Country guide — Europe
Expat insurance and health insurance in Italy
In short
For a French citizen, also an EU citizen, no private health insurance is required by Italian law to move to Italy: EU free movement exempts from any visa. Access to care comes either through employment (automatic affiliation with the SSN), or form S1 for a retiree, or voluntary registration against a contribution. Private cover or the EHIC/TEAM remains strongly recommended for any period where SSN rights are not yet open. Without cover, there's no criminal penalty, but a real risk of paying the full cost, outside a life-threatening emergency.
Key figures
- 35,432 French nationals registered with the consular register in 2025 (34,804 in 2024, +1.80%); actual population estimated at ≈70,000 people.
- Life expectancy at birth (2023): 83.70 years on average (81.70 men, 85.80 women).
- Health spending: 6.2% of GDP in 2023, below the OECD average (6.9%) and the European average (6.8%).
Local healthcare system
The Servizio Sanitario Nazionale (SSN) is a universal public system, tax-funded, run regionally by the Aziende Sanitarie Locali (ASL/ASST). Affiliation is automatic and mandatory for every employee from the start of the contract, via the employer and INPS. A non-working EU citizen can register voluntarily against an annual contribution calculated on income earned in Italy and abroad the previous year (7.5% up to ≈€20,658, 4% above that), with a minimum of €2,000/year (€700/year for a student). A developed private sector coexists, often partly under contract with the SSN.
Legal and visa obligations
- EU citizen: no visa needed.
- Beyond 3 months: registration with the anagrafe (population register) of the municipality, with proof of activity, resources and health cover.
- The codice fiscale is a practical prerequisite for almost all procedures.
- The EHIC/TEAM covers necessary care during a temporary stay, without replacing long-term affiliation.
- Seconded employee: A1 form, up to 24 months. Retiree: S1 form before departure.
Cost of some medical procedures
Orders of magnitude from specialised sources, not official fee schedules.
| Procedure | Public sector | Private sector |
|---|---|---|
| Private GP consultation | Free for an SSN-insured patient | €50 to €120 |
| Private specialist consultation | — | €80 to €250 |
| Private emergency care (first visit) | Life-threatening emergencies covered by the SSN | €100 to €300 |
| Private MRI / CT scan | — | €100 to €300 per area (10-15% more expensive in Milan/Rome) |
| Standard blood panel | — | €25 to €50, up to €100 for a full panel |
| Night at a private hospital | — | ≈€400 to €600/day (medicine/surgery), up to €1,200+/day in intensive care — press estimates, not an official rate |
| Single-room supplement | — | €100 to €200/day |
| Delivery at a private clinic | — | ≈€6,000 to €12,000 for an all-inclusive birth package (e.g. Gemelli ≈€9,700-10,000, San Raffaele ≈€11,000-12,000), varies by facility — press estimates |
Social security agreements with France
An EU member state: coordination via EU regulations 883/2004 and 987/2009, handled on the French side by CLEISS.
- The EHIC/TEAM covers temporary stays.
- Form S1 transfers a retiree's health rights to the SSN, with care remaining funded by the French body.
- Form A1 confirms continued affiliation with the French scheme for a seconded employee.
- An older bilateral agreement exists, now largely superseded by the EU framework.
Which insurance for my profile
General matrix — does not recommend any specific product or insurer.
| Profile | Regulatory constraint | Points of attention |
|---|---|---|
| Working holiday visa | Not applicable (EU free movement) | — |
| Student | EHIC for a short stay | Voluntary SSN registration or private insurance recommended for a long stay |
| Seconded employee | Stays on the French scheme via A1 | EHIC useful for routine care |
| Employee on a local contract | Automatic SSN affiliation via the employer | — |
| Retiree | Form S1 before departure | Cover funded by the originating French fund |
Hospitals and care network
- IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele (Milan) — over 50 specialties, scientific research institute.
- Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli (Rome) — dedicated international patient service (Gemelli International), French-speaking staff.
Practical steps
- Before departure: update your vaccination schedule, get the EHIC at least 15 days before departure.
- Retiree: form S1 before departure. Seconded employee: form A1 via Urssaf (ILASS).
- On entry: no visa formality.
- On arrival: obtain the codice fiscale from the Agenzia delle Entrate.
- Within 3 months: register with the municipality's anagrafe.
- Optional registration with the roll of French nationals living abroad (Rome, Milan, Naples, Florence).
Frequently asked questions
Does a French citizen need a visa to move to Italy?
No, a valid ID card or passport is enough, under EU free movement.
Is the EHIC/TEAM enough to live in Italy?
No. It covers temporary stays, not a long-term move.
How does a French retiree access the Italian health system?
By requesting form S1 before departure, then presenting it to the ASL of their municipality of residence.
What happens without health cover in Italy?
No criminal penalty, but costs fall entirely on the patient outside a life-threatening emergency.
Does a seconded employee need to contribute to the Italian scheme?
No, as long as they hold a valid form A1 (24 months maximum in principle).
Moving to Italy? Get a quote
Written by Expavy
Sources
- France Diplomatie — Italy, Health
- France Diplomatie — Register of French nationals abroad (carte-registre, 2025 data)
- CLEISS — Italian social security scheme
- CLEISS — Holidays in Italy
- CLEISS — Form S1
- World Bank — Life expectancy, Italy
- ASST Pavia — Voluntary SSN registration for EU citizens (contribution)
- Quotidiano Sanità — Cost of private hospitalisation in Italy