A significant change to Italy’s healthcare system brings welcome news for Italians living abroad. A new law expands access to healthcare services in Italy for citizens registered with AIRE (the Registry of Italian Citizens Residing Abroad) and will introduce simpler procedures for enrolling in the public healthcare system. This change provides greater access to affordable healthcare services for those living abroad in Italy, including hospital care and prescription medications.
Healthcare Access for AIRE Registered Italians Before the New Law
Currently, recognized Italian citizens who are registered with AIRE and move to Italy are not automatically enrolled in Italy’s National Health Service (Servizio Sanitario Nazionale, SSN) for routine healthcare services. Likewise, Italian citizens who move abroad, outside of the EU/EFTA area’s, and register with AIRE lose their routine enrollment in the SSN after establishing residence outside of Italy. Depending on the region and individual circumstances, they are typically entitled only to limited emergency coverage for up to 90 days, including urgent hospital care and accident or emergency treatment. They do not have access to a general practitioner or most other SSN healthcare services. As a result, many rely on private health insurance or pay for medical care out of pocket. They do not have the same full access to Italy’s public healthcare system as residents of Italy, until now.
The New Law for Italian Citizens Living Abroad
On June 9th, 2026 the Italian Senate approved a bill expanding access to Italy’s National Health Service for AIRE registered citizens. The new law allows eligible AIRE citizens to enroll with an Italian Local Health Authority (ASL), obtain an Italian health card, and to have access to services provided by the Italian National Health Service while they are in Italy. This means AIRE citizens will have healthcare coverage for an annual premium of €2,000, which is equivalent to $2,281.66 US Dollars, the average cost of healthcare for all Italians. The program will be designed to be financially self-sustaining with contributions from participating AIRE citizens intended to cover the cost of the healthcare services they receive rather than placing an additional burden on the SSN or Italian taxpayers. This means they will have an Italian health card (Tessera Sanitaria) in their pocket which they can use during their stay in Italy to receive the care they need. Minors will be exempt from the premium as long as at least one parent or guardian holds a health card.
Enrollment will be automatic for eligible AIRE registrants. However, access to healthcare services and issuance of the Italian health card will only occur after the annual €2,000 premium has been paid. That premium will go directly to the regional health system and local health authority that provides their care. The government will also make sure the fees are enough to cover the real cost of the services and that the money stays in the region where the healthcare is received. The law also gives the Ministry of Health, working with the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the authority to review and adjust the annual contribution paid by eligible AIRE citizens. The fee may be updated each year to reflect the actual cost of the healthcare program and the impact of inflation which helps to ensure that the program remains financially sustainable. Failure to pay the annual premium will result in the user being suspended from accessing National Health Services; in particular, non-urgent scheduled treatments cannot be provided. The government recognized that many Italians living abroad continue to maintain strong connections with Italy and wanted to create a pathway for them to re-enter the public healthcare system.
What’s Next?
Although the law has now been approved, AIRE registered Italians cannot pay into in the new healthcare program just yet. The law did not take effect until July 27, 2026 and the Ministry of Health has 90 days from that date to detail the whole enrollment process, including how to apply, how payments will be made, how individuals will choose a general practitioner, how the health card will be issued, and a list of all the required documentation. The law will also make it easier for Italians living abroad to enroll in Italy's healthcare system by creating dedicated assistance offices, improving cooperation between the Health Ministry and the Foreign Affairs Ministry, and allowing government databases to securely share information in real time. They are hoping this will help reduce paperwork, speed up enrollment, and simplify the process for AIRE citizens.
Eligible individuals should be on the lookout in late October to find out how they can obtain their access to the Italian National Health Service. Until then, AIRE registered Italians should continue following the current healthcare rules while awaiting further guidance from the Ministry.
If you have any questions or are needing assistance regarding your AIRE registration Italian Citizenship Assistance is here to guide you. Visit them online at www.italiancitizenshipassistance.com or contact them today at [email protected].
