TS, TEAM and TS/CNS cards, issued by the Inland Revenue Agency to whomever has a right to health care by the National Health Service (“Servizio Sanitario Nazionale – SSN”), allow holders to receive health care (medical attention from a doctor, buy drugs at the pharmacy, book a specialized examination at a laboratory or hospital, etc.) when in Italy or abroad.
1) The Italian Health Card – Tessera Sanitaria (TS)
The Italian Health Card (TS) is a very useful card issued by the Inland Revenue Agency to all citizens who have a right to health care by the National Health Service (“Servizio Sanitario Nazionale – SSN”). This card contains personal data and the tax code (in characters, ‘barcode’ and magnetic strip) of the cardholder, the expiration date (which is valid only for the purposes of health care), an open area for regional health data plus three “braille” characters for blind people.
The Health card is used in order to receive medical attention from a doctor, to buy drugs at the pharmacy, to book a specialized examination at a laboratory or hospital, and in many other cases. Since it contains the tax code, it can also be used as a substitute of the tax card.
The card also allows holders to obtain health services in other EU-countries.
How to obtain the health card
“Newborns, after the assignment of the tax code by the municipality or by a office of the Italian Revenue agency, will receive a health card valid for one year; at the expiry date, after having acquired the data from the relevant local office of the Health Service, a new card is emitted by the TS System (Sistema Tessera Sanitaria), with standard expiry date.
Citizens who have not received a health card, can contact the relevant local Health service office; if they still don’t have the tax code, they should contact any office of the Italian Revenue agency.
For all information and answers to other questions about health card, it is possible to visit the website “Progetto Tessera Sanitaria” or to contact the toll free number 800.030.070.”
Here is other useful information provided by the Inland Revenue Agency concerning the Health Card.
“To whom is issued a health card
The health card recipients are:
· all holders of a tax code having the right to health care by the National Health Service.
If the period of entitlement to the health care is less than 30 days, the ASL issues a paper certificate in replacement of the health card
· all newborns who were given the tax code.
They receive automatically a health card valid for one year; at the expiry date, after having acquired the data from the relevant local office of the Health Service, the TS System send a new health card.
The health card is issued automatically when the ASL communicates the assistance data to the TS System and sent to the address indicated in the Tax Register database.
The health card replaces the health record-book?
The health card still does not replace health record-books, which must, therefore, be kept by the citizen and shown when requested by the medical facilities. Some regions have issued a National Services Card (CNS) and made specific provisions that establish the replacement of the paper health record-books with the health card (eg. Lombardia).
The health card replaces the tax code card?
The health card replaces the tax code card and, at expiry date, it is still valid as a certification of the tax code. The health card, even if expired, may be submitted to the chemist’s, when buying medicines, for the acquisition of the tax code and the issue of the receipt (scontrino parlante).
What to do in case of errors of the data recorded on the health card
If the data on the health card are incorrect, the citizen may request a correction, presenting a valid ID, to any office of the Revenue agency.
How to check the status of issue and delivery of the health card
To check the status of issue of the card without going to the offices in charge, an application is available on the internet at the link Per vedere lo stato della mia Tessera Sanitaria“.
To carry out this check, you must have your tax code.
· If there is no health card issued, the message of the TS system is “There are no health cards”. In this case, you must contact the relevant ASL office
· If the status of the health card is “being issued,” you must wait for the issue and delivery to be completed
· If the status of the health card is “Sent” and it has not yet been received, you should contact any office of the Revenue agency, to verify the proper recording of the address
What if the health card has been never received
To issue a health card, the following conditions must be verified:
· the citizen has the correct tax code, assigned by the Italian Revenue Agency
· the citizen is registered in a ASL
· the ASL sends electronically the assistance data to TS System.
· If the tax code has not been assigned properly, it is necessary to go to any office of the Revenue agency and ask for its the attribution. A valid ID is needed.
The citizen, with a certificate of the tax code, must then go to the relevant ASL to request the issue of the health card.
Citizens not entitled to the National Health Service who apply for the tax code, will receive a tax code card.
· If the tax code is correctly assigned, it’s necessary to turn to the ASL in order to definitively rectify the position by means of communicating the assistance data to the TS System, thus allowing the issue of the health card.
To check the status of issue of the card without going to the offices in charge, an application is available on the internet at the link Per vedere lo stato della mia Tessera Sanitaria“.
