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The SSN: Italy's National Health Service
Italy's Servizio Sanitario Nazionale (SSN) is a tax-funded universal health system modelled on the UK's NHS. It provides free or heavily subsidised healthcare to all legal residents, including expats who have registered their residenza. Quality varies significantly between northern and southern Italy — Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, and Veneto have among Europe's best public hospitals; some southern regions struggle with chronic underfunding.
- All legal residents with registered residenza are entitled to enrol in the SSN — enrollment is at your local ASL (Azienda Sanitaria Locale) office
- Upon enrollment, you are assigned a medico di base (GP/family doctor) and issued a tessera sanitaria (health card)
- GP services, hospital emergency treatment, and most specialist referrals are free or have a small copay (ticket sanitario, max €36.15)
- Prescription medications are heavily subsidised — most common medicines cost €1–€5 at a farmacia
- The CUP (Centro Unico di Prenotazione) is the booking system for SSN specialist appointments — expect waiting times of weeks to months for non-urgent care
- European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) covers EU citizens for emergency treatment during initial months before SSN enrollment