# Travel insurance for Italy: what changes once you are inside the Schengen Area

> Italy's public hospitals will treat emergencies regardless of insurance, but the bill, the paperwork and getting home afterward are all on you without a policy. Here is what to carry.

Source: https://roamfact.com/en/analysis/italy-travel-insurance/

Published: 2026-10-12

Italy, like the rest of the Schengen Area, does not require proof of travel insurance for US tourist entry, but that is a border-control detail, not a statement about what your US health plan will pay for once you are there.

## What US coverage typically misses

Medicare covers essentially nothing in Italy, and most US employer or marketplace plans either exclude European care or treat it as out-of-network, meaning you pay the full bill upfront and file for a partial reimbursement later, if your plan offers one at all. Italian public hospitals will treat emergencies for anyone, insured or not, but you will still receive a bill for non-emergency or non-resident care, and private clinics (often faster for non-urgent issues) are cash-and-reimbursement only for foreigners.

## What a policy should include

$50,000–$100,000 in medical coverage is a reasonable range for a European trip, and evacuation coverage matters less in Italy specifically — given its dense network of good hospitals — than in more remote destinations, though it is still worth having for anything requiring repatriation. If your itinerary includes hiking in the Dolomites, skiing, or cycling, confirm those activities are not excluded, since they are common gaps in basic policies.

## Typical cost

A one- to two-week policy with solid medical coverage for a healthy adult typically runs $25–$55.