Information for Tourists

AlleviO₃

A GUIDE TO THE ITALIAN HEALTHCARE SYSTEM FOR INTERNATIONAL VISITORS

Content for allevio3.it — Information for Tourists / International Patients

Informational content for the public: practical information, not individual legal, medical or insurance advice. Sources verified directly: Italian Ministry of Health (TEAM/EHIC), European Commission's Your Europe portal, NHS/GHIC (United Kingdom), Veneto Region and local press on the seasonal tourist medical service on Lake Garda, and the implementation status of the 112 emergency number in Veneto (most recent data found: October 2025). Content to be reviewed by the clinic's management before publication, particularly opening hours and costs of the tourist medical service, which are subject to seasonal changes.

Welcome to Lake Garda: a quick guide to healthcare in Italy

If you are on holiday in Peschiera del Garda or nearby and need medical care, the Italian healthcare system may work differently from what you are used to at home. This guide explains, in simple terms, how it works, which documents you need, what the European Health Insurance Card covers, and how AlleviO₃ can help you during your stay.

How the Italian healthcare system works

Italy has a public, universal National Health Service (Servizio Sanitario Nazionale, SSN), funded through general taxation, which guarantees healthcare to residents. Alongside the public system there is a private healthcare sector (such as AlleviO₃), paid for directly by the patient, generally with shorter waiting times and easier access for people who are not enrolled in the SSN, such as foreign tourists.

Visitors from the EU, EEA and Switzerland: the EHIC

If you are a citizen of an European Union country, the European Economic Area (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) or Switzerland, you are entitled to use the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), usually printed on the back of your national health card.

What it covers

• Medically necessary care during your stay (not care planned before departure)
• Emergency room care and urgent hospital admissions
• Treatment for chronic conditions and pregnancy/childbirth care
• Medicines prescribed in a hospital setting

What it does NOT cover

• Private healthcare (such as the services provided by AlleviO₃)
• Medical repatriation or an earlier return flight home
• Treatment deliberately planned during the trip
• Costs related to lost or stolen belongings

Even with the EHIC, access to care follows Italian rules, including any co-payment fees ("ticket"): exemptions available to Italian residents do not automatically apply to tourists.

Visitors from the United Kingdom: the GHIC

Following Brexit, UK citizens use the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), which has replaced the EHIC for new applications. The GHIC is valid in Italy and other EU countries and grants access to necessary state healthcare during your stay, on the same basis as the EHIC: it does not cover private treatment, repatriation, or travel disruption. Existing UK-issued EHICs remain valid until the expiry date shown on the card.

Visitors from non-EU countries (United States, Canada, and others)

If you come from a country outside the European Union, the European Economic Area or Switzerland, and in the absence of specific bilateral agreements, you are not entitled to free or reduced-cost care under the Italian public healthcare system. It is strongly recommended to take out travel health insurance before departure: if care is needed, both public and private treatment is generally billed directly to the patient.

The tourist medical service (Guardia Medica Turistica) on Lake Garda

During the tourist season (roughly from April/June to September/October, with variations between municipalities), the main towns on Lake Garda — including Peschiera del Garda, Lazise, Bardolino and Garda — run a seasonal tourist medical service dedicated to non-residents temporarily staying in the area.

• Free clinic visits (consultations, prescriptions, first aid) on presentation of your EHIC/GHIC card or equivalent, plus a valid ID document
• Home visits outside clinic hours are a paid service (indicatively around €40, the amount varies by municipality and season)
• Intended for non-serious health problems that do not require the Emergency Room

Opening hours, locations and costs of the tourist medical service change every year and vary between municipalities: please check up-to-date information with the local health authority (ULSS 9 Scaligera) or the local tourist office before relying on this service.

Emergency numbers

112 is the single European emergency number, valid in all EU countries, including Veneto. At the time of this publication, the Veneto Region is still completing the technical rollout of the unified 112 response system (with two operations centres being set up in the provinces of Venice and Verona): until this process is complete, the traditional emergency numbers remain active and functioning, including 118 for medical emergencies.

In a medical emergency, call 112 (single European number) or 118 (medical emergency). Clearly state your location (address, name of the accommodation or landmarks) and, if you do not speak Italian, ask for interpreting assistance if possible.