What to do in case of theft, loss, deterioration of the Health Card
If the health card is lost or stolen or is damaged or unreadable, you can request a duplicate from the ASL or any office of the Revenue agency.
In cases of theft or loss, the current legislation does not impose an obligation to report to the competent authorities; it is, however, a cautionary act for the citizen.
The duplicate may also be requested by a person specifically delegated, in which case, the delegated person must show his own ID and a copy of the ID of the applicant, both valid.
Citizens living abroad can request a duplicate by contacting the Italian Consulate in the country of residence. The card will be delivered, optionally, in Italy or at the same diplomatic authority abroad.
What to do when the health card expires
The health card is usually valid for 6 years from its issue. Before the expiry date, a new card is automatically issued and sent to all citizens entitled to the National health assistance.
For citizens who have a residence permit, the health card has the same expiry date of the latter. In case of renewal of the right to health assistance, the ASL sends the information to the TS System and a new card is automatically issued and sent.
For technical reasons connected with the issue and delivery, the card is not sent to the person if between the date of request and the expiry date of the assistance there is a less than 30 days elapse.
To newborns, at the time of the assignment of the tax code, it is sent a health card valid for one year; at the expiry date, after having acquired the data from the relevant local office of the health service, a new card is issued.
What if, at the expiry date, the new health card has not yet been received
Before the expiry date, a new card is automatically issued and sent to all the citizens entitled to the National health assistance.
If the new health card is not received on time, it is not necessary to immediately contact the ASL or the office of the Revenue agency: as a rule, the new card will automatically be sent at the moment of the completion of the reissue plan.
For health services paid by the National Health Service, the entitlement is still guaranteed by the presentation of the “ricetta rossa” (the prescription of the general practitioner).
The health card, even if expired, is valid as proof of the tax code and can be used to facilitate the pharmacies and medical facilities in the acquisition of the code itself and the issue of the so-called “scontrino parlante” (receipt with the indication of the tax code).
When the citizen has to go abroad and does not receive the new health card before the expiry date of the one in his possession, he should contact the ASL who will issue a replacement certificate of the TEAM (European Health Insurance).
What should the pharmacy do if the citizen has no health card
For health benefits paid by the National health service, the pharmacy may obtain the tax code in the space provided for in the prescription (ricetta rossa).
For services not paid by the National health service, for which a receipt (scontrino parlante) is issued, the pharmacy may acquire the tax code declared by the citizen.
What to do if you lose the right to the services of the National health service and the health card has not yet expired
People who move abroad and are no longer assisted by the National health service must return their health card by going to the relevant ASL or any office of the Revenue agency.
The obligation also falls to the foreign nationals going back permanently to their countries of origin before the expiry date printed on the health card. In the event of death, the obligation to return the card is extended to the heirs of the holder of the health card.
What to do if you receive the health card of a deceased
In these cases, the sending of the health card is caused by the failure of the ASL and of the Tax Registry archives to acquire the information of the death. The health card must be returned to the ASL or to any office of the Revenue agency, with a death certification attached.”
2) The European Health Insurance Card – Tessera Europea di Assicurazione Malattia (TEAM)
The back of the Health Card (TS or TS / CNS) contains the “European Health Insurance Card – Team”, which permits the cardholder to receive health care when he is abroad. This card (or the back of the TS) allows the holder to benefit from all the necessary medical care that was previously covered by the models E 110, E 111, E 119 and E 128.
To whom it is issued
The Team card is, generally, issued to whomever is in possession of Italian citizenship, resides in Italy and is enrolled in the National Health Service, as well as to both EU citizens and non-EU citizens who are included in the National Health Service, but not enrolled in foreign systems.
How to use it
As specified by the official website of the Health Card called “progetto tessera sanitaria”, the cardholder can obtain medical attention simply by going directly to a doctor or a public health facility and exhibiting the Team Card. With this card, the holder has the right to receive care under the same conditions established for patients of the country where he is located. The assistance is direct and, therefore, the patient should not have to pay anything except for a possible non-refundable ticket.
There are some exceptions such as in Switzerland and France, as in these countries the welfare system is in indirect form. This generally means that the patient will have to pay for the medical care he receives. However, he may request a refund of the amount paid directly on site by going to the competent institution (KVG in Switzerland and the CPAM in France). The patient may, as an alternative to the above, request the reimbursement of the expenses by the “Azienda Sanitaria Locale (ASL)” as soon as he returns to Italy. In the latter case, he must produce both the receipts of payments and the health records. Finally, with regard to highly specialized care a prior authorization by ASL is required.
