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Published 2006.11.18
Health care is provided in Italy by the National Health Service [Servizio Sanitario Nazionale] with equal treatment and full equality of rights and duties as Italian citizens.
Registration with the National Health Service is compulsory for foreign citizens with residency permits [permesso di soggiorno] for:
It is also compulsory for unemployed citizens and those registered as unemployed awaiting employment, and for their dependents, if in possession of regular residency permits.
To register, you must go to the local administrative offices of the Local Health Units (ASL) [Aziende Sanitarie Locali] in the place of residency or domicile, presenting:
For further informations:
At the time of registration an individual health care card is issued and you can select your own GP or paediatrician for children from 0 to 14 years of age.
Registration is valid for the entire duration of the residency permit.
To renew the health care card you must go to the ASL health office with the receipt of the request for renewal of your residency permit. Following the Protocol Document of Intent [Protocollo d'Intesa] stipulated on December 16, 2004, by the Province of Turin, the Piedmont Region, the Prefecture [Prefettura], Police Headquarters [Questura] and the Provincial Labour Board of Turin [Direzione Provinciale del lavoro], the receipt of the request for renewal of the residency permit is valid for purposes of extending the health care card until the time of obtaining renewal. After receiving the renewed permit it is necessary to return to the ASL office to have the card validated until the next renewal.
Minors of foreign citizens registered with the National Health Service are assured, from birth, of health care even if they are not effectively registered on the parent's residency permit. Foreign citizens with a residency permit for a period of more than 3 months, who do not belong to any of the categories entitling them to the National Health Service, are required to stipulate an insurance policy to cover illness, accidents and maternity with an Italian or other insurance company or, alternatively, register with the National Health Service paying an annual fee also for their dependents.
Voluntary registration can also be requested by those who reside in Italy for reasons of study, or persons working on an au-pair basis.
Registration is not permitted for foreign citizens visiting Italy for reasons of medical treatment or simply for pleasure.
Foreign citizens legally resident in Italy, but not registered with the National Health Service, are assured of urgent hospital care, as well as treatments not of a strictly urgent nature, at the rates established by the Piedmont Region.
Foreign citizens lacking a residency permit are assured of urgent or essential hospital or outpatient care, even continuous, in case of illness or accident.
Pregnancy and maternity are also safeguarded, and the health of minors and vaccinations.
The services are provided free of charge for citizens who declare by self-certification that they do not possess sufficient financial resources (declaration of the state of indigence, valid 6 months).
Foreign citizens without a residency permit are issued a card by the ASL with a regional code and the letters S.T.P. which stand for "straniero temporaneamente presente" (temporarily resident foreigner), valid for 6 months and renewable in case of a longer stay in Italy, which must be exhibited at the request of the health care provider.
Foreigners in possession of the S.T.P. card can obtain further information from the I.S.I. offices (Immigrant Health Information). The I.S.I. offices are located in some but not all ASL health units. They provide information and also services of transportation for all matters concerning health care and services on request.
Access to health care facilities does not require any type of report to the police, except in those cases when such reporting is required by law.
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