Public vs Private Health Insurance in Italy – What Expats Should Know
Moving to Italy is exciting, but one of the first things expats need to understand is how healthcare works . Italy has a strong healthcare system, but should you rely on public healthcare (SSN) or get private insurance ? Public Healthcare in Italy (SSN) Italy’s public health system is called the Servizio Sanitario Nazionale (SSN) . Once registered, you receive a tessera sanitaria (health card) , giving access to doctors, hospitals, and subsidized medicines. Costs of SSN Employees: Public healthcare contributions are automatically deducted from your salary, usually around 10% of your gross income , partly paid by you and partly by your employer. For example, if you earn €1,500/month, roughly €150–€200 is deducted for healthcare and social security. Self-employed (Partita IVA): You pay INPS contributions yourself, typically 24–26% of income , which includes healthcare. Students, unemployed, or dependents: You can register with SSN by paying a flat annual fe...