Health insurance

This information is for general orientation only and does not constitute legal, tax or medical advice. Always verify with the official sources cited.

Student coverage path in Italy

EU students generally rely on the TEAM (European Health Insurance Card) for temporary coverage. Non-EU students can enrol in the SSN (national health service) by paying the annual contribution.

Young professional and student-worker path

With a regular employment contract, healthcare is normally covered through payslip contributions and registration with the local ASL.

Key risk and common mistake

Failure to enrol in the SSN or complete the local ASL steps can block assignment of a family doctor and force fully private costs.

Detailed health insurance setup

What to keep in your compliance folder

• Enrolment certificate and visa/permit documents
• Insurance policy PDF and payment receipts
• Registration confirmations from public portals or authorities
• GP assignment or local health card confirmation

Official links

How GP assignment works in Italy

Assignment is administrative and capacity-based; many doctors cannot accept new patients when their quotas are full.

Required documents

• Tessera Sanitaria
• Codice Fiscale
• ID and authorisation documents, where applicable

Registration steps

Common trap

Without a GP assignment, routine visits and prescription workflows become fragmented and slower.

Official references

Students away from home

If you study in a city other than the one where you are resident, here is how to use the National Health Service in practice: enrolment, co-payments, health record and urgent care.

SSN and TEAM (Tessera Europea di Assicurazione Malattia)

After enrolling in the National Health Service you receive your Tessera Sanitaria. The TEAM allows necessary care across the EU/EEA at the host country’s conditions; request it via MyINPS or your ASL, with an indicative validity of up to 6 years (check the INPS instructions).

You can choose your GP in the municipality where you study by declaring your domicilio sanitario (health domicile), even if your registered (anagrafe) residence is elsewhere.

Co-payments (ticket): common exemptions

Always verify with your ASL and region; indicative list:

• Income exemption — criteria such as €36,151.98 per household (“730 exemption” rules)
• Unemployment and dependants as provided by law
• Recognised chronic/rare diseases, pregnancy, paediatric age or over 65 with income limits

Fascicolo Sanitario Elettronico (FSE)

This is your digital clinical record: it gathers reports, prescriptions, test results and vaccinations in a single place online (current version “FSE 2.0”). You access it with SPID or CIE and can show it to doctors and pharmacies. It is especially handy if you move between different cities or regions.

Out-of-hours GP and emergency department

Guardia medica (continuity of care): night/holiday slots when your GP is unavailable. Pronto Soccorso (A&E): colour-coded triage; a white code may involve a co-payment (indicative ~€25, varies).

Emergencies: 118 (medical), 112 (EU single number).

Mental health

Public pathways via CSM (mental health centres) and clinics; access via your GP or directly, depending on the region. Bonus psicologo (indicative 2024 amounts, verify the calls): ISEE < €15,000 up to €1,500; €15,000–30,000 up to €1,000; €30,000–50,000 up to €500.

Booking visits and tests: CUP and the 116117 number

For National Health Service services (specialist visits, tests, lab work) you book through the CUP (single booking centre): by phone, at counters, at the pharmacy or online on your Region’s portal. You need the prescription from your GP (the so-called “impegnativa”) and your health card.

For situations that are not emergencies but cannot wait until the next day (night-time pain, medical advice, finding out which out-of-hours doctor is open), there is the European Harmonised Number 116117 for non-urgent medical care, free and available 24/7. Coverage, however, is being rolled out progressively and is not yet uniform across Italy (in some Regions it has replaced the old out-of-hours numbers, in others it is not active yet): check your Region’s website. Keep it distinct from 118 / 112, which are only for genuine emergencies.

Electronic prescriptions and medicines

In Italy the prescription is almost always dematerialised: the doctor registers it in the system and gives you an NRE (Electronic Prescription Number) or a reminder slip. At the pharmacy you just hand over your health card and the code. For an ongoing course of treatment the doctor can issue repeatable prescriptions or a therapeutic plan, so you do not have to return to the surgery each time.

• Prescription medicines (RR): a prescription is required and, for some, a visit.
• Over-the-counter medicines (OTC/SOP): you buy them freely at a pharmacy or parapharmacy for minor ailments (headache, cold).
• Generics (equivalents): same active ingredient, lower cost. You can ask the pharmacist for them.
• Co-payment: on band A medicines you may pay a difference if you choose the branded product instead of the generic.

Dentist, optician and services not covered

Note an important difference from many countries: in Italy the dentist is almost entirely paid privately (the SSN covers only specific cases, vulnerable groups or emergencies). The same largely applies to glasses and lenses and to many dental services. It is therefore wise to budget for these costs, consider a supplementary dental policy and compare quotes. Some universities and teaching hospitals offer dental care at reduced rates through their training departments.

Family clinics, sexual health and vaccinations

The consultori familiari (family clinics) are public services, free or low cost, for contraception, pregnancy, sexual health and psychological support, often accessible without a prescription and confidentially — a useful resource especially for students and young people. For testing of sexually transmitted infections there are dedicated clinics within the ASLs.

As for vaccinations, the ASL manages both mandatory/recommended ones and seasonal ones (e.g. flu). If you arrive from abroad, bring your vaccination booklet with you: it may be needed for enrolling in courses, healthcare internships or to regularise your vaccination status.

Telemedicine and your health record on your phone

More and more Regions offer official health apps to book, pay co-payments, download reports, view your Electronic Health Record and have video consultations. Look for them starting from your Region’s portal (you usually log in with SPID or CIE). They are particularly handy for students away from home, because they let you check prescriptions and reports even when you are far from your city of residence.

Sources

• Ministero della Salute (IT) — salute.gov.it
• Agenzia delle Entrate (payments and codes) — agenziaentrate.gov.it
• INPS (payslip contributions) — inps.it
• Ministero della Salute (IT) — salute.gov.it
• Ministero della Salute (IT) — salute.gov.it
• Fascicolo sanitario — fascicolosanitario.gov.it
• Ministero della Salute (IT) — salute.gov.it
• Ministero della Salute (IT) — salute.gov.it
• Consultori familiari — Ministero della Salute — salute.gov.it
• Vaccinazioni — Ministero della Salute — salute.gov.it