Italians enrolled in AIRE who live outside the European Union and EFTA countries can continue to have access to the Italian National Health Service by paying an annual contribution of 2,000 euros. It is contained in the bill approved by the Senate on the day of yesterday 9 June and concerns a potential audience of just over 3 million people: Italian citizens resident in countries such as the United States, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Australia, Tunisia or Albania, who today, once enrolled in the Register of Italians resident abroad, lose ordinary registration to the Italian health system. With the new norm you can obtain or renew your health card and use the services of the SSN during periods of stay in Italy.
The iter started from two proposals of law, one at the first signing of the On. By Joseph (FdI), who provided for a fixed contribution, the other at the first signing of On. By Sanzo (PD) which provided for a proportional contribution to income and exemptions for certain categories – the proposals were combined, but the chosen basic text was, as practice, that of the majority, and therefore of Joseph, which provided for the payment of 2,000 euros without exemptions.
The measure was designed especially for those who maintain a relationship with Italy also living elsewhere. It can be the case of pensioners who spend a few months a year in the country of origin, of workers who periodically fall or of students and researchers who live outside Europe but return to Italy for more or less long periods. Now, by paying the contribution of 2000 euros, you will be able to enroll in the Health Service at the Asl that keeps their individual card, or at the Asl competent for the residence. The contribution will not be fractional: it will be paid in full, every year. If payment is terminated and resumed later, the law requires payment of arrears for the years when the service has stopped. Minors will be exempt, provided that at least one parent or guardian has paid the contribution of 2,000 euros.
Today Italians enrolled in AIRE and resident outside the European Union do not have ordinary health coverage in Italy and can only access urgent care, only up to 90 days a year for urgent and emergency hospital services, provided that they do not have a public or private insurance that pays their expenses – they cannot however access the family doctor, programmable visits or other healthcare services. The new law tries to reopen that channel, but it does so through a fixed payment established in the amount of 2,000 euros annual.
Christian Di Sanzo, MP of the Democratic Party elected in North and Central America, claimed the goodness of the original proposal, but criticized the final approved text clearly. According to Di Sanzo, the approved law presents “strong limits” with respect to the original proposal presented at its first signature. The main point is the contribution: “Very much of my proposal has not been transposed – we would have wanted a proportional contribution to income, an exemption for students enrolled in graduate or doctoral courses, an exemption for pensioners who do not benefit from the de-taxation of the pension”.
The Member has also challenged a rule that considers particularly penalizing: those who begin to pay the contribution must continue to do so in the following years, and in case of non-payment will have to pay the arrears, with the legal interests, in order to obtain the renewal of the health card. For Di Sanzo this risks turning a possibility into a heavy bond, especially for those who may need coverage only in some stages of life.
The law will not be operational immediately. Within 90 days of the entry into force, a decree of the Ministry of Health shall be adopted, in conjunction with the Ministry of Economy, to define the methods of access to benefits, the administrative procedure and the monitoring of the effects of the measure. For those who start paying the contribution and lack of payment of the contribution will result in suspension from access to programmable and not urgent services. According to the latest Istat data, at 31 December 2024 Italians resident abroad were 6 million and 382 thousand: 3 million and 448 thousand in Europe and little more than 3 million outside the European area. The largest group lives in America, with 2 million and 608 thousand Italian residents, while the countries with more Italian citizens enrolled abroad are Argentina, Germany, Brazil, Switzerland and France.
L’articolo Italians abroad can pay their health card, but there are limits from IlNewyorkese.
