Italian for Travel Insurance: Asking 'Does This Cover Medical Expenses?'
Learn to ask if a policy covers medical expenses, understand key terms like copertura and massimale, and discuss travel insurance in Italian.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
When you buy travel insurance in Italy or from an Italian-speaking provider, you need to know exactly what is covered. This lesson teaches you how to ask 'Does this cover medical expenses?' and how to understand the answer. You will learn the key verb coprire (to cover), the noun copertura (coverage), and terms like spese mediche, massimale, and franchigia. You will also practice asking about exclusions and how to file a claim. The focus is on clear, polite questions you can use at an insurance office, on the phone, or when reading a policy in Italian.
By the end, you can…
- ask whether a travel insurance policy covers medical expenses.
- understand and use key insurance terms like copertura, massimale, and franchigia.
- ask about exclusions and how to file a claim.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Questa polizza copre le spese mediche?
Does this policy cover medical expenses?
KWEH-sta po-LEET-tsa KOH-pre le SPEH-zeh MEH-di-keh
Use polizza for an insurance policy. Spese mediche is the standard term for medical expenses. This is a direct, polite question.
Qual è il massimale per le spese mediche?
What is the maximum coverage for medical expenses?
kwal eh eel mas-si-MAH-leh per le SPEH-zeh MEH-di-keh
Massimale means the maximum amount the insurer will pay. Use this to ask about the limit.
C'è una franchigia?
Is there a deductible?
cheh OO-na fran-KEE-jah
Franchigia is the amount you must pay before the insurance covers the rest. Common in health and travel policies.
Cosa non è coperto?
What is not covered?
KOH-zah non eh ko-PER-toh
Ask this to find out exclusions. The answer often includes pre-existing conditions or extreme sports.
Come faccio a presentare un reclamo?
How do I file a claim?
KOH-meh FAHT-cho ah pre-zen-TAH-reh un re-KLAH-mo
Reclamo means claim. Use presentare un reclamo to ask about the claims process.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The verb coprire (to cover) is central. Its past participle coperto is used in passive constructions: 'È coperto?' (Is it covered?). The noun is copertura (coverage). For example: 'La polizza copre le spese mediche?' (Does the policy cover medical expenses?) or 'Le spese mediche sono coperte?' (Are medical expenses covered?). Note that coprire is irregular in the past participle: coperto, not coprito. Use con for 'with': 'coperto con una franchigia' (covered with a deductible).
When to use it
Use these questions when speaking with an insurance agent, reading a policy, or calling customer service. For example, at the office: 'Scusi, questa polizza copre le spese mediche?' (Excuse me, does this policy cover medical expenses?). On the phone: 'Vorrei sapere se le spese mediche sono coperte.' (I would like to know if medical expenses are covered.) When reading, look for the section 'Copertura' or 'Massimale'. In formal writing, you may see 'La presente polizza copre...' (This policy covers...).
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Buongiorno, vorrei informazioni su questa polizza viaggio. Copre le spese mediche?
Good morning, I would like information about this travel policy. Does it cover medical expenses?bwon-JOR-no, vor-RAY in-for-mats-YOH-ni su KWEH-sta po-LEET-tsa VYAD-jo. KOH-pre le SPEH-zeh MEH-di-keh?Sì, copre le spese mediche fino a un massimale di 50.000 euro. C'è però una franchigia di 100 euro.
Yes, it covers medical expenses up to a maximum of 50,000 euros. However, there is a deductible of 100 euros.see, KOH-pre le SPEH-zeh MEH-di-keh FEE-no a un mas-si-MAH-leh dee chin-kwan-TAH-mi-la EHW-ro. cheh peh-ROH OO-na fran-KEE-jah dee CHEN-toh EHW-ro.Capisco. Cosa non è coperto? Ad esempio, se faccio sport estremi?
I see. What is not covered? For example, if I do extreme sports?ka-PEES-ko. KOH-zah non eh ko-PER-toh? ad eh-ZEM-pyo, se FAHT-cho sport es-TREH-mi?Gli sport estremi non sono coperti. E anche le condizioni preesistenti non sono coperte. Per fare un reclamo, deve chiamare questo numero.
Extreme sports are not covered. And pre-existing conditions are also not covered. To file a claim, you must call this number.lyi sport es-TREH-mi non SOH-no ko-PER-ti. e AN-keh le kon-dits-YOH-ni preh-eh-ZEN-ten-ti non SOH-no ko-PER-teh. per FAH-reh un re-KLAH-mo, DEH-veh kya-MAH-reh KWEH-sto NOO-meh-ro.A little context goes a long way
In Italy, travel insurance is often called polizza viaggio or assicurazione di viaggio. When speaking with an agent, use formal Lei unless you know the person well. Italians may use the English word 'claim' but the Italian reclamo is standard. Be prepared to provide your codice fiscale (tax code) when filing a claim. Policies from Italian providers often have a massimale and a franchigia, so always ask about both.
One thing to watch for
Using 'coprire' as a regular verb and saying 'coprito' instead of 'coperto'.
Try this instead: The past participle of coprire is irregular: coperto. For example, 'È coperto?' (Is it covered?), not 'È coprito?'. Similarly, the noun is copertura, not copritura.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you ask 'Does this policy cover medical expenses?' in Italian?
Show a sample answer
Questa polizza copre le spese mediche?
This uses the verb coprire in the third person singular. You could also ask 'Le spese mediche sono coperte?' which is equally correct.
2What does 'franchigia' mean in an insurance context?
Show a sample answer
Deductible (the amount you pay before insurance covers the rest).
Franchigia is the standard term. Do not confuse it with 'franchise' in English, which means something different.
3How do you ask 'What is not covered?' in Italian?
Show a sample answer
Cosa non è coperto?
This is a direct way to ask about exclusions. You could also say 'Quali sono le esclusioni?' (What are the exclusions?).
Always ask 'Questa polizza copre le spese mediche?' and follow up with 'C'è una franchigia?' and 'Cosa non è coperto?' to fully understand your travel insurance coverage in Italian.
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