Emergency healthcare in Italy is not free for non-EU tourists. While public facilities provide immediate stabilization, visitors typically pay an initial co-payment of €25 to €50. Specialized procedures like covered stent placement require full payment of medical device fees, specialist consultations, and hospitalization costs.
- Procedure costs: Covered stent placement ranges from $12,000 to $18,000 in major cities.
- Hospitalization fees: Overnight stays in Italian hospitals cost between $590 and $1,760 per night.
- EU citizen coverage: European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) holders receive treatment under local co-payment conditions.
- Private insurance: Facilities often require out-of-pocket payment before discharge for later reimbursement claims.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Quality cardiac care in Italy is highly concentrated; Maria Cecilia Hospital alone performs over 15% of the country's cardiac surgeries. For emergency vascular work, choosing a JCI-accredited facility in Bologna or Rome ensures access to surgeons like Prof Carlo Savini, who specializes in complex thoracic aortic surgery.
Patient Consensus: Travelers report paying over €5,000 upfront before urgent procedures begin. Many emphasize that having travel insurance for medical evacuation and stent hardware is essential to avoid significant debt.
