8592 Am I wrong here or...

Being forced to pay additional health insurance when we have already paid in the form of National Insurance in the U.K, to access medical treatment here in Italy seems to be in direct conflict with the whole concept of the European Union. We are led to believe that we can expect the same rights and treatments that any Italian would expect by virtue of the fact that we are E.U members and are already signed up and have paid for it all in full in our own country. I can appreciate that the Italian system is a little different from ours in the U.K in as much as, from what I hear, they pay a small contribution towards all there treatment and drugs. Can anyone give any examples of European Union Nationals being given treatment in the U.K and of how they fared? In fact how does it work in France and Germany and Spain for example? I suspect this is another example of Italy refusing to tow the E.U line, but will eventually be forced to do so.
Pilchard

Category
General chat about Italy

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 01/15/2008 - 03:09

This is a tricky one, and much has been said recently, so a search might be helpful. It also very much depends on personal circumstances.

For an example on pricing, I went for a blood test at the hospital yesterday and the "ticket" price was 33e. But when I go back with this to the specialist, the charge to see him will probably be less.
A

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 01/15/2008 - 03:38

It looks as if the problem arises whenever early retirement is concerned. Before, if you were retired, no matter your age, you were getting free medical throughout the EU. Now, Spain, France and Italy... and possibly all the others... are refusing free medical insurance if they are under the stated retirement age... which is usually 65.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 01/15/2008 - 12:29

[quote=pilchard;80579] We are led to believe that we can expect the same rights and treatments that any Italian would expect by virtue of the fact that we are E.U members [/quote]

Well Italians pay taxes on their worldwide income to pay for the health system. To get the same treatment they would have to send you a tax bill.

Italians living abroad who visit Italy only get emergency treatment free and even that is limited to 90 days a year.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 01/15/2008 - 13:11

[quote=NickZ;80632]Well Italians pay taxes on their worldwide income to pay for the health system. To get the same treatment they would have to send you a tax bill.

Italians living abroad who visit Italy only get emergency treatment free and even that is limited to 90 days a year.[/quote]

Everone else pays taxes on their worldwide income & I DO get sent a tax bill, from the UK inland Revenue. Part of that money eventually finds its way into EU coffers to pay beurocrats to tell member states that they are to give "reciprocal rights" to EU citizens.
Actually, I dont really know if thats what the EU is supposed to be doing, but I, naive little me, always thought that was what the crack was.
Pilch

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 01/15/2008 - 13:20

Rights and responsibilities.

If you could just choose a tax residence with the lowest taxes and decide to live in the state spending the most on health care things would break.

Now what they need is the state receiving the tax payment to transfer some funds to the country you're living in.

But you aren't being treated any worse then a non-resident Italian.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 01/15/2008 - 15:58

Oddly enough, there was an article on the BBC about just this issue the other day, I think on a programme called "The One Show" (incase there is a web link), it mainly centered on Spain as that is where the majority of British expats live.

The out come was that all over EWurope the rules are / have changed and you only get a small amount of time (2 years I think in Spain ) of free health care, after that, if you are below the normal rtirement age, you will get charged and probably need health care insurance.

I know it will sound like "na na ne na na", but as and when we do take the plunge and give up on the UK finally, I am sure we will take out health insurance. It may not improve the standards of care (which I don't beleive are in question here) but it will make the care more accessible.

Good luck and cheers

Andy

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 01/17/2008 - 14:25

I'm a Dutchman who has lived in Germany, the UK and now Italy. In the UK and Italy I enjoyed full free or virtually free health service, before I had paid an taxes or insurance. In Italy I registered with my local health service and I'm registered with a GP. Extra costs of hospital care and prescriptions have been minimal. Since I started a business I have to pay the equivalent of National Health, INPS, at around €1800 a year. In Germany there is a compulsory health insurance system and they come down on you like a ton of bricks if you get behind in payments. As a student there I was forced into insolvency for owing them DM 150 at the time (so peanuts).

I have found the health system here efficient and cheap, despite what the Italians themselves say.