5 Things to Know About Healthcare in Calabria

While there are so many reasons I encourage my expat coaching clients to move to Calabria, there's one thing I tell them to carefully consider: their healthcare needs.

Healthcare in Calabria is...well, let's just say lacking in many ways, especially if you come here with an American perspective.

If you're considering a move to Calabria, read on to understand what you'll be dealing with regarding the medical system.

1. Having a Hospital Nearby Sometimes Isn't Helpful

Soverato has a hospital, which may sound reassuring...except you can't get every type of service here. Sometimes that's because they're overbooked for that service, and other times, it's because they don't offer it.

Fra's uncle got in a car accident a few months ago (he's fine) and he was rushed to the emergency room in Soverato, where he waited several hours...only to be told they couldn't help him, and he had to be taken 45 minutes away to Catanzaro to another hospital!

2. Appointments Can Take a While

With my American mentality, I moseyed over to the medical office to make an appointment for a mammogram, thinking, at most, it would be a couple of months.

They didn't have availability for a year!!! Sadly, Calabria doesn't get the resources to support its medical infrastructure, and it just doesn't have the manpower to serve all the residents quickly. That's why I sometimes pay for services (more on that in a minute).

If you need a service urgently, your doctor can give you an impegnativo (like a referral or prescription) that is priority, and you can make the appointment within 30 days.

3. Sometimes You'll Have to Travel

I recently encountered this. My gynecologist recommended I go to a hospital in Rome to have an ovarian cyst looked at. She said the technology there was better than what they have in Calabria, and if I needed surgery (I do), they had state-of-the-art equipment and minimally invasive processes that meant I would recover faster.

It was a pain to have to travel to Rome for a doctor's appointment, but I'm glad to have access to world-class healthcare (for free).

So yes, in some ways, it's a bit Third-World here, and it's sad how Calabria doesn't have the medical resources that they do in the north of Italy.

4. Going Private is Always an Option

Before you say, but Su! I can't afford to pay for medical services out of pocket! let me just say: you likely can. The cost for services that would cost thousands of dollars in the U.S. is much, much lower here.

For example, the average cost of an MRI in the U.S. without insurance is $2,000. Here, you can pay as little as €300! To me, spending less than what I spent on one month's health insurance premium in the U.S. is well worth it. And you can schedule services much faster than with the national health system.

5. The Doctors are Wonderful

With all the shortcomings of healthcare in Calabria, I will say that the perk is that you get doctors who will take their time to listen to you. I have never felt rushed when visiting a doctor, and most of my appointments have averaged about an hour. They just don't have that attitude of trying to see as many patients as possible in a day!

I also love that they are reachable via WhatsApp and email. I can ask my doctor for a prescription or just any question I have without making an appointment.

As you can see, healthcare in Calabria is a mixed bag. I tell people that if they have chronic health concerns, Calabria might not be the best place for them, and they might want to consider moving to a larger city with adequate medical resources.