About Free Health Care in Italy

Italy offers its residents a national health care plan, which is a free plan that offers hospital and medical benefits. Very often these types of health care plans are associated with substandard health care but according to the World Health Organization (WHO), Italy has the second best health care in the world.

Doctor's Coverage

The doctors that are part of the Italian national health service (Servizio Sanitario Nazionale--SSN) will be registered and they are the ones who provide free services. Normally state health insurance systems require lengthy waits and inconsistencies in their hospital settings. Italy is no different so some do prefer to get private health insurance so they can have health care with a higher standard of quality.

Benefits

The national health care system in Italy will generally cover such things as all tests, surgeries, hospitalization, medications, pediatricians, family doctor visits, out-patient treatments as well as visits for dental treatments and to other other specialists.

Employee Health Care

Those who work in Italy should have health insurance that is provided by their employer. Those that are registered will receive a health card and a number that is necessary to use to access free health care and prescriptions.

Visitors to Italy

Visitors to Italy are covered if they are a European citizen and apply for a form E111. This is a form indicating a right to treatment and it must be filled out a few weeks before travel is expected. Those who are visiting Italy and are not European citizens must have their own private coverage. These people are to report to the local police station so that their health care information can be recorded and validated so that it will cover them during their visit.

Additional Coverage

There is no charge for medicines at the pharmacy. The cost for medication that is purchased over the counter must be absorbed by the buyer and are non-refundable. In the event that an ambulance is required, it is possible that all or a portion of the bill may not be covered. This will depend on what the location in Italy is at that time.