Italy Health Insurance for Expats

International Health Insurance for Expats in Italy

International health insurance best serves individuals moving to or visiting Italy because it offers flexible, customizable care that is portable across borders. These plans allow you access to many of Italy’s top-tier facilities, clinics, and hospitals while also offering care in other countries.

Individuals who choose an international insurance plan have the luxury of picking which benefits they need, from inpatient and outpatient care anywhere in the world to emergency evacuation and repatriation.

These policies are also generally renewable and offer 24-hour assistance for emergencies. You can also consider add-on benefits for vision, dental, maternity, and preventative care. Find some of the best providers at Pacific Prime or keep reading to compare the best plans for expats in Italy.

Recommended International Health Insurance Plans for Expatriates Living in Italy

Healthcare System in Italy

Italy’s healthcare often ranks among the best in the world, and the country offers free or subsidized universal healthcare to Italian citizens and permanent residents but not to newly arrived foreign nationals. The Servizio Sanitario Nazionale (SSN) oversees Italy’s healthcare system.

Public Healthcare in Italy

The public healthcare sector dominates medical care in Italy, with foreign residents and citizens receiving free care for most primary care, inpatient care, and health screenings. Only about 10% of individuals in Italy opt for private coverage as Italy offers excellent public medical care.

Italy offers statutory benefits for maternity care, home care, specialty care, preventative medicine, hospice care, and pharmaceuticals, though patients must make copayments for procedures, specialty visits, and some outpatient medications.

Young children, pregnant women, patients with HIV and other chronic diseases, lower-income adults, and older adults are exempt from all cost-sharing.

Expats and other temporary visitors are responsible for paying for all medical care either out of pocket or through health insurance: they do not qualify for public health care unless they have a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).

Public Hospitals in Italy

Some of the best public hospitals in Italy include the Grande Metropolitano Niguarda Hospital, Santa Maria Nuova Hospital, and Azienda Ospedaliera di Padova. We will list their contact information below:

Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda
Address: Piazza dell’Ospedale Maggiore, 3, 20162 Milano MI, Italy
Phone number: +39 02 64441

Santa Maria Nuova Hospital
Address: Piazza di Santa Maria Nuova, 1, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy
Phone number: +39 055 69381

Azienda Ospedaliera di Padova
Address: Via Nicolò Giustiniani, 2, 35128 Padova PD, Italy
Phone Number: +39 049 821 1111

Private Healthcare in Italy

As all permanent residents receive high-quality public healthcare, private healthcare in Italy is regarded as an add-on luxury. Private healthcare can be expensive, so those who choose to receive private medical treatment should ensure their private insurance covers the cost.

Individuals may choose private healthcare in Italy to avoid complications in public care such as wait times, to allow greater flexibility in choosing a healthcare provider, and to ensure higher comfort in care.

Private Hospitals in Italy

Some of the best private hospitals in Italy include Policlinico Universitario A Gemelli, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele (Gruppo San Donato), and Salvator Mundi Hospital. We will list their contact information below:

Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli
Address: Largo Agostino Gemelli, 8, 00136 Roma RM, Italy
Phone number: +39 06 30151

IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele (Gruppo San Donato)
Address: Via Olgettina, 60, 20132 Milano MI, Italy
Phone number: +39 02 26431

Salvator Mundi Hospital
Address: V.le delle Mura Gianicolensi, 67, 00152 Roma RM, Italy
Phone number: +39 390 658 8961

Read more about the top-notch hospitals in Italy in this Pacific Prime article.

Health Insurance Options In Italy for Expats

Expats are not required by law to have private health insurance to enter Italy, but it is highly recommended that they have international health insurance as they will not qualify for public healthcare right away and healthcare costs in Italy are high.

Public Insurance in Italy

As mentioned above, all those living permanently in Italy receive free or subsidized healthcare, which is regulated by the SSN. To qualify for public healthcare in Italy, expats must visit their nearest Azienda Sanitaria Locale (ASL) office and register with the Servizio Sanitario Nazionale (SSN).

To register with the SSN, expats will need:

1. A residence permit
2. An ID or passport
3. A codice fiscale (tax code)
4. Proof of residence

The ASL then processes the application and verifies the individual’s eligibility. Once an expat qualifies and registers with the SSN, he or she chooses a general practitioner and receives a temporary paper certificate.

This temporary certificate grants immediate access to the public healthcare system until the official health card comes in the mail.

Private Insurance in Italy

Expats considering a move to Italy should secure private health insurance before their journey. While Italy provides free and low-cost public healthcare to its permanent residents and citizens, only those who are registered with the Servizio Sanitario Nazionale (SSN) will qualify.

Best Private Insurance Providers for Expats in Italy

Some of the best private insurance providers for expats in Italy are April International, AXA, Bupa Global, Cigna, and NOW Health.

