Health Care
Health insurance or NHS, what is the best choice
if you want to stay
Or if you are a resident in italy?
Health insurance or NHS, what is the best choice
if you want to stay
Or if you are a resident in italy?
For foreign citizens, EU and non-EU, enrollment in the National Health Service ( NHS) guarantees the same health care provided for Italian citizens.
Holders of residence permits who are engaged in regular employment, self-employment
or the ones enrolled
to the employment lists.
Lawfully residing or having renewed
residence permit for employment/self-employment, family reasons, asylum/asylum-seeking, pending adoption/foster care, or acquisition of citizenship.
Dependent and legally residing family members of Non-EU citizens compulsorily enrolled in the N.H.S.
Local health company (in Italian ASL) of the territory where you reside (indicated on your residence permit).Documentation for registration:
1. ID;
2. tax code;
3. residence permit;
4. self-certification of residence.
The adhesion lasts throughout the duration of the residence permit. It does not cease at the renewal stage. You should only submit the documentation proving the application for renewal.
Registration ceases if the residence permit is not renewed or is revoked.
With the Personal Health Card, upon payment of a ticket, you are entitled to the following services:
The dependent family member of a non-EU citizen legally residing in Italy and compulsorily enrolled in the NHS has the same right to adhere to the italian National Health System. This right is not granted to parents over the age of 65 who hold a residence permit for family reunification. Those can choose to voluntarily enrol to N.H.S. or access insurance coverage that covers them against the risk of illness and accidents. Foreign citizens from outside the E.U. who are not required or permitted to register with the N.H.S. must insure themselves against the risk of illness and accidents through an insurance policy valid on Italian territory, including for dependents.
If you are a legal resident and you are not among those who are required to register with the N.H.S., there are two options:
You can obtain voluntary registration if you have a residence permit of more than three months for the following reasons.
you are enrolled, along with your family members, on the list of eligible persons of the local health company (in italian ASL) assigned to the domicile indicated on the residence permit
stay.
It is possible to insure against illness and injury if you have a residence permit for reasons:
A foreign citizen from outside the E.U. who wants to stay in Italy for study purposes faces the choice of registering with the N.H.S. or opting for insurance coverage against the risk of illness and injury.
Health coverages compared
The foreign citizen from outside the E.U. that applies for an entry visa for Religious reasons, tourism, accompanying medical treatment and sports competitions cannot enroll in the N.H.S. Emergency services (emergency room) are guaranteed but you are required to pay for the relevant services according to regionally established rates.
No fulfillment is necessary; one goes directly to health facilities by showing ID. If you stay in Italy for a period not exceeding 3 months it becomes necessary to have health coverage, otherwise, you may find yourself paying for health services whose amount would be greater than the cost of subscribing an health coverage that reimburses such expenses.
According to specific bilateral agreements between Italy and some Extra-EU states, it is possible to come to our country for a maximum of 90 days avoiding the obligation of presenting an health coverage Despite such possibility, it is always advisable to ensure yourselves. By doing that, you are able to treat yourself when needed and receive comprehensive care from the National Health System or private health care.
EU citizens who are in Italy (temporarily or residents), are entitled to the same levels of care as those enrolled in the National Health Service:
European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) holders are only entitled to necessary medical services.
Workers, students and retirees are entitled to comprehensive health care.
They are entitled to compulsory enrollment in the NHS:
They are entitled to voluntary enrollment in the NHS:
All E.U. citizens who request cancellation from the Municipal Registry Office are consequently revoked from their N.H.S. If the E.U. citizen, who intends to register in a municipality where he/she has his/her habitual residence, is without a job or is not among the dependents of the foreign worker legally residing in Italy, he/she must be in possession of a Health coverage or voluntarily enroll in the N.H.S.
Foreigners who have held a valid residence permit for at least 5 years may apply for residence card, whose validity is indefinite. This status entails mandatory enrollment in the N.H.S. indefinitely. For this category of foreign nationals permanently residing in Italy, a number of initiatives have emerged in recent years aimed at providing high value-added solutions supplementary to the public Welfare. These solutions enable private citizens to protect their income and improve their private lives.