3) The Health Card/National Services Card – Tessera Sanitaria/Carta Nazionale dei Servizi (TS-CNS Card)
With the TS-CNS the holder can benefit from regular health services normally offered by the National Health Card and also those offered online by the Public Administration.
To whom it is issued
The TS-CNS is issued free of charge (by direct delivery to the address of the recipient) to all citizens assisted by the National Health Service, in place of the Health Card once this expires. Its validity is six years or the duration of the residence permit.
How to use it
The TS/CNS is immediately valid as a TS, TEAM card and Tax code card. In order to access on-line public services, the citizen will have to go to one of the pre-ordained offices in the region of residence and ask for the activation of the card. He will need to exhibit the TS/CNS card and a valid identity document. The operator will then activate the card and provide the applicant with the PIN , PUK and CIP codes. However, it should be clear that in order to access the online services of the Public Administration, the applicant will have to purchase, at its own expense, a dedicated smart card reader and software management that he will need to install on his personal computer.
The list of the pre-ordained offices mentioned above and of the technical details and requirements in order to use the card can be found on the websites of each Italian Region (eg. Regione Lazio, Regione Lombardia, Regione Piemonte, etc.).
The information contained in this page has been taken from the following official websites: Inland Revenue Agency and Progetto Tessera Sanitaria.
Claudia
Hi,
I am Italian living in Germany I need to get Italian heath insurance for myself . Can you please give me some information please , I really need to have it do I have to go to Italy or if there is a way for me to follow it from Germany ,
Please respond me it is do important for me ,
Thank you
Dear Eleonora,
Italian citizens who are residing abroad lose their right to health care when they are cancelled from the registry of the people residing in the Municipality.
In order to enroll in the Italian National Health Service you must be living/residing in Italy.
In your case, you should have a “European Health Insurance Card – Team” (otherwise ask the competent German authority), which allows you to receive health care when you are in Italy. With this card, in case your stay in the Italian territory will be of no more than three months, you will be entitled to urgent and medically necessary care without having to enroll in the National Health Service. Access to the General Medicine clinics or urgent medical care is free of charge. In case of specialized or instrumental examinations, a fee (called “ticket”) must be paid on equal terms with Italian residents.
If you are planning on staying for more than three months, in order to receive complete Health care just like an Italian resident, you will need to register as a resident in the Municipality of interest, and enroll in the National Health Service.
Should you need any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Thank you for your query,
VI.
Dear VI,
Thank you for the blog 🙂
I am a non-EU student in Italy with student permit to stay in Italy and have the Tessera Sanitaria card. However I will need to travel to Brazil for a period of 5 months. Can you please clarify if my TS will be valid for health insurance in Brazil as mentioned in the second part of the blog? If not is there any other card or additional document that I can request at AUSL?
Thank you.
Dear Siri,
The Team card is a European Card, thanks to which the cardholder can receive health care when he/she is abroad (in a Member State).
Nonetheless, there is a Convention between Italy and Brasil (that you can find here http://www.salute.gov.it/portale/temi/p2_6.jsp?id=594&area=Assistenza%20sanitaria&menu=paesi), that guarantees health care to those who are enrolled in the Italian National Health Service, when they are in Brasil. In this case, you should ask your local ASL for the papers you will need to sign before your departure.
However, considering a few elements such as the territory, the National Public Health System, the language, the infrastructures, we suggest purchasing a private insurance (here in Italy) which allows you to easily receive medical assistance in Brasil, before your departure. Usually, this kind of insurance is not very expensive.
Thank you for your query,
VI.
Dear David,
Thank you very much for the information and your quic reply.
Thank you also for the blog which is indeed very informative.
Regards,
Siri
Hi, I am UK citezen, with Italian residency, along with my Wife and reside here We are private pensioners..In Jan we paid for the Tessera Sanitaria 388 eu…I have just recieved repalecement cards with a 6 year expiry…I thought we would need to pay again before recieving a card dor 2018’…any ideas?
Thanks
S
Dear Steve,
If we understood correctly your question, you will not have to pay again for 2018.
