Country Guides

Expat Medical Insurance in Italy

If you're planning to relocate to Italy, it's likely that your first step will be to sort out your employment and arrange your accommodation, but you should also give some thought to how you'll stay safe and well. Take time to consider things like taking out expat medical insurance in Italy: Goodhealth, on behalf of American Express can arrange full insurance cover for your individual needs.

Vaccinations

There are no necessary vaccinations for travel to Italy, but all travellers should make sure that their tetanus/diphtheria and polio inoculations are up-to-date.

Health Care

To be fully covered for all potential medical eventualities, you should seriously consider taking out expatriate medical insurance in Italy. The Italian health care system, known as the Servizio Sanitario Nazionale (SSN) is funded by the central government, and provides free or low-cost medical care to Italian citizens and their dependents. It also provides emergency care to foreign visitors regardless of nationality.

Citizens of EU countries should obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before travelling, which entitles them to the same basic level of free or reduced-cost state medical care as Italian nationals. Immediate family members will also be covered under this scheme, whatever their nationality. However, the EHIC won't cover you for everything, and depending on the region in which you live you may still have to pay for prescription medicines or ambulance travel, or contribute towards other expenses.

Medical facilities in the big cities are normally very good, but overcrowding and under-funding in public hospitals across the country – especially in the south – mean that many foreign visitors choose to apply for expat medical insurance in Italy, allowing them to take advantage of the country's superior private hospitals.

Political Concerns

Italy is a peaceful democratic country and a founder-member of the EU, and there are no major political concerns or problems that foreigners are likely to encounter. Large-scale demonstrations occur frequently in big cities and should be avoided, although the risk of serious violence is minimal.

Other Risks

Italy is by and large a safe and trouble-free destination for foreign travellers, and there are few serious risks which visitors or expats might encounter. Italian roads, though, are among the most dangerous in Europe, and drink-driving and a cavalier attitude to road rules have been blamed for the large number of accidents recorded each year. Be extra vigilant while driving in Italy, and when crossing the roads in major cities such as Rome, which has a particularly bad traffic problem.

Foreign visitors and tourists are targeted by pick-pockets – sometimes young children – in the big cities, especially on the streets around the main tourist attractions and on public transport. As always, you should keep a close watch on your belongings at all times.