This article will explore how Italian and EU citizens can access and register with the Italian healthcare system.
Italy has one of the best healthcare systems in the word, with some of the highest levels of life expectancy, equity in access, and quality of care. In 2023, CEOWorld Magazine Health Care Index ranked Italy number one in the world for its overall quality of the health care, including infrastructure, health care professionals, quality of medicine, and government readiness.
The Italian healthcare system
The Italian National Health Care System is universal and offers health services to all individuals, both Italian and foreign citizens. National Italian healthcare (Servizio Sanitario Nazionale) operates using a public system model, which is funded through tax income payments. This means that healthcare is either free, or, offers healthcare and medical services at much lower costs in comparison to its European and U.S. counterparts.
It is useful to note that if you are an Italian citizen who resides outside of the EU, you must register with the A.I.R.E. (Registry of Italian Citizens Residing Abroad), and you will no longer be able to access the health services to which Italian residents are entitled. On the other hand, being an Italian citizen gives you the right to live, work or study anywhere in the EU, without time or visa restrictions, and as an Italian citizen residing in the EU you will be entitled to access health care services offered by the EU country in which you decide to live.
For more information about the A.I.R.E., see our related article here.
Registering with the national healthcare system
In respect of Italian citizens who reside in Italy, in order to register at the Servizio Sanitario Nazionale (SSN), it is first necessary to identify the Azienda Sanitaria Locale (ASL) that will cover the area where you reside. Registration is free for Italian citizens and once registered a general practitioner is allocated and the individual is given an Italian health card (tessera sanitaria).
This enables you to utilize national health and medical care, which is in most cases free.
To register you will need to present an identity card (carte d’identità) and the fiscal code (codice fiscale) that have been issued by the revenue agency (agenzia delle entrate) in the local municipality (comune) where you live.
Once the registration is completed, the ASL will issue your health card, and this will grant access to public health services.
The treatments and medical assistance provided by specialists include medical examinations in clinics, specialist medical appointments and hospitalization.
It is also worth noting that for Italian citizens who might plan to live in another EU member state, applying for a European Health Insurance Card, which is issued by the local health authority in Italy, will provide health and medical protection while in any EU member state, and cover any potential medical expenses that may be incurred in other EU member state countries.
EU citizens
All EU Citizens who are registered as tax residents in Italy at the relevant municipality can register and access public healthcare in Italy. EU citizens can also access the health services if they have the TEAM (Tessera Europea Assistenza Medica), a Health Care European Card, which is issued by the relevant authority in their respective country. The TEAM functions like the like its Italian counterpart, the tessera sanitaria.
How can EU and foreign citizens register?
In order to apply for a health-card, an EU or foreign citizen must first register with the National Health Service (SSN). Those who are entitled to register are:
- EU citizens who work or study in Italy or have acquired the status of permanent resident.
- Non-EU citizens who have a residence permit or permanent resident status.
- Family members of the applicant who legally reside in Italy.
- Those who are seeking asylum, subsidiary protection, special protection.
- Those waiting for adoption.
- People coming in Italy for medical treatment under article 19 letter d-bis of Decree Law No. 286/1998.
- Those residing in Italy waiting for the acquisition of Italian citizenship.
In order to register it is necessary to show a residence permit, identity document and fiscal code to the relevant local health authority. Registration with the National Health Service is normally valid for the same period as the residence permit. After the period of validity has expired, it is necessary to contact the competent ASL in order to extend their residence permit. If an EU Citizen becomes resident in Italy for work, study or health reasons, they can register for free at the National Health Care System for themselves. And family members, also. For more about residency in Italy see our related article here.
There are two types of registration: mandatory and voluntary.
Mandatory
The mandatory registration is provided for Italian citizens, for foreign citizens legally residing in Italy, and also for EU citizens when they have to stay in Italy for more than three months.
In particular, an EU citizen can freely register to the National Health Care System if they meet the following criteria:
- Working in Italy, either as a freelance or employed.
- Relative of the worker.
- Enrolled in a course in Italy.
- Registered as unemployed.
- Have a family member who is an Italian citizen.
- If they have certification of long stay in Italy, minimum for five years.
- Seasonal workers in Italy whose stay is shorter than, or equal to three months.
In relations to foreign citizens legally living in Italy who have no right to the mandatory registration, there is the option of voluntary registration, which requires payment of an annual fee.
If you are an EU citizen staying for a short period in Italy (less than three months), you have the right to access free health services and can use your TEAM, the European card for health insurance, or an equivalent document released by your country.
Generally speaking, those who have a residence permit, work legally, live, have relatives in Italy, are seeking asylum or subsidiary protection and special protection, people waiting for adoption, or people residing in Italy for the acquisition of Italian citizenship, can register with the health care system by presenting their identity card, fiscal code, and proof of residence, to the relevant local health authority.
Voluntary
Alternatively, they can choose for voluntary registration, by payment of a fee, whose amount depends on the applicant’s income and varies depending where in Italy they reside. The minimum fee is € 400.00 per year. Voluntary registration applies to EU citizens who do not fall under the category or criteria as listed as mandatory.
How to access healthcare in Italy
In order to register, you need to identify your local health authority/provider, the ASL (Azienda Sanitaria Locale), and this is determined by your place of residence. After the registration, the health authority gives you a card where there is an identification code necessary for the delivery of all health services.
This segment has been written to provide details about registration for healthcare in Italy for Italian and EU citizens. If you would like further information on applying for citizenship, or would like to talk to one of our experts directly, you can contact you can visit our homepage, or contact us directly and one of our friendly experts will be in touch to answer your queries.