As a matter of fact, once you receive your Italian health card (valid for six years), in order to receive the specific medical service you need, you will only have to pay the tickets, etc., if required.
Thank you for your query,
VI.
Hi, we are private pensioners living in Italy and have heard about this 388 euros voluntary payment however when i go to the health service department in Umbria they tell me this doesn’t apply anymore and you now pay 7.5% of gross income. This 388 euro payment needs to be made clear that it does not apply in Italy anymore.
Any thoughts Thanks Ron
Hello, i have a specific question . I have residency in Italy, a health card SSN Tessera Sanitaria.I paid 388 euros , my wife is a German EU citizen but spent her working life outside EU and has no German health insurance. The local office in Umbria tells me that my wife is not covered for voluntary registration in Italy. they do not recognise EU citizen outside of EU in regards to voluntary health insurance.
My question is and nobody in Italy seems to know or by the way reply, does my card Tessera Sanitaria cover my wife for basic hospital care in Italy?
Regards Ron Ritter
Dear Ron,
if I understand your question correctly, in my opinion, the answer is no. She should request a TEAM card from the competent authority in Germany, which will allow her to receive health care when she is in Italy. She has a right to the TEAM card as a German citizen, regardless of where she works most of the year. Then, she could also sign a private insurance contract with an Italian insurance company.
Thank you,
David.
Hi, this does not seem to be correct as Germany says that you must have worked in Germany and paid health insurance to a Team card, can you clarify?
Also are private pensioners living in Italy and have heard about this 388 euros voluntary payment however when i go to the health service department in Umbria they tell me this doesn’t apply anymore and you now pay 7.5% of gross income. This 388 euro payment needs to be made clear that it does not apply in Italy anymore.
Any thoughts Thanks Ron
Ron,
I do not know how the German system works and, therefore, I do not know what they are saying. This post refers to the Italian system.
The information is correct, and we did not specify how much it costs because it varies depending on the specific reason for the request (student, family reunion, foreigners holding a residence permit with a duration of more than three months, holders of permits for elective residence, etc.).
Regards,
David.
Hi
I came from Italy with my Tessera Sanitaria for an internship period of 5 months in Germany.
As per the visa requirement, I had to provide either tessera Sanitaria or Any private insurance.
I just want to know, In case of emergency or visiting a doctor for some health issues how can I use my Tessera Sanitaria.
Or is it even valid in Germany?
Thank you
Hi Suffy,
You need to check if on the back of your Italian Health Card there is all your information (name, DOB, tax code etc.). In general, yes, the “European Health Insurance Card – Team” (the back of the Health Card), permits the cardholder to receive health care when he/she is in Germany. You can obtain medical attention simply by going directly to a doctor or a public health facility and exhibiting the Team Card. The assistance is direct and, therefore, you should not have to pay anything except for a possible non-refundable ticket.
However, should you need further information, I suggest getting in touch with your local competent German authority.
Thank you,
David.
Priligy from the Canadian online pharmacy pharmtechi.com helps me to get rid of premature ejaculation. From the fact that sexual act lasted no more than 5 minutes, I suffered from insecurity. Sometimes ejaculation occurred even before the sexual intercourse. Now I buy Dapoxetine on https://pharmtechi.com/dapoxetine/ and the duration of my sex returned to normal.
Hello.
I am a foreigner applying for political asylum together with my, I have a baby who is born in Italy. My question for how long does it take for his tessera sanitaria to expire. The first he was giving last for some months and now I good replacement but he is giving another tessera sanitaria that would only last for 5 months, my question is is that can the card be changed.
Dear Omar,
Thank you for contacting VI.
I sent you an email a few minutes ago.
Please let me know if everything is clear or if you need further information.
Thank you,
David.
Hello,
What is the validity period of the Tessera sanitaria card for Non-EU students? is it from January – December? I have an issue with a German hospital here. I came to Germany for an internship, and I had a poste assicurazione coverage. When I fell sick, the hospital didn’t recognize my poste italiane insurance. They advised me to get a Tessera Sanitaria after I get well, in order to avoid paying alot of money. I have an expired Tessera Sanitaria card from last year. If I apply for a new one now, will Tessera Sanitaria cover an health bill from two weeks ago?
I ll appreciate your help.
Kind regards,
k
HI Kai,
Thank you for contacting VI.
To be honest, this is a very particular case, and we would need more information in order to give you a more precise answer (did you have the Team card? etc.).
