Reciprocal Health Care Agreement

[Battymum]

Has anyone ever had the need to use the reciprocal health care agreement?

We are travelling to Italy and Australians can get treated in hospital under this agreement.

I am not planning to take additional insurance , other than Westpac Complimentary which does not cover pandemics.

I am not too worried about cancellation costs - they wouldn’t be covered anyway, and I doubt if we do get the Rona it would be bad enough to require hospitalisation - like any flu we would lay low for a few days and then get on with it.

What’s the worst that could happen??

We are not travelling until September so I will reassess beforehand.

Thoughts ???

 

[Quickstatus]

Has anyone ever had the need to use the reciprocal health care agreement?

See here

I doubt if we do get the Rona

What’s the worst that could happen

Sounds like you are trying to rationalise a decision to not take out travel insurance

The public health system in Italy is OK, but standards can be variable.

Irrespective of RHCA eligibility, I always recommend TI - especially if you are asking "what's the worst that could happen".

 

[andye]

A not uncommon example of the worst-big stroke with no cover for medical evacuation

Emergency public hospital accommodation costs are covered but I don't know how much public rehab there is in Italy

Seems not to cover tests or medications either-both of these can be very expensive if the condition warrants it

Would definitely advise travel insurance

 

[Quickstatus]

no cover for medical evacuation

Yes, the RHCA does not cover private medical evacuation and basically all international medical evacuation is run by private companies.

So worst case is you will be stuck in Italy until you walk out or are carried out. (And RHCA not valid excess of 6 months, unlike TI which is unlimited medical expenses up to 12 months)
There are just too many holes - one is what happens if you get sick in a transit country?. Or you get sick inflight and the aircraft is diverted to somewhere but not Italy?

like any flu

Are you happy to bet your assets on that for the sake of maybe $300

 

[DC3]

Pretty much self-insuring for the worst-case scenario.

I’d recommend rethinking this: “… I doubt if we do get the Rona it would be bad enough to require hospitalisation - like any flu we would lay low for a few days and then get on with it …”.

No chance of anything else? To put it bluntly, death?

 

[Battymum]

To clarify I will have travel insurance - I would never travel without , it just has a general exclusion for pandemic/epidemic.

 

[andye]

To clarify I will have travel insurance - I would never travel without , it just has a general exclusion for pandemic/epidemic.

Sorry for overinterpreting
I'd still view covid-specific cover as the preferred option. While you would be unlucky to get a severe covid pneumonitis or a covid-associated stroke if fully vaxed, they could both prove very costly

 

[mrsterryn]

I think the only country I would possibly go with limited travel insurance eg credit car coverage is UK. Under the agreement

 

[Quickstatus]

has a general exclusion for pandemic/epidemic.

Sure, but a TI inclusive of Covid cover is still very inexpensive.

 

[Anna]

Not exactly on topic but one thing people sometimes overlook is their transit stops. Maybe the final destination has a reciprocal health care agreement but that might not help if someone is taken ill en route during transit in SIN, DXB, DOH or wherever and can't continue the journey. Or possibly even worse (and unlikely) what if they're taken ill onboard and the pilot decides to make an unscheduled stop somewhere to offload them for emergency treatment. I'm glad to hear the OP has some TI.

Update - just saw Quickstatus has already said some/all of this

 

[Battymum]

Obviously no one has had to use the agreement which was my question, nor read my original post.

Yes I do have insurance - it’s a genuine policy underwritten by Allianz - it covers all the usual things - I have read the PDS back to front, it has a policy number and if the need arises I contact Allianz not Westpac.

I am not an idiot.

I have travelled before using only the credit card insurance as have many others. Personally have never had to claim but others have and have had the same experience as an individual policy.

I am getting quotes for covid inclusive insurance of around $1000 so yeah I am pondering if it’s “worth it”. We are fully vaxxed and boosted, otherwise healthy middleagers. Should we end up requiring medical care for covid, I expect that we would be going to the public system anyway - what are the other options ???