The public Emergency Room (Pronto Soccorso)

Hospital Emergency Rooms are reserved for genuine emergencies. On arrival, a triage assessment assigns a priority code based on severity: the most serious cases are seen first, regardless of arrival order. Waiting times for lower-priority codes can be long. For non-serious health problems, the tourist medical service or a private clinic such as AlleviO₃ is generally a faster alternative.

Pharmacies

Italian pharmacies (identifiable by a green cross, often illuminated) dispense both prescription and over-the-counter medicines, and staff can advise on minor ailments. On public holidays and at night, a rotating duty-pharmacy system (farmacia di turno) operates: opening hours are usually displayed in each pharmacy's window or available online.

The role of AlleviO₃: private healthcare

AlleviO₃ is a private multispecialty medical centre: services are paid for directly, with no need to be enrolled in the Italian National Health Service and without the waiting lists typical of the public system. It is a useful option for tourists who would like:

• A prompt specialist consultation, even for non-urgent problems
• A second opinion on a diagnosis or treatment plan already underway in their home country
• Outpatient care (physiotherapy, wound dressing, tests) during an extended stay
• Assistance in another language, where available, for those who do not speak Italian

At the end of the visit, an invoice/receipt is issued, which the patient can submit to their travel or private health insurer for possible reimbursement, according to the terms of their policy.

As a private facility, AlleviO₃ generally does not apply SSN rates or exemptions and does not directly handle reimbursement from the EHIC/GHIC: reimbursement claims for private care should be directed to your own insurer or, in some cases, your home country's health authority, according to their respective rules.

Why travel insurance is still worth having

Even European citizens holding an EHIC or GHIC are encouraged to take out supplementary travel insurance, since the European card does not cover private treatment, medical repatriation, assistance in case of lost documents or luggage, or trip disruption. For visitors from outside the EU, travel health insurance is generally essential.

Useful documents to carry with you

• A valid passport or ID card
• Your EHIC/GHIC card, where applicable
• Your travel insurance policy and its emergency contact numbers
• Relevant prior medical documentation (reports, current medication list, known allergies)
• An Italian tax code (codice fiscale), if already held (not required for emergency care)

Who to contact: a quick guide

AlleviO₃: a healthcare point of reference, even on holiday

For any medical need during your stay on Lake Garda, our team is available for a prompt, professional assessment.

This guide is for informational purposes only and does not replace official guidance from health authorities, your insurer, or your country's embassy or consulate. In an emergency, always call 112 or 118.

References

• Italian Ministry of Health — European Health Insurance Card (TEAM) — https://www.salute.gov.it/new/it/tema/cure-nellunione-europea/tessera-europea-assicurazione-malattia-team
• Your Europe (European Commission) — European Health Insurance Card — https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/health/unplanned-healthcare/ehic/index_en.htm
• NHS — Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) — https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/healthcare-abroad/apply-for-a-free-uk-global-health-insurance-card-ghic/
• ULSS 9 Scaligera — Tourist medical service — https://www.aulss9.veneto.it/index.cfm?action=mys.news&news_id=65
• Veneto Region — Single European Emergency Number (112) — https://www.regione.veneto.it/article-detail?articleId=13785159

Verification carried out in this session: the coverage and exclusions of the EHIC were confirmed via the Your Europe portal and the Italian Ministry of Health; the status of the UK's GHIC as the EHIC's replacement was confirmed via the NHS website; the implementation status of the single 112 emergency number in Veneto was confirmed via regional and press sources, with data current as of October 2025 (two operations centres being activated in Venice and Verona, not yet fully completed at that date); the existence and general operation of the tourist medical service in Lake Garda municipalities, including Peschiera, was confirmed via local press sources, including free clinic access with EHIC/ID and an indicative cost of around €40 for home visits outside hours (data relate to the 2024–2025 seasons: hours and amounts should be re-checked for the current season). This session did not verify current cross-border insurance reimbursement arrangements or the specific terms of any bilateral agreements between Italy and non-EU countries: it is recommended that this content be validated with an insurance consultant or the clinic's administrative management before publication.

Editorial draft — English version. To be reviewed by the clinic's management before publication on the website. Content last updated: August 2026.