However, in general, the fact that a Tessera Sanitaria is expired at the time of the payment should not be relevant, provided that the interested person has a right to health insurance under Italian law. Moreover, in order to receive medical care when abroad, you need to have a Team card.
In your case, you will need to get in touch with your local competent Asl.
Should you need further assistance, please send an email to assistance@vademecumitalia.com
Thank you,
David.
Dear David,
I was born in Ecuador but have Italian citizenship due to my dad, I moved to Italy in 2011 to study and registered in the Comune of La Spezia where I received a codice fiscale and the Tessera Sanitaria. After 1 year living in Italy I decided to return back to Ecuador and inscribed myself in the Italian Embassy in Ecuador as an AIRE resident ( I understand is a weird status for Italians residing abroad), since then my Tessera Sanitaria and my codice fiscale have expired (2017 expiration date) and since I’m not a resident in Italy anymore the Tessera Sanitaria won’t be renewed until I transfer myself back to Italy.
In August 2018 I am planning to move to Sweden to study for 2 years, in there they are asking me a prove of my European Health Card in order to be registered in Sweden and obtain local health insurance. I am completely lost in what to do here! The Italian representatives in my country are useless and I don’t want the hassle to go to Italy, register and go back to Sweden, it’s nonesense. What should I do?
Thanks in advance for the help
Giancarlo
Dear Giancarlo,
Thank you for contacting VI.
We answered your email a few minutes ago.
Considering that in your email you said that in September 2018 you will be going to Milan, while in this comment you said that in August 2018 you will be going to Sweden, we are not sure about what you are really asking us.
However, you will find our answer to your email in your inbox.
Thank you,
David.
Hello,
I just hope to write in the right forum, however I write in English like the others.
I am an Italian teacher and I asked for a sabbatical year to go to Austria, to Vienna, to stay with my girlfriend who is an Austrian citizen and lives there. My plans are to study german and to look for a job in the meantime . I would like to know what I should do to receive medical assistance abroad. I read that with my Italian card I can receive care as first aid. I also read about the S1 model in the Italian Health System that permit to quit my doctor to have the same service in a UE country. Anyway at the local office of the Health Care in Italy (ASL) they told me that this certificate is reserved for workers transferred abroad or for Erasmus students. My sabbatical begins in September and ends at the end of June, so I will stay there for more than three months.
I could be very happy to receive some information because until now, in Italy, I spoke only with employees who were completely uninformed.
Many thanks in advance,
Alessio
The italian health card cost 388 euros for 6 years or you have to pay 388 every year. I am uk pentioner with my non eeu wife but we both have residence card. I been told if I supply s1 certificate from uk I don’t have to pay 388 euros but I will loose my health cover in uk. What is the best auction to take.
Dear Milton,
the payment is for one year. You pay for an annual coverage that goes from January to December.
Unfortunately, I do not know how the British system works.
Thank you,
David
Dear David,
I’m so glad i found your blog. Mygrandmother works in Italy for many and already retired here in Philippines and she is also an Italian pensioner. She received here Health card or Tessera Sanitaria last year here in Philippines brought by here friend who also works in Italy. my question is, is the health Card valid here in the philippines? or if not can our expenses for health care be refunded?
Thank you very much. Your answer is very much appreciated.
Ging
Dear Ging,
As far as I know, unfortunately, if you are permanently living abroad, and you are not formally residing in Italy, it is not valid in the Philippines. The same should apply for refunds. However, if you want a definitive answer to these or your questions about the Italian health card, you can visit the website “Progetto Tessera Sanitaria” or contact the toll free number 800.030.070.
Thank you,
David.
Dear VI/David,
I am an American Citizen married to an Italian woman since 2014 and living in Italy. I have a Carta di Soggiorno and a Tessera Sanitaria card with the “Tessera Europea di Assicurazione Malattia” designation on the back. I have an opportunity to do work in France for a friend on a seasonal (cash) basis, meaning that I will not be there all the time or establishing residency in France. Can you tell me how long I can stay in France and be able to use my “TEAM” card in case I need medical treatment? Also if I come and go between Italy and France, without the border control how can I prove that I am not in France for too long a period that would disqualify me of coverage?
Anything else you can think of that I haven’t will be greatly appreciated…
Thanks in advance!
