The Complementary Health Care Policy for Foreigners

When a non-EU foreign national decides to come to Italy, he or she must follow a defined bureaucratic path to obtain a Visa (and any subsequent Permit to Stay) from the Italian Consular Authorities in his or her country of origin. For citizens of the European Union, who do not have to follow the steps for obtaining a Visa, there is an obligation to register with the registry office in the case of a stay of more than 90 days in Italy.

In this case, the non-EU foreign national is required to take the following steps:

– Verify that the passport has a residual validity of at least six months.

– Present the travel document (one-way ticket in case of stay over 90 days, which will entail the obligation to apply for the Permit of Stay in Italy; or the return ticket if the stay is less than 90 days).

– Demonstrate the availability of accommodation in Italy.

– Demonstrate the availability of means of livelihood (including by submitting an insurance surety).

– Obligation to take out health insurance.

Health Coverage

The obligation to take out a health insurance policy is regulated by European Union Regulation 17/2004, which states that all foreign citizens applying for a Visa or Residence Permit are obliged to submit to the Italian Consular Authorities in the country of origin, a health insurance policy that insures them in case of medical emergencies and covers any expenses incurred during hospitalization in a public hospital or for urgent hospital services due to accident or illness.

The Supplementary Health Care Policy

By the term supplementary health care policy, we mean coverage that complements the insurance policy that has the minimum legal requirements that, as we saw earlier, must cover so-called emergency medical expenses. 

The guarantees that a supplementary policy can offer are the following:

– Medical consultation.

– Sending a doctor to your home or an ambulance in an emergency.

– Transfer and return from a hospital center in Italy.

– Access to a health network.

– Referral to a medical specialist.

– Travel of a family member to Italy.

– Cardiological, gynecological, geriatric, and pediatric consultation.

– Second opinion.

Generally, in this type of complementary policy, if a claim occurs, the insured must immediately get in touch with the Organizational Structure, which is usually in operation 24 hours a day, so that it can indicate the best procedures to resolve any type of problem that has affected the beneficiary of the health coverage. 

It is easy to understand how complementary coverage allows people to live with more peace of mind and makes them feel protected even in case of unforeseen events, which can become problematic to manage and solve in a country even thousands of miles away from their own.If you want more information about health insurance coverages, contact us!