April International

April International offers international health insurance with five tiers of coverage through their Emergency, Formule, Essential, Comfort, and Premium plans. Hospitalization for accidents and emergencies as well as repatriation are covered on all plans. The annual limits for each plan are:

• The Emergency plan annual limit is about USD $262,744.42.
• The Formule plan annual limit is about USD $525,488.83.
• The Essential plan annual limit is about USD $1,050,977.67.
• The Comfort and Premium plans offer no annual limit.

AXA

AXA offers five international health insurance plans: Foundation, Standard, Comprehensive, Prestige, and Prestige Plus. Evacuation and repatriation come standard with AXA’s plans, and they offer second medical opinions and virtual doctor services. The annual limits for each plan are:

• Foundation: $160,000
• Standard: $1,600,000
• Comprehensive: $2,400,000
• Prestige: $3,200,000
• Prestige Plus: $8,000,000

Cigna

Cigna Global provides international health insurance through their 4 core plans—their Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Close Care plans. Some of the standard benefits for these plans include mental health care, cancer care, and private hospital room coverage. Annual limits for each plan are:

• About USD $1,000,000 for the Silver plan
• About USD $2,000,000 for the Gold plan
• Unlimited annual coverage for the Platinum plan
• About $500,000 for the Close Care plan

The Close Care plan offers coverage only in the expat’s country of residence and country of nationality.

NOW Health

NOW Health offers four tiers of coverage through its WorldCare plan and three tiers of coverage through its SimpleCare plan.

Under the SimpleCare plan, annual limits are:

• USD $1,000,000 for the SimpleCare Core tier
• USD $1,500,000 for the SimpleCare 100 tier
• USD $1,500,000 for the SimpleCare 250 tier

Under the WorldCare plan, annual limits are:

• USD $3,000,000 for the Essential tier
• USD $3,500,000 for the Advance tier
• USD $4,000,000 for the Excel tier
• USD $4,500,000 for the Apex tier

Facts to Consider when Picking Insurance in Italy

When choosing a health insurance plan, consider your personal health concerns and budget as well as what type of plan fits your travel itinerary.

1. Your Health Concerns and Health Insurance Plans for Italy

Finding a plan that offers quality, affordable coverage for your specific health needs should be the top priority. Keep in mind that some plans exclude pre-existing conditions, and more healthcare coverage will likely mean a higher cost for your plan.

2. Your Budget and Health Insurance Plan for Italy

The factors that contribute to your health insurance costs are your premium, deductible, copay, coinsurance, and out-of-pocket maximum.

• Premiums are the amount you pay each month for health insurance.
• Deductibles are the amount you pay before your insurance covers costs.
• Copays are the amount you pay for medical visits, like doctor’s visits.
• Coinsurance is the coverage percentage you pay once you have met your deductible.
• The out-of-pocket maximum is the total maximum amount you may pay for health care within a term.

3. Travel Insurance in Italy

For those who don’t plan to travel extensively in Italy, they may consider travel insurance or short-term insurance. Travel medical insurance ensures coverage for some medical emergencies, such as emergency care or repatriation, in case of a mishap during your vacation.

Pair travel medical insurance with traditional travel insurance for benefits for all types of travel needs. Travel insurance usually covers:

• Trip cancellation
• Delayed departure
• Personal belongings
• Lost luggage
• Travel documents
• Personal liability

If travel insurance fits your needs, read more about top insurers in this guide.

For those who need more extensive care than travel medical insurance offers but who don’t want to pay for international health insurance for only short trips, short-term insurance may fill the gap.

Short-term health insurance tends to be more comprehensive than travel insurance, but it does not offer coverage for travel-related issues and health benefits do often come with exclusions, such as for pre-existing conditions.

Health and Safety Tips for Travelers in Italy

Travel in Italy is generally safe, though as of 2024, the United States travel advisory for Italy has suggested travelers should increase caution due to possible terrorist activity. Consider the following tips for your time in Italy:

• Purchase travel insurance if you’ll only be in Italy temporarily
• Ensure you are up to date on all vaccines
• Be aware of your surroundings and keep belongings close to your body
• Monitor local media and news and adjust plans if necessary

Frequently Asked Questions

Is healthcare in Italy good?

Healthcare in Italy consistently ranks among the best in the world, with qualified medical professionals at all levels.

Is healthcare free in Italy?

Healthcare in Italy is free for young children, pregnant women, patients with HIV and other chronic diseases, lower-income adults, and older adults who are permanent residents of Italy. Other Italian residents receive subsidized public healthcare. Individuals can also purchase private healthcare.

What are the downsides of healthcare in Italy?

Some individuals experience long wait times, certain areas of the country do not offer as high-quality care as others, and individuals may have a hard time finding a provider who speaks English or another language besides Italian.

How long do I need to live in Italy to get free healthcare?

Those who stay in Italy for longer than three months can choose to register with the SSN voluntarily to receive public healthcare.

Conclusion

Whether you’re looking for individual health insurance, family health insurance, or any number of other health insurance plans in Italy, Pacific Prime can help.

Our highly-trained advisors seek to understand your healthcare and lifestyle needs, provide a tailored plan comparison, and help you select the most appropriate plan for your needs and budget. Compare plans with our completely free quote tool today.

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