Penny's activity

Just wanted to say that this information is about what your EHIC card entitles you to, not full health cover when moving to another EU country (in case anyone is confused).

Hi, the E121 is defunct. You need form S1. Good luck. Penny

I think the article on the BBC website that Casa Monal posted is one of the few sensible ones on the situation in Italy I have seen. Here, it is all about lack of growth and lack of a plan for growth. The debt figure as a %age of GDP is a red-herring as it has been that way since the 90's and in fact Italy spends les sthan it receives in tax revenue each year. I have been reading about the various (and ever changing) growth plans in the newspapers here and they are a farce. Not one serious proposal that would make a difference. The only one who seems to have any idea is Emma Marcegaglia but I'm afraid no-one is listening.

Thanks Angie. I meant to say that if you are a UK pensioner then your EHIC card should ome from the UK and not Italy as they are repsonsible for all your healthcare costs. Italy bills it back to them.

Hi Angie, the E121 (for pensioners - ie in receipt of UK state pension) and the E106 (for people posted abroad and non-pensioners who worked in the UK and paid NI) has been replaced by the S1 form since May 2010.

• If you are a pensioner then you will be entitled to an S1 which you should request from the International Pension Centre.
• If you are not in receipt of UK state pension and not a permanent resident of Italy and have recently left the UK then you can request the S1 and because you paid NI in the UK should be entitled to 2 1/2 years cover in Italy.
• If you are a permanent resident in Italy (ie have lived here for more than 5 years and have the permanent residency certificate) then you should be able to present this to your local ASL office whereupon they will give you an inscription in the health service without an expiry date. Your blue plastic tessera will have an expiry date but not your slip of paper that you get when you register.

Anyone who is not a refugee, not studying or working here or married to an Italian and does not fall into one of the categories above probably won't get health cover. I am afraid I can't comment on other nationalities as I only know the rules for Brits.

She hadn't reached retirement age had she? If not, there is hope for us all!! Maybe the person causing the problems (who shal remain nameless) has moved to Fermo!!

Angie, can you post the directive number they refer to please and I will look into it. As far as I know there has been no new European Directive other than this one: http://ec.europa.eu/health/cross_border_care/key_documents/index_en.htm which concerns patients going to another country to get treated or getting treated whilst abroad. Nowhere does it refer to permanent residents of Italy from another country. Sounds like they are just trying in Fermo what they are already doing in AP.

Ha ha. No, just been doing a lot of research on the health cover as we have been having problems with cover here.

Without wanting to go off topic again, if any commune tells you that you need private health insurance to get residency and does not accept the S2 form when you present it, please contact me and I can point you in the direction of all the necessary laws (Italian and European) that confirm they are acting illegally that you can present to them. It is not open to interpretation by any commune. It is the law - you are entitiled to 2.5 year's cover if you present an S2. Anything else is against European law and also Italian. Of course, if you don't present the S2 in the first place then expect to pay for a private policy.

Hi Gala, as much as  hate to contradict you :-) Under 65 you do not need private health insurance. If you read my previous post you will see that so long as you have paid contributions in your home EU country for 2 years before leaving then you are entitled to form S2 which gives you full health cover in Italy for a set period. I don't know where this misinformation that people need private health policies has come from but it is unecessarily costing people money that they don't need to spend!