Dave
Dear Dave,
First of all, I invite you to read this paragraph “There are some exceptions such as in Switzerland and France, as in these countries the welfare system is in indirect form. This generally means that the patient will have to pay for the medical care he receives. However, he may request a refund of the amount paid directly on site by going to the competent institution (KVG in Switzerland and the CPAM in France). The patient may, as an alternative to the above, request the reimbursement of the expenses by the “Azienda Sanitaria Locale (ASL)” as soon as he returns to Italy. In the latter case, he must produce both the receipts of payments and the health records. Finally, with regard to highly specialized care a prior authorization by ASL is required.”
As long as you are formally living and residing in Italy, and you are going back and forth for a working opportunity, you should be fine. Having said the above, I think that you should contact your local competent ASL to have precise answers to your questions.
Thank you,
David.
I am a dual Italian/US citizen and my US husband and I had been living in Italy for 4 years and were well integrated into the Italian healthcare system. We moved to Austria this year and in order to obtain residency, we had to prove to the state authorities that we had been “released” from the Italian healthcare system so that we could join the Austrian healthcare system and then obtain our residency.
I had no idea how to go about this, especially since a specific form (Form E 104) was required. My Italian, while decent, was not good enough to do this via phone.
Not only did David know what to do and who to call, he got the form completed by the correct Italian authority in record time. He assisted in the writing of our declaration to the Italian authority, made at least 20 phone calls on our behalf and within little more than a week, it was done.
The only other option I would have had would have been to fly back to Italy and try to get this done myself. So, molte grazie many times over to David.
Dear Maria,
Thank you for your very nice comment.
I sent you a quotation for the assistance with the citizenship application yesterday.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Thank you,
David.
Hi, I need to get an E104 form. would you please let me know to whom can I write?
Thanks.
Naiemeh
Dear David,
I’M an Italian who moved to Germany purposes. I did not register in the A.I.R.E yet and still hold my inscription to Italian municipality. Now I really need medical treatment because I’m pregnant and the German doctors do not accept my tessera sanitaria even though it is still valid. The health insurance companies required the E106 form which the Italian authorities do not want to sign me because they don’t want to pay the Birth Costs. I’M very scared because I can’t fly back to Italy because I’m about to give birth at the end of next month.
Do you know how I can get medical treatment even if I don’t have the 106 form?
Thank you
Sara,
I will send you an email shortly.
Thank you.
Hi David-
I am a U.S. citizen and have lived in the U.S. all my life.
I just obtained citizenship for Italy.
Am i eligible for healthcare?
If i am not eligible for healthcare, what are some possibilities to make myself eligible?
I plan on traveling in Australia on my work holiday visa and would like to utilize my italian citizenship healthcare for it while i am traveling.
Thanks.
Dear Paul,
Thank you for your question, and please accept my apologies for this late reply.
It is great news that you obtained your Italian citizenship. Unfortunately, if you are not living and formally residing in Italy you do not have a right to Italian public healthcare.
In any case, the TEAM card (the back of the Health card) does not give you the right to health care when you will be in Australia.
Regards,
David.
Hi David,
My situation is slightly different but I am interested in the answer if you can help!
I am an Italian dual citizen with Australia and am a resident of Australia. However, I am moving to the Netherlands to study as a (European Union) Italian citizen. I will be there for 1 year from the end of Jan 2019.
I am registered as a foreign citizen, but am I able to get the TEAM card? If so, how can I do so? The embassies and consulates I have contacted have not been able to help me with this. Can the Dutch health service or my University assist me in getting the TEAM? I will not be able to go to Italy to do any registration in person, and I am nervous because my Italian language skills are very very basic.
Grazie!
Michael
Hi David
Could you clear u something which is causing us a little confusion? My husband and I are UK citizens but with permanent Italian residency and the Italian tessera sanitaria. We are both pensioners. In the summer we are going to Finland and would like to be certain that our tessera sanitaria will cover us in the same way the British health card would. Are they equivalent? Thanks in advance for any help/advice. Jenny
Hello,
I have a quick question. We moved to Italy nearly four years ago. When we arrived in Lombardia we got our card and it expires in 2022. However, we then moved to Friuli region and they will only give me a tessera sanitaria that matches my work contracts, and as I am a teacher they expire in June and then I get a new one in September. So my current contract expired today, and so did my tessera sanitaria (even though I still have a valid one in Lombardia). Does this mean my kids and I are no longer covered? Usually we go back to our home country for the summer so it doesn’t matter but we are staying in Italy for the summer this year and I am worried that we will not be covered if something goes wrong.
