Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Yes, but ...

Health Insurance Exclusions
Just in case you thought everything here in Florence was all peaches and cream, I thought I best share a couple of truly trying situations we have dealt with in the past few days:
Example number one:
Paying for private health insurance for the three of us.
Health coverage for us for a year = 1260 Euros total (we have to get it for a year for the residency card, not because we plan to stay a year)
Admittedly, the insurance doesn't cover a bunch of stuff including injuries resulting from atomic bombs, and jumping off spring boards (they have a thing about springboards in this policy which shouldn't be a problem because I hate heights even short spring board heights.) Oh, and they were so apologetic about the cost. Ummmm, for 1260 Euros we'd be lucky to cover this family for a month in the US if we had to get private health insurance.

If we were working for an Italian company we would be able to access the state system which actually has a fabulous reputation. The state system covers Ila as it is I believe. Some nonsense about looking after children. As if it isn't their fault their parents can't access healthcare. Anyone might think the health of our children had an impact on our society present and future. Hmmmmm...

Example numero due (got to practice my italfranish somewhere)

You have options on your electricity supply that limits how much you can access. We somehow got signed up for 3kW which meant today when we tried to have the ac on (92 degrees, 75% humidity) with the lights in the living room, the breaker went. We went ahead an moved up in the world to a 6kW allowance. I wonder why they do that? Perhaps they have a different rate for those who promise to keep their energy consumption low. Kind of cool possibly, but also just a bit weird.

and number three
On the train to Rome
Me: Hey honey, there is a guy selling beer here
D: Oooo...oh, yes, but it's Italian beer. I'd rather drink water.

See deep, deep suffering

I can tell you hear our pain. Well, maybe with the humidity and temperatures?

On a more positive note, this just appeared in a gallery down the street. It isn't greatest shot, but the actually picture is about 2 meters tall and is completely created using colored drawing pencils. Pencilled Venus

5 comments:

  1. Wow, that image of the insurance policy just brings it all back... why I don't think I could ever truly live in Italy. I love that they specifically mention trampolines in the policy, because I got a really bad sprained ankle on one during one of my trips there! I got decent care in the two hospitals I went to, despite the fact they nearly x-rayed the wrong foot...

    So, have you found the nascent Italian microbrew scene yet?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Well for those of us living in Europe the Italian health system is free and Italy exports its doctors to places like England, where it appears there is a shortage. Which is more than you can say for the US! Buying into even short care insurance in the US is very expensive and virtually prohibitive if you are old or have an existing condition. One of the great benefits of the European Union has been the health care sharing. Not perfect but much better than it used to be. Maybe the US should think about joining us; but hopefully your own health care should be improving in the future.

    ReplyDelete
  3. and now you have another follower.... I saw your post on tangobaby's blog... I like your blog, very nicely done. We love Italy though we have not gotten to visit it yet. We travel via the Travel Channel these days.... We love Italian food..and wine. Each time I visit the east coast, especially Boston, I try to find the Italian quarter and I eat like a king!!

    good job!!

    Ron

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks Ron! Italy is glorious, I think you should try and make it out here.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi there :)
    Enjoyed reading your blog today for the first time.
    We have the same annoying thing with the electriticy. It took me a month of the power breaker going off before I remember now to never use two things at a time!

    As for the medical system...everyone keeps asking me why we are going private for the maternity visits. Supposedly as you say, the public health system is great. I was even told that for permanent Italian residents, IVF is free...I am not sure if that's true though as that seems very generous!

    ReplyDelete