Private Vs Public Health Insurance In Italy

It would be best if you got health insurance following Italian immigration legislation in order to remain in the country. That raises the question, which is the finest foreigner-friendly Italian health insurance? We thoroughly contrast private vs. state health insurance for ex-pats in Italy in order to shed some light on this challenging subject.

Although most Italians choose to supplement their public healthcare with private insurance, a small percentage still does so.

Depending on your situation, you can be required to obtain public insurance or might have the option to select between public and private insurance.

Health Insurance Options In Italy

The two primary health insurance programs in Italy are public and private. The vast majority of Italians get government insurance. Your specific situation will determine which option is best for you. 

Compulsory Vs Voluntary Health Insurance In Italy

Compulsory Health Insurance: You need to get government insurance.

Suppose you are in Italy for employment, family reasons, to receive medical treatment, to apply for asylum or international protection, or any other reason. In that case, you must have public health insurance. The local ASL must receive the following paperwork before you can submit your free SSN application:

• Valid passport
• Residency permit
• Fiscal code

Voluntary Public Health Insurance: Both public and private health insurance options are available.

If you are staying in Italy for more than three months and your presence is not related to any of the reasons mentioned earlier, you are not required to purchase public health insurance in Italy. Students, volunteers, and staff members of international organizations are a few examples that fit this description.

Public Health Insurance In italy

The SSN registration process is the initial step in being eligible for public healthcare in Italy. The Azienda Sanitaria Locale (ASL), your neighborhood health center, performs this.

You can complete the necessary formalities at your ASL office:

• the Italian National Healthcare Service registration
• Obtaining a Tessera Sanitaria
• selecting a public primary care doctor (medico di base)
• selecting a pediatrician for your kids, if necessary
• requesting a doctor’s visit or home care, etc.

Getting A Tessera Sanitaria And Registering For The SSN

When you initially register with the SSN, you obtain your Tessera Sanitaria. Mandatory and optional registrations are available. The first applies to most residents, employees, family members, etc. In contrast, voluntary registration is often reserved for visitors who will stay for a shorter period, such as students, au pairs, religious personnel, etc.

To find out whether requirements apply to you and to obtain guidance on how to complete the application form, the first step is to visit the ASL. The Bollettino Postale is this form. You may get it at the Post Office, fill it out, and pay for it there. You’ll get a receipt.

Required Documents

Afterward, you must bring the following paperwork to your ASL together with the form and receipt:

• passport;
• your tax code (Codice Fiscale);
• residency authorization (or evidence that you have obtained one, such as a receipt);
• self-statement of address (which must match the residence permit)
• receipt of the SSN registration fee payment.

Your home address is then where the health care is delivered. Hold onto a copy of the receipt while you wait.

Your health card is still valid as long as you have permission to be in the nation. Make sure to renew your Tessera Sanitaria when you renew your residence permit. At the ASL, this is done with the following:

• passport;
• evidence that you have applied for a new residence permit;
• your tax code;
• a residency certificate or self-declaration.

You will be required to register with a family doctor once you have obtained your Tessera Sanitaria and are officially registered with the SSN. You will find a procedure described later in this section of the guide.

What Does Public Healthcare Cover?

All legally residing citizens of Italy have access to the majority of medical procedures. Dental care is free for all children under the age of 16 and in emergency situations. Other operations, including laser eye surgery or orthodontics, are often not covered but may occasionally be partially subsidized on an individual basis. Public healthcare does not provide coverage for cosmetic surgery.

Prescription drugs are generally covered by insurance; however, depending on the drug and your income level, you can only pay a small portion of the cost.

Cost Of Public Health Insurance In Italy

You must pay a charge dependent on your income in order to subscribe. A set cost of €149.77 must be paid if you are a student. By paying the fee, you can utilize the offered services without charge until the end of the calendar year in which the payment was made.

Fill out the F24 form to pay this charge at any post office (Modello F24). Then, go to any ASL site with the payment receipt, your passport, and your residency permit. The registration is active till the end of every year.

Public Health Insurance Pros And Cons

Pros

• The cost of receiving medical treatment through the public system is relatively low; most operations and appointments are either free or require a minor fee.
• Italian medical experts and employees possess a high level of training and expertise.