Thank you,
Rebecca
You should be covered but you need to ask your local ASL for confirmation considering that this is not a frequent case.
Dear David,
I’m Brazilian and I just obtained my Italian citizenship and I received my Codice Fiscale with the number of my Tessera Sanitaria. I’m doing a master degree in Europe and my next semester I will be in Italy. Could I have European coverage for my health insurance after communicating the Italian Embassy in Spain that I left Italy and inscribing in the AIRE? Could you help me out on the next steps I should take?
Thank you for clarifying so many things out.
Best,
Hello , I am Austria citizen. Now I am living in italy . My husband living in Italy. He is not European. Every month I come in italy to live with him . I wanted to make resident in italy also. Now they require me I need health insurance then I can make the residence. Can you suggest me which health is good economically and it’s can be considered for residence condition.
The easiest way is if you purchase private insurance for residency purposes, which costs more or less the same as the SSN. In fact, with private insurance, you can request residency immediately. With SSN, it is always complicated because many times the ASL will not give you the SSN if you do not have residency, but the Comune will not give you residency if you don’t have SSN. So it is easier with private insurance. I have an agreement with private insurance. Please let me know if you need assistance with this.
Regards,
David.
Dear David,
We are family of Italian’s with dual nationality, living in the UK, registered at the AIRE. We have never lived in Italy (and don’t speak much italian). I have now a job offer to start in Italy on the 1st of December. My wife (Italian by marriage) suffers from a complicated lung condition, so we require her to be properly registered with the SSN straight away. I’m concerned though that the process might take a long time. To register for the SSN at the ASL (in Parma) I understand that we require a certificate of residency from the local comune. I was told that the certificate of residency will require that the tenancy agreement that we get is registered in some electronic tax system, which can take some days to happen, is this correct? Is there a way that we can fast track the residency certificate to ensure a quick registration at the SSN? Is the fact that we are registered at the AIRE make things slower with the comune for residence registration? The company that it is hiring me provides some assistance for getting our codice fiscale, which we intend to do soon (as I understand that is the other requirement for SSN registration).
Once SSN registration works out, can she go to the doctor straight away even though the actual tessera sanitaria will arrive on the post later? Do you get any paper certificate that would allow doctor/pharmacy access in the mean time?
The place where I will work also has a private health insurance, but, because the disease is complex, it is only seen by the public hospital, so we require fast access to the SSN.
Many thanks,
Pablo
Dear Pablo,
It does not take long to register with SSN (I do not know specifically how long it will take in Parma) and also to register a contract. Make sure you know which public office to start from otherwise you’ll be going around in circles and you’ll feel a sense of frustration. It does not work in the same way in all municipalities. Aire will not make things slower. You need a codice fiscale.
I suggest visiting the Comune’s website to make sure you have everything you need to file your residency. You also need to check where she will be able to receive the medical treatments she needs (doctor? or Hospital?).
Regards,
D.
Sono olandese e ho un amico italiano che sta con me a causa della sua nascita imminente. È ancora registrata in Italia ed è in possesso di una tessera assicurativa italiana (SSN). Al momento ci sono complicazioni con la gravidanza. I costi sono coperti dall’assicurazione italiana e i costi del parto? Deve fare qualcosa per ottenere questo rimborso?
Hi,
My daughter and I moved from Germany to Italy and since she was not sure if she was staying with me we kept her German Insurance. Now she is sure she is staying and to cancel the German Insurance they are requesting an E104 form. She has a tax code and a Tessera Sanitaria already. Could you tell me where do I have to request it? Can it be done online? It is urgent as she just had a birthday and the rates automatically go up to the highest price! Thank you!!!
As a German citizen in Italy I’ve been trying to apply for the TS, being told I need to pay almost EUR400 for it or get a job. I’m running a small-scale non-profit organization, which I’m told does not count as enough of a job (it certainly is…), because it has no Partita IVA.
In several places online I’m reading every EU citizen living in Italy with Codice Fiscale is eligible for the TS, even required to have one. Does that mean there’s a way to get the card without paying?
