The EHIC (European Health Insurance Card, the Tessera Europea di Assicurazione Malattia (TEAM) in Italian) is the most important single health document the EU/EEA citizen carries for Italy travel, the specific card that entitles the holder to the same emergency healthcare access as the Italian citizen at the Italian public hospital network (the Aziende Sanitarie Locali (ASL) and the Aziende Ospedaliere, the public hospitals and health centers that make up the Italian SSN (Servizio Sanitario Nazionale)). The specific EHIC Italy coverage: broader than most EU visitors expect for emergency treatment. Significantly narrower than most EU visitors expect for routine and specialist care.
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EHIC Italy: What Is and Isn't Covered
What the EHIC Covers in Italy
The specific EHIC Italy coverage list: emergency treatment at any Italian public hospital (the Pronto Soccorso) at the same cost as the Italian citizen (zero cost for red/yellow code emergencies, €0-25 for green/white code non-urgent treatment, see the Italy Hospital Emergency Guide). GP consultation at the Italian public health center (the ASL medico di base, available for EHIC holders who register as temporary residents with the ASL, a process that requires the specific presence at the ASL registration desk (the sportello accettazione) with the EHIC and the passport, practical for stays of 1+ months but not for the standard 1-2 week tourist visit). Specialist consultation at the Italian public hospital outpatient department (the ambulatorio specialistico, available for EHIC holders with a specific medical referral (the impegnativa) from an Italian GP (see above)). Prescription medicines at the Italian farmacia at the SSN-subsidised rate (the farmaci in fascia A, the medicines on the Italian national essential medicines list at the SSN co-pay rate: approximately €1-3 per prescription rather than the full price (€10-30 for the equivalent medicine)). And childbirth at the Italian public hospital (the parto al pubblico, the delivery at the Italian public maternity unit is fully covered by the EHIC for the EU visitor at the same zero or nominal cost as the Italian citizen).
What the EHIC Doesn't Cover in Italy
The specific EHIC Italy exclusions (the most important single EHIC misunderstanding): private healthcare (the clinica privata, the studio medico privato, the ospedale privato, all private Italian healthcare is explicitly outside the EHIC coverage regardless of medical urgency, the visitor who goes to the private clinic rather than the public hospital pays the full private rate regardless of EHIC status). Medical repatriation (the specific cost of air ambulance or medical repatriation from Italy to the home country, not covered by EHIC, the most financially catastrophic single Italy medical expense (air ambulance Italy-UK: approximately 15,000-45,€000. Italy-US: 50,000-200,€000)). Routine dental treatment (the standard dental check-up, the filling, the crown, the orthodontics, not covered by EHIC in Italy. Only the specific acute dental emergency (the dental abscess, the tooth fracture with pulp exposure) at the public hospital is covered)). Glasses and contact lenses (not covered by EHIC in Italy). And private ambulance transport (the private ambulance service, not covered by EHIC. Only the 118 public ambulance is covered).
The GHIC. UK Post-Brexit
The GHIC (the Global Health Insurance Card, the specific UK replacement for the EHIC following the UK's withdrawal from the EU (Brexit, effective January 1, 2021)): the GHIC provides the same Italy coverage as the EU EHIC, the same public hospital emergency access, the same prescription medicine co-pay access, and the same GP access (with the ASL temporary registration). The GHIC is issued free by the NHS Business Services Authority (nhsbsa.nhs.uk). The specific GHIC Italy coverage confirmation: the Italian Ministry of Health confirmed in November 2021 that the GHIC holders receive the same treatment as EHIC holders at all Italian public health facilities, no service gap between EHIC and GHIC for the UK visitor in Italy.
Q&A: Italy EHIC
Do I need travel insurance if I have the EHIC?
Yes, the EHIC isn't a substitute for travel insurance. The specific insurance gaps that EHIC leaves uncovered: medical repatriation (the single most expensive potential Italy medical expense, not covered by EHIC). Private hospital access (if the public hospital wait is unacceptable, not covered by EHIC). Dental routine care (not covered). Lost luggage, trip cancellation, and travel delay (not covered by EHIC, standard travel insurance covers these). The specific travel insurance recommendation for the EHIC holder: the minimum adequate Italy travel insurance supplements the EHIC by covering the medical repatriation (minimum 500,€000 cover) and the private hospital access (minimum 100,€000 cover) while allowing the EHIC to cover the routine public hospital emergency costs. The premium for this specific supplemental Italy travel insurance: approximately €15-35 for a 2-week trip depending on the traveler's age and the specific policy tier.
