It's essential to understand how healthcare works once you become a resident in Italy. Italy's Servizio Sanitario Nazionale (SSN) provides universal coverage similar to the NHS, but with key differences in registration, regional administration and co-payments. This guide explains how to access healthcare as a UK national, what’s covered under the public system and how private insurance can provide extra support when settling into life in Italy.
Relocating from the UK to Italy means adjusting to a new way of accessing healthcare. While both countries provide universal systems, Italy’s healthcare is unsurprisingly slightly different to the NHS with regional management, small co-payments and optional private insurance all influencing how care is delivered.
This guide explains how Italy’s public healthcare system works, what UK nationals can expect when they move and how to ensure you’re properly covered once you become a resident.
The information in this article is provided for general guidance only and should not be interpreted as medical, legal, or financial advice. Individual circumstances vary, and regulations can change. Always check the latest official guidance on GOV.UK or consult a qualified adviser before making decisions about your healthcare arrangements in Italy.
Italy’s national healthcare system, the Servizio Sanitario Nazionale (SSN), provides universal coverage for residents. It is funded primarily through taxation and aims to guarantee access to essential medical services for everyone legally living in Italy.
Unlike the NHS, which is centrally administered, the SSN is managed regionally. Each of Italy’s 20 regions oversees its own healthcare budgets, hospitals, and local health authorities (Aziende Sanitarie Locali or ASL). This means that while the national principles are consistent, quality, waiting times and even availability of services can vary from region to region.
Alongside the SSN, Italy also has a strong private healthcare sector. Many Italians and expats use private clinics for faster access, English-speaking specialists or elective procedures not fully covered by the SSN.
The SSN is financed through general taxation, regional contributions and social security payments from workers and employers.
Once registered, you are entitled to public healthcare on the same basis as Italian citizens. Most services are free or low-cost, although small co-payments (ticket) may apply for prescriptions, diagnostic tests, and specialist consultations.
UK nationals visiting Italy temporarily can use a UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to access medically necessary state-provided healthcare.
This gives you the same rights as an Italian resident for urgent or essential care, but it doesn’t cover private treatment or repatriation to the UK.
When relocating, your healthcare rights depend on your situation:
To join the public system, you must first register as a resident and obtain your Codice Fiscale (Italian tax code). Once that’s done, you can enrol with your local health authority (ASL).
You’ll usually need:
Once registered, you’ll receive a Tessera Sanitaria (health card), which allows you to access healthcare services nationwide. You’ll also choose your family doctor (medico di base), who will act as your primary point of contact for medical care and specialist referrals.
Your medico di base provides general medical care, prescriptions and referrals. These visits are generally free once you’re registered with the SSN.
Specialist appointments often require a referral from your GP and may involve a small co-payment. You can also visit private specialists directly if you prefer, though costs are significantly higher.
Public hospitals handle emergency, surgical, maternity and inpatient care.
Emergency treatment is available to everyone in Italy, including non-residents and can be accessed by dialling 112 (or 118 in some areas).
Care is free for emergencies but may incur fees for non-urgent procedures if you’re uninsured.
Because healthcare is administered regionally, standards can vary. Northern and central regions such as Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany often achieve the highest performance in national health rankings, while southern regions may have longer waiting times or fewer English-speaking staff.
Before choosing where to live, research the quality and accessibility of healthcare in that area, particularly if you have ongoing medical needs. You can do this by talking to locals or other expats in the region.
While the SSN provides comprehensive public coverage, many expats also take out private health insurance to complement it.
Private insurance is especially useful for:
Premiums depend on age, location and cover level, but can be relatively affordable compared to the UK private sector.
You may wish to get a quote from our partners, The Expatriate Group, who should be able to provide private healthcare coverage to you as an expat. Visit their website for more information: https://quote.expatriatehealthcare.com/healthcare/expertsforexpats
Once registered in the SSN, most care is free or low-cost. Expect modest co-payments for:
Co-payments are often waived for low-income residents, children, pensioners or those with chronic health conditions.
UK nationals who were resident in Italy before 31 December 2020 under the Withdrawal Agreement can continue to access healthcare on the same terms as before Brexit.
Those arriving after that date are treated as non-EU nationals, which means:
Always check the latest guidance at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/healthcare-in-italy
English-speaking doctors are common in larger cities and private clinics, but in rural areas it’s useful to know basic Italian medical vocabulary.
Bring translated copies of your medical records and prescriptions, especially during your first months in Italy.
If you’re legally resident and registered with the SSN, you can access public healthcare on the same basis as Italian citizens. Most services are free or low-cost.
The GHIC only covers temporary stays for essential or emergency care. It does not replace registration with the SSN once you move permanently.
Private insurance isn’t mandatory, but it’s often useful for faster access, English-speaking care or services not covered by the public system.
Routine dental treatment for adults is not fully covered by the SSN. Many people use private dentists and pay out of pocket.
If you permanently return to the UK, your NHS access resumes automatically once you become ordinarily resident again.
