11091 medical costs in italy

I was wondering what happens with medical costs in Italy. We have residency here now and had tried to register with a gp but got sent to so many diffrent places that we gave up. someone said we cant have a doctor if we arent working. we are looking for work and living on savings which i showed evidence of to the people we spoke to. we thought maybe if they thought we didnt have funds to pay for treatments or soemthing. anyway we got nowhere and then a couple of weeks ago my other half needed a minor op in the hospital - nothing serious but we had to return 3 times for follow up treatment of the wound. we paid about 60 euro in all and although we didnt mind paying it we want to find out is this the norm or is it because we are foreign? also does anyone know why we would be told we cant regsiter with a gp? we were able to use our village doc and he was great but just for the future we want to be prepared properly. maybe we dont need to register as such?

Category
Health & Safety

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 12/03/2008 - 12:34

Hi Tessa.
The situation in Italy is basically assisted Healthcare. If you do not work (and pay taxes) or are below retirement age, and if you are a UK citizen, you will need Private Medical Insurance, as you cannot register with your local ASL. A Doctor will not refuse to see you, but unless you are an Italian citizen then you will have to pay full costs. You can in the meantime use your E111; if you don't claim to be a Resident when up for treatment. Insurance costs vary but you should look to pay around euro 1300 a year. Hope this helps.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 12/03/2008 - 13:04

Perhaps Tessa it might be useful to do a search on the forum, much has been said about this in the past, try for a start searching on E106, based on NI contibutions in the UK.
You can register with your local ASL if you have this document.
A

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 12/03/2008 - 14:51

[url=http://ukinitaly.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/living-in-italy/italian-health-system]Italian health system and health insurance[/url]

Follow the link given at the bottom of the page for info re requirements in obtaining residency and rights to medical treatment.

In many cases (there are exceptions) Italians also have to contribute financially to their medical care, it is not like in the UK where the NHS provides a free service to all. Whether you have been charged more as a foreigner I can't say but it may well be the case that an Italian receiving the same treatment would have had to contribute the same amount. You should register with a 'GP' but need to register first with the local ASL or ASUR (depending upon your region), usually at the local hospital. If you follow the link above you will find details re the required documentation you need to obtain from the UK.
If you do a search on the forum as suggested by A&R you will find you are not alone in being sent from pillar to post, frustrating although it is, persevere and don't give up! Good luck!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 12/03/2008 - 15:06

Other posters have explained the procedure for being recognised by the Italian health system, but (just on the point of how much you paid) - that is absolutley par for the course for an Italian adult, non pensioner, properly inserted into the Italian system.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 12/11/2008 - 06:10

When I arrived here 7 years ago, and after getting all my legal documentation sorted out I applied to our local ASL for registration with a Doctor in the area. I had no problems and have since been with the same Doc ever since, although I do have to re register every 2 years or so. As far as hospital treatment is concerned I was rushed into hopital last Christmas and after some time did become worried about the costs, the nursing staff assured me that as I am a resident and was in a state hospital I would receive no charges. After 7 months, six major operations, time spent in intensive care and physiotherapy, I have to say that the treatment and support I received was far supperior to anything I have had in the UK. I never heard any of the staff complain, and someone was on hand all the time to help with my personal comforts, as I was to weak to do anything for myself for quite a while. It was always done with a smile and a caring supportive attitude. The cleanliness was second to none with the wards being cleaned twice a day. My follow up checks have been superb and am still being monitored. If it had not been for the skill of the surgeons and the care of the nurses I would not be here today. I have only praise for this service. I do have to pay what they call the ticket, when I go for my visits, but this is a normal thing here and to me it is not expensive (under 20 Euros).. My local gp has also been most supportive with home visits and follow up blood tests (some of which are free and some that have to be paid for) and still contacts my surgeon at the hospital if I have any need for his help. To me if the British health service charged for minor things it would be more succesfull and also here there is still a structure in the nursing system, with a Sister, nurses and auxilliaries. I do beleive that if you do not work here you can may a minimum charge to cover the costs of what equates to our national health costs. If you are retired you need to show your information of your state pension, you then get the same status as a pensioner in Italy, with no or very little charges for medication etc. Hope this helps, but if I can be of further help let me know.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 12/12/2008 - 04:18

Hi

Dont know if this helps. We have been here just over five years now, came before the April ?2007 change in residency rules. I have just reached retirement age and am therefore eligible for Italian health care as an Italian because of my age. The overseas pensions office in the UK sent me a 'health form' which I took to my local ASL (local health service office) and they converted my previous health card to a new pensioners one. My partner, however, has not retired. But, because we have been here five years he will get cover under the five years residency rule.

We also pay relatively small sums for blood tests, xrays etc.

His health card expired before the five years were up(the date the comune recognised your residency not the day you arrived!!!) but the ASL were pragmatic enough to give him a new card to cover the intervening period.

So Tessa if you get health cover could depend on when you obtained residency,.