Hi there,I have applied for Italian

No. The EHIC is for emergencies only. You need full cover - even as a UK (I assume) citizen you are not entitled to health coverage here unless working with a contract, or of retirement age. If you have / are neither you need a health insurance policy. These vary in price and coverage so find out exactly what your Comune needs and wants before buying. Only when you have presented that to the Comune will they give you residency. Then go to the local ASL to get registered with a doctor. It is a common myth that all EU residents are automatically entitled to free health care. There is often a degree of interpretation though so some people have been lucky and have avoided this step.

If you live in a region where you can buy into the Assicurazione Volontaria - (the state health insurance) then it may work out cheaper than a private policy as you seem to have no income so will pay the minimum.  However, as Gramsci says, you must have health insurance to qualify for residency, and an EHIC card will not suffice. 

Thanks to all who answered.Just another question. I need to renew my EHIC card, which i will do online. My last card was issued when my husband applied for one as a family ( although we each have sepaprate cards of course) . Since then we are separated, for 18 months now. Will he be notified if i renew the card?Thanks in advance

You need to be UK resident to get a UK EHIC. Assuming you still are at the moment, if you circumstance have changed it is unlikely you can "renew" on-line. I would get in touch with them and ask if you can apply as an individual and tell them you do not want your ex to know about it (I doubt very much they would). I'm pretty sure they will question any attempt to issue one to an abroad address, in fact won't do so.