Hi,
I have Dual Citizenship (US and Italian) thru decent. I have an Italian Passport and a Codice Fiscal. I am registered in AIRE as living in the US. I have never had a TS. I am near retirement and planning to visit Italy for 3 months/year ongoing. I understand that as an Italian registered in AIRE I am entitled to 90 days/year of free emergency health care when in Italy. Is this true? Would it require me to have had a TS at some prior time to be active? If needing emergency care do I just say “here’s my codice fiscal, I’m in AIRE”??
I also would like an answer to your question! Have you asked the Italian consulate? (I would ask ours in the UK but they are very overworked and very difficult to get hold of. It took them 5 months to release my new passport last year).
Personally, I am an Italian citizen who has been living in the UK for 28 years. I was born in Italy and got my first degree there… I previously held a “Tessera Sanitaria” but formally emigrated to the UK and registered with AIRE some 25 years ago.
With Brexit, it seems we are losing our EHIC card (which previously gave UK residents emergency health care in Europe). I therefore wonder if it true that Italians registered with AIRE are entitled to 90 days/year of free emergency health care when in Italy. It certainly would seem only fair…. as I need to visit family (particularly elderly relatives) for a few weeks each year.
Does anyone have any details on this?
https://conssanfrancisco.esteri.it/consolato_sanfrancisco/en/i_servizi/per_i_cittadini/anagrafe/1-aire-e-chi-deve-iscriversi.html
* In the event of temporary re-entry in Italy, Italian citizens who are registered in AIRE are entitled to medical care free of cost, limited only to emergency medical services for up to 90 days per year, under the condition that the citizens have no other insurance policy, public or private, that covers the cost of the aforementioned services.
* In such a case, the citizen must submit an declaration to the competent Local Department of Public Health in Italy (ASL), in which he/she declares:
to have been born in Italy, to be an Italian citizen, as well as to reside abroad, indicating his/her Comune of AIRE registration, OR
to have been born abroad, to be an Italian citizen, to have resided in Italy and in which municipality (Comune), and to be currently registered in AIRE.
* It seems this emergency medical assistance is only available if alternative medical cover is not available
This “update” seems to indicate the intended recipients of this “emergency medical assistance” are Italians born in Italy and subsequently emigrated due to work:
https://conssanfrancisco.esteri.it/consolato_sanfrancisco/en/la_comunicazione/dal_consolato/2018/09/precisazioni-del-ministero-della.html
* riconoscimento del diritto e’ da intendersi tuttora circoscritto alle ipotesi di connazionali nati in Italia e successivamente espatriati per ragioni lavorative. meaning it would seem the intended recipients of this emergency healthcare cover are Italians born in Italy who subsequenty moved abroad because of work.
* it also explain how to certify one’s “emigrant” status. This would not apply to you… not sure what does.
Hello,
I am a non-eu student with resident permit in Italy. I have SSN insurance valid by the end of the December. Now I am in Sweden and need to be here for a period of at least 6 months for research purposes. I have applied for a research permit in Sweden and I need a health insurance valid for entire duration of my stay. I am wondering if I could renew and use my SSN insurance to this end and if so, if there is any way to request the renewal online.
Thanks in advance for your help
How would one go about transferring their health records to Italy, such that they are on the chip on my tessera sanitaria? It seems to me it would require a visit to some ASL office rather than bothering my medico about it with an appointment.
Hello, I am in the process of becoming an Italian citizen via jus sanguinis. I do not reside in Italy or the EU, so it looks like I do not qualify to get the TS.
However I am curious if I will be eligible to apply for and obtain the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)? Or do I need to be a resident of an EU country in order to qualify, even though I will be an EU citizen (living outside of the EU)?
hi, my wife is pregnant and I have permanent residence of Italy and she is not possible to travel in this situation because of last dates of pregnancy and here in Germany they are accepting my tessera sanitaria here in the hospital please tell me what can they i do at this moment.
Hello, I am an American living in Italy for 8 years and have paid into the National Health Service. I am in the process of obtaining my Carta di Soggiorno (EC long term stay) as an elective resident and wonder if I will need to continue paying for the health care or if it will now be free to me as a permanent resident?
Hi ,
I am dutch, living and working in Italy fir a dutch company. I am registered in italy and have the tessara sanitaria. Is the tessara sanitaria also valid when i travel abroad (for example back to Holland) and get i get medical care abroad too with my SSN subscription. I applied at SSN and did not have to pay any registration fee btw.
Kind regards