What is a Tessera Sanitaria and Why do I need it?

A Mini Guide to the Italian Health Insurance Card

What is a Tessera Sanitaria?

The Tessera Sanitaria is simply a health insurance document issued to residents and citizens of Italy for the purposes of accessing public health care services called the SSN (Servizio Sanitario Nazionale). It is now equipped with a microchip and stores your biometric data securely. Through this, you can access healthcare services online and through digital platforms. Displayed on your card is personal information, such as your age, birthdate, tax code, and expiration date. The card is usually valid for 6 years if you are a citizen, and once it has expired, a new one will be automatically sent to the address registered. If you are a foreign national resident, then it will last as long as your residency permit (permesso di soggiorno). 

Why do you need a Tessera Sanitaria?

A Tessera Sanitaria is used to access healthcare services publicly and often free of charge, depending on the services you require. With this card, you can buy medicine at the pharmacy or when having specialist treatment at the local health authority, ASL (azienda sanitaria locale). It is also used to verify age and health status at vending machines selling tobacco products or other age-restricted items. This card can also be used as proof of your tax code for bureaucratic reasons.

Documents needed to apply for Tessera Sanitaria as a foreign national

• Current passport

• Residence permit permesso di soggiorno or a receipt ricevuta of your pending permesso di soggiorno

• Proof of address-a self authorized address document  To find a template, click here

• Codice Fiscale: registered Italian fiscal code For more information on how to apply for one, click here

• As a student, you should also bring your enrollment documentation 

• As a person here for work, a work contract or contractual agreement

These apply to all foreign nationals here for specified reasons, they must provide documentation to support their reasoning, such as contracts.

It is also important to provide a photocopy of each document.

Which kind of Tessera Sanitaria is applicable to you?

Residents can apply for two types of health cards, one optional and the other ‘obligatory’. The difference is that for obligatory healthcare service cards, those eligible are exempt from paying annual fees, whereas ‘voluntary’ healthcare seekers must pay the fee. The candidates for ‘obligatory’ healthcare are citizens and foreign national residents who pay taxes and have taxable income, those seeking immediate medical attention, or foreign nationals who are pregnant or expectant, and those seeking refuge/asylum. Students, au-pairs, etc., and those excluding the above category who are in Italy for a period longer than 90 days have to pay the sum. Anyone in Italy for under 90 days or here for tourism cannot acquire the Tessera Sanitaria with the exception of students on exchange programs or those who are studying for specialised courses for under 90 days.

Useful websites for more information

If you want to read more about the application process, visit:

https://www.agenziaentrate.gov.it/portale/web/guest/the-italian-health-insurance-card

FAQs https://www.agenziaentrate.gov.it/portale/web/guest/what-to-do 

Article by Easy Milano editorial staff