Cons

• Most family medicine practices (medico di base) do not accept appointments. Because patients are seen in the order they arrive, waiting areas are frequently packed. If the office is too busy, you might need to return another day.
• In the public healthcare system, locating medical personnel who speak English or a language other than Italian could be difficult.
• You may still have to wait even if you have an appointment at a hospital.
• When your family doctor recommends a specialist, you cannot pick that expert.
• It may take months to see a specialist in Italy, which can delay diagnoses and treatments.

Private Health Insurance

Even though the SSN is well-established and offers adequate services, some people also choose private health insurance. Private health insurance gives you access to other services in addition to public coverage, such as the freedom to pick your doctor, access to private clinics, and the option to bypass lines for special treatment sessions.

 Having private health insurance In Italy, you can schedule an appointment with any doctor who sees patients in private practice, assuming availability. To prevent potential fraud, remember that you shouldn’t pay more for private services as an ex-pat than natives do.

With certain public hospitals, private hospitals have arrangements. These are Private Convenzionato, and the public healthcare system can send patients to them. You may occasionally be able to enter private clinics using your Tessera Sanitaria; however, you must inform the clinic well in advance to avoid being charged as a private patient.

In general, Italy provides for all your medical requirements without needing health insurance. Your willingness to wait for visits, tests, diagnoses, and operations, as well as if you desire more individualized care, will determine whether you choose private health insurance. If they choose private healthcare, ex-pats have a better chance of obtaining medical professionals who speak English or their native tongue.

Private Health Insurance From An International Provider

The following requirements must be met for pre-existing health insurance from non-EU member states to be valid:

• It must be issued in your name and the name of the holder (in western characters)
• Italian must be used in writing (or in English, French, or Spanish)
• It must be valid in Italy and the Schengen Area.
• It must provide the precise duration of coverage (not less than six months and a maximum of 1 year)
• It must describe the covered medical costs and provide coverage up to €30,000.
• The Italian Embassy or Consulate in your place of origin must approve and stamp the entire paperwork.

Private Health Insurance By An Italian Provider

Getting private health insurance from an Italian provider may be safer for your stay in Italy. If you want to travel and then relocate to another country, you need to make sure it has global coverage.

Overall, if you get public health insurance in Italy, you will be adequately protected in the event that you require medical attention.

Private insurance is an extravagance in Italy, but it will provide you access to first-rate services everywhere without long lineups.

Types of Health Insurance Plans

Health insurance in Italy may be pricey, regardless of the sort of health plan you choose. The three most popular forms of health insurance are shown below, along with their typical costs.

• The first and most fundamental level is often intended for those who want to move there and want to prove to their new community that they have health insurance of some kind. These insurances range in price from 300 to 500 euros per year and do not provide coverage for significant medical conditions.
• The second is the most typical kind of insurance in Italy and functions as an addition to the SSN, which is the country’s public healthcare system. With the help of this insurance, you are able to see private physicians or specialists for quicker consultations and treatment of elective operations that would take considerably longer to complete in public hospitals or clinics. The average yearly cost of this kind of insurance is 1,000 EUR.
• The third option—a comprehensive health insurance program—should take care of the majority, if not all, of your medical requirements. Even some might pay for medical treatment overseas. It might cost up to 3,000 EUR a year, making it the most costly.

Without insurance, you’ll have to pay for private medical treatment. The cost of a general practitioner visit in the private sector ranges from 50 to 120 euros, depending on the urgency, the hour of the day, and even the locality. Consultations with specialists might cost between 80 and 200 euros. In Italy, it’s unlikely that health insurance will cover dental treatment.

	Public Health Insurance	Private Health Insurance
Cost	Based on your income	Based on your age and healthconditions
Family coverage	Family can be insured for free through you	No family coverage
Geographical cover	Italy and in the EU (very basic cover)	International, depending on yourcover
Treatment cover	standard	Comprehensive
Dental care	No coverage	Comprehensive cover
In the hospital	Specialist physician, quad room	Chiet physician Single or doubleroom
Selection of doctors	No private specialists	Free choice
Appointments withspecialists	Sometimes several months or waiting time	Short notice possible
selection or hospitals	No privatecinIce	Free choice
Medication	Prescription drugs with a minimum contribution of 3.10 euros per prescription	Comprehensive cover

Conclusion

You have the option of selecting either public health care, private medical insurance, or a mix of both private medical insurance and national health care services as an ex-pat.

Your choice should be based on your requirements, the treatment’s caliber, the medical staff’s caliber, and the available facilities. When you need to pay for private medical treatment, the relief of having appropriate insurance is immeasurable.