A new one for me................

If you're within Europe then you have reciprocal A&E cover, and thats it - you should think about travel insurance  

Your plastic Tessera Sanitaria is also the EHIC card so you need to carry that with you as proof that you are covered under the Italian system and therefore under the reciprocal European system. As Ram has said, it only covers you for A&E treatment under the same terms as any national of the EU country you are visiting so you do need to take out a travel insurance policy as well to cover any additional expenses not included ie some medication costs may not be covered, ambulances etc etc. So in essence, exactly the same as if you were still in UK.

Gail, I think you have misunderstood my answer. You cannot have dual comprehensive health cover -  it is one or the other depending upon where you are resident. As you state you are resident in Le Marche and have the Tessera Sanitaria, whilst you are fully covered in Italy, you would only be covered under the reciprocal EU agreement for emergency A&E treatment in any other country included in the agreement, including the UK. So strictly speaking it is only emergency cover that the UK NHS can now provide to you as you are no longer resident and are registered under another country's health system. As for the SI form - I have never seen one, hopefully someone else can advise.

http://sistemats1.sanita.finanze.it/wps/portal/CittadinoTS/Area_ts As the above link shows, the front of the card is the Tessera Sanitaria used to obtain healthcare in Italy. On the reverse, is the TEAM the Italian version of the EHIC so your husband does not need to get the UK version as he is already covered under the Italian scheme.

Lots of previous stuff on the S1 see previous posts by Penny and myself. Talk to the people at Newcastle very helpful, you can add yourself to your husbands S1 if you are not yet receiving a UK pension yourself and are his dependant. In fact for me they sent a new form with all this information typed in.To avoid confusion you do need to talk to the people at Newcastle.

Sorry guys, I may be saying something silly, but....are you saying that your Italian "tessera sanitaria" is valid throughout the EU? I am under the impression that your ordinary "tessera" is only valid in Italy and that, if you are going to another EU country you need the European card (Tessera Sanitaria Europea) and that you have to apply for it. http://www.assicurazioniviaggio.eu/tessera-sanitaria-europea.html I am saying that I am not absolutely certain because I do not reside in Italy but in Spain, where I have the national health card; however, every couple of years I have to apply for the European card, which is the one I can use whenever I am in Italy or in any other EU country. My understanding is that the national health cards can only be used within the country that issues them. The European card is blue in colour and bears the EU logo. And, just as you said, it only covers essential treatment.

When Italy introduced the new plastic Tessera a few years ago they were incredibly sensible and combined the cards, as mentioned in the post above - on one side are the details for Italians (or non-Italians who are fully covered for state health care in Italy) to receive health care in Italy and on the reverse are the details for the emergency cover if needed in an EU country or one with reciprocal health agreement. Have a look at the link above - it explains it there and has some clear photos with explanations for the 2in1 card.

Thank you, Andiamo. They have done a combined Tessera, which is an excellent idea. I have to carry two cards with me..... Another good idea for anyone travelling is to get a copy of your medical records, particularly if you are on medication for chronic conditions.