11490 Am I covered bt the Italian Health care system

Hello
This is my first post so be gentle with me..I have lived in Italy permanently since 2005 and I have "residency"The cover supplied by the DHSS when I first moved here has now expired.We are registered with the local USL with an expiry date in 2010 on the tessera sanitaria.
We are economically inactive in Italy.I am 54 and my wife 53.Our income is a police pension coupled with irregular work in recruitment in the UK for local police forces.My Italian language is at a pretty good level and I have been trying to get a definitive answer from USL as to whether we are fully covered ie we get the same cover as Italians-who preumably have paid into the system all their lives-but I get different versions depending on who I speak to but the general concensus is "Dont worry about it"Now what I dont want is for one of us to be taken into hospital and suddenly find ourselves with a huge bill.Also how does the system for deciding who pays what and how much in respect of the patients contributions for hospital visits medication etc work and what are the critera?I have obviously read many books articles etc but the all seem at variance with one other.ANY help would be appreciated

Category
Health & Safety

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 01/21/2009 - 16:25

Hi Tony
I have been living here since 2006 but have only just got my residency and Tessera Sanitaria, it didn't take that long to do, I only applied last year.
It's my belief that you will get the same treatment as an Italian National, you will have to pay for certain things, x-rays, blood tests, perscriptions (unless for a life threatening illness) and other tests etc but the doctor and hospital treatment will be covered.
The TEAM card will also cover you for emergency treatment in other EU countries (including the UK) as long as the need for treatment happened in that country.
After 5yrs residency the Tessera Sanitaria will be renewed.
I had a car accident a year ago and spent 5 days in hospital, the treatment was free (and very good) but the follow-up x-rays tests etc i had to pay for as would an Italian.
I will say that the accident happened whilst my English EHIC card was current, it has since lapsed.
I hope this helps, I believe this to be correct and its what I'm basing my future on, but I am willing to be shot down or wrist slapped as I would not like to give duff information.

Dave

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 01/21/2009 - 17:43

This one that is a grey area ....my family and I have tessera sanitaria for only 1 year and the same last year too..it seems to be a new thing where for foreigners we have to take our documentation every year now...at the risk of falling off the highly subscribed Doctors list... Pain in the bum .
So you are lucky with an expiry of 2010 ive been in here 2 years now and have already renewed once..

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 01/21/2009 - 18:08

Hi Debs
Maybe it depends on the area, my TS is till 2013
Stribs

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 01/22/2009 - 06:03

Hi Tony,
it is important for a foreigner to know as much as possible about the country where he wants to live. Hope these links could help you!
The first one is a Forum link that talks about the same topic "tessera sanitaria", while the second is a good guide for living in Italy:

- [url]http://www.italymag.co.uk/forums/legal/10941-tessera-sanitaria-2.html[/url]

- [url=http://www.amazon.com/Going-Live-Italy-Practical-Enjoyable/dp/185703855X]Amazon.com: Going to Live in Italy:: Your Practical Guide to an Enjoyable Stay, Whether It's for Work, Study or Fun (How to): Amanda Hinton: Books[/url]

Bests,
Cristiana

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 01/26/2009 - 13:21

We moved out here four and a half years ago, and went through the same process as you Tony. We registered with our local ausl, go to our local doctor and had a paper card and a plastic card. We had to pay for exceptional things, but not for ordinary things. Then I had a HUGE accident and was rushed into hospital. I had two weeks in hospital with ten Cat scans, all free. All my husband had to do was show my paper card to the hospital A and E dept. My plastic card has long since run out, and I too went endless times to the Agenzia Entrate and asked for a new one. They keep telling me, dont worry, so now I dont! Do what we are doing, just waiting for our five years of residency then we know we dont have to worry about anything.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 03:25

Hi Mammamia,
thanks very much for sharing your experience.
You gave us useful information, especially for those who would like to move to Italy.

Cristiana

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 06:56

[quote=mammamia;109194]We moved out here four and a half years ago, and went through the same process as you Tony. We registered with our local ausl, go to our local doctor and had a paper card and a plastic card. We had to pay for exceptional things, but not for ordinary things. Then I had a HUGE accident and was rushed into hospital. I had two weeks in hospital with ten Cat scans, all free. All my husband had to do was show my paper card to the hospital A and E dept. My plastic card has long since run out, and I too went endless times to the Agenzia Entrate and asked for a new one. They keep telling me, dont worry, so now I dont! Do what we are doing, just waiting for our five years of residency then we know we dont have to worry about anything.[/quote]

The Tessera Sanitaria for foreigners runs out after 5 years and then you should go to you local ASL again til renew your subscription (which will communicate this to the Agenzia delle Entrate), which will then automatically release a new one. At least that is how they do it in my village...
Mine was expired for years but nobody has ever checked that and I have happily used it in various occasions, so I don't think you should worry too much if you have residency.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 08:22

The Tessera Sanitaria for foreigners runs out after 5 years and then you should go to you local ASL again til renew your subscription (which will communicate this to the Agenzia delle Entrate), which will then automatically release a new one. At least that is how they do it in my village...
Mine was expired for years but nobody has ever checked that and I have happily used it in various occasions, so I don't think you should worry too much if you have residency.

Do not forget that the Tessera Sanitaria 'credit card' as with the EHIC issued in the UK replaces the E111 entitling you to emergency treatment, if required, when travelling in any EU or affiliated country. So, even with Italian residency, if you are planning to travel out of Italy make sure the TS is current as there is a risk you could find yourself not covered by an out of date card!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 01/28/2009 - 13:29

[quote=Stribs;108842]The TEAM card will also cover you for emergency treatment in other EU countries (including the UK) as long as the need for treatment happened in that country.[/quote]

Stribs, where do I get a TEAM card, Agenzia delle Entrate?

Hope you are okay after your car accident (how did you deal with the carabinieri, insurance etc?).

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 01/28/2009 - 15:36

hi Persephone
The TEAM card is your plastic Tessera Sanitaria card, on the back it says 'Tessera Europea di Assicurazione Malattia'
Hope this helps.

As far as the accident I'm not too bad now thanks. The case is still ongoing but the help we've had from all interested parties has been very good, Anna speaks Italian which obviously helps.

Stribs

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 01/29/2009 - 02:20

Thanks Stribs, that's one less 'scrum' at the Agenzia for me! I already have my Tessera Sanitaria card. I just need to remember to take it with me when I go back to the UK.