airport security. Carry the generic name of prescription medicines, in case a local pharmacist is unfamiliar with the brand name.

Pharmacies in Florence and other cities take turns doing the night shift. Normally there is a list posted at the entrance of each pharmacy, telling customers which pharmacy is open which night of the week.

If you experience an emergency, dial tel. 113, Italy's general emergency number. For an ambulance, call tel. 118.

Safety

Italy is a remarkably safe country. The worst threats you'll likely face are the pickpockets that sometimes frequent touristy areas and public buses, mostly in Rome and Naples; just keep your valuables in an under-the-clothes money belt there and you should be fine. There are, of course, thieves in Central Italy, as there are everywhere, so be smart; don't leave anything valuable in your rental car overnight, and leave nothing visible in it at any time to avoid tempting a would-be thief. The fact that there is so little overt crime in Italy is a good thing, as police enforcement is notoriously lax. If you do happen to be robbed, you can fill out paperwork at the nearest police station, but this is mostly for insurance purposes -- don't expect them to actually hunt down the perpetrator or find your lost valuables. In general, avoid public parks at night and public squares in the wee hours of the morning, situations that attract the seediest elements looking to prey on late-night partiers.