I am not a covid denier, but I can see how insurance companies will be making a fortune playing on peoples hysteria.
Our flights are booked on points and refundable - we are planning on driving in a campervan for four weeks, so should we need to isolate we will just stay put for a few days - quite frankly, unless we are sick enough to require hospital care, no one will know - but we will be responsible and keep to ourselves should the situation arise.

Have a good day.

 

[DC3]

Have a good day.

You too. And enjoy your trip.

 

[Must...Fly!]

The problem arises if you have severe complications arising from a COVID infection requiring repatriation. I think the question is really whether you are willing/able to pay these costs should they arise given you have insurance covering other issues.

Alternatively one can be quite sure if you were to have a medical episode for example (let's say severe - stroke) and then tested positive incidentally as part of hospital admission process, good luck getting the insurer to pay out your medical repatriation costs.

 

[Battymum]

Thank you
Yes this is something I had not thought of.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I think the only country I would possibly go with limited travel insurance eg credit car coverage is UK. Under the agreement

Even with the UK insurance without covid cover could leave gaps if there was an extended rehab period. A couple of my friends are reliant on the NHS for chronic conditions and they have reported it’s getting worse, not better, due to covid (one of them has been waiting over two years to see a specialist).

But in general credit card insurance isn’t necessarily limited. Some CC policies are streets ahead in the cover they provide over paid policies. In some cases they will insure those ineligible under general policies (for example ANZ covers you to 80 years).

 

[Quickstatus]

what are the other options

There is the smaller private system. Not saying that one is better than the other but there are pros and cons of both.

It’s the holes that are not covered by the RHCA and CC insurance that are the risk.

Suggest also reading SmartTravellers Advice re RHCA. Basically the hospital decides what’s covered or not and don’t expect 100% free even if deemed covered.

 

[VPS]

I arrived in the UK once after being in Egypt where I got a gyppie tummy. Doctors considered this as a pre existing illness before I arrived in the UK so had to pay for everything.

 

[ehc]

Has anyone ever had the need to use the reciprocal health care agreement?

We are travelling to Italy and Australians can get treated in hospital under this agreement.

I am not planning to take additional insurance , other than Westpac Complimentary which does not cover pandemics.

I am not too worried about cancellation costs - they wouldn’t be covered anyway, and I doubt if we do get the Rona it would be bad enough to require hospitalisation - like any flu we would lay low for a few days and then get on with it.

What’s the worst that could happen??

We are not travelling until September so I will reassess beforehand.

Thoughts ???

I always take out travel insurance, did have the need to go to hospital in Barga, Italy once but the language barrier was the biggest issue.

 

[Port Power]

Has anyone ever had the need to use the reciprocal health care agreement?

We are travelling to Italy and Australians can get treated in hospital under this agreement.

I am not planning to take additional insurance , other than Westpac Complimentary which does not cover pandemics.

I am not too worried about cancellation costs - they wouldn’t be covered anyway, and I doubt if we do get the Rona it would be bad enough to require hospitalisation - like any flu we would lay low for a few days and then get on with it.

What’s the worst that could happen??

We are not travelling until September so I will reassess beforehand.

Thoughts ???

Often you will have to pay the bill, then claim back from Medicare upon arrival back in Australia.
Reciprocal does not mean skip the queue! Are there long waits to see even a GP in Italy? I had enough trouble as a visitor to Melbourne!
You would be treated for no charge in a public hospital if you had a sudden heart attack, for instance. But you would then have to use your CC insurance for follow up after discharge if not allowed to fly home for some time. You would be seen in the Emergency Department for a broken leg, but again, follow up physiotherapy, accommodation, etc, would be through your CC insurance.
If you needed hospitalisation for C-19, I expect that would be covered by a public hospital. But are there beds available?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I checked the agreement specific to Italy.. it does seem to be more generous by covering things such as GP visits. Some other countries only provide for urgent care.