Just over 3 million Italians living abroad, but not in a European country, will be able to keep their GP or access healthcare services in Italia – including hospital admission and prescriptions – by paying €2,000 a year. This means they will have an Italian health card in their pocket, which they can use during their stay in Italia to receive the care they need: think, for example, of the many pensioners living in countries such as Albania or Tunisia who often return to Italia for several months a year, or even younger people who work, study or conduct research abroad but may return to Italia for certain periods.
The Senate has finally passed the bill allowing Italian citizens living abroad to access healthcare in Italia upon payment of an annual premium of €2,000 (the average cost of healthcare in Italia, according to calculations by the State General Accounting Office), with minors being exempt provided that at least one parent or guardian holds a health card.
