Under the Withdrawal Agreement if you were living in Italy or moved here before January 1, 2021, your rights to access healthcare in Italy will stay the same, provided you remain a resident and you meet the requirement of the Italian public health system. This also applies to UK nationals who hold an S1 form (i.e. in receipt of a UK state pension or a qualifying exportable benefit) and currently use the S1 form to access healthcare in Italy.
If you are in possession of a valid Italian health card (tessera sanitaria), this remains valid, and when it expires, you will be able to renew it if you meet the requirements.
If you have one, you can present a new biometric card to your local health authority (ASL) to prove your entitlement under the Withdrawal Agreement when applying or renewing your healthcare registration. However, because it is not mandatory to hold the biometric card, if you already hold a residency document from your local town hall, this is evidence of your status.
If you are entitled to a European Health Insurance Card issued by Italy, this card remains valid for use when you visit the UK, and other EEA countries. The Italian EHIC (also known as TEAM-Tessera Europea Assicurazione Malattia) will cover you for any necessary medical care during a temporary stay in the UK. Remember that the EHIC is not an alternative to travel insurance and you should always make sure you travel with insurance that covers your needs.
If you are an S1 holder living in Italy and you have a UK European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), this card remains valid for use across the EU for any necessary treatment until the card expires. Once your EHIC expires, you can apply online for a new card – www.nhs.uk/ehic.
You can find more information about accessing NHS care when visiting the UK by visiting nhs.uk. For further information on the TEAM, please visit the website of the Italian Ministry of Health at https://bit.ly/39l0dsk.
For more information on how to register for healthcare in Italy, please consult www.gov.uk/guidance/healthcare-in-italy or you can download the booklet on gov.uk/livinginitaly
Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) with the EU
The UK EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) between the EU and the UK came into force on January 1, 2021. This means that eligible pensioners, frontier workers and certain other groups (and their family members) will continue to have their healthcare costs covered by the UK should they move to the EU after January 1, 2021. If you want to move to an EU Member State, whatever your age, you will have to meet local immigration and residency rules, as free movement has ended.
Healthcare for UK Nationals visiting Italy
If you have UK friends or family planning on travelling to Italy, they can continue to use their UK European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). The agreement reached between the UK and the EU means that you can continue to access necessary healthcare when in the EU, as before.
Current EHICs remain valid until the expiration date on the card, so you don’t need to replace your card immediately. Once it expires, or if lost, UK residents can apply for a replacement card, now called the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). Both the EHIC and GHIC offer equivalent protection for emergency and necessary healthcare when in the EU on a temporary stay. This includes holiday, study and business travel. Find out more at www.nhs.uk/ghic
The government always advises that when travelling overseas, whether to the EU or elsewhere in the world, you take out comprehensive travel insurance. EHICs and GHICs do not cover everything. See more: www.gov.uk/guidance/foreign-travel-insurance.
If you are travelling but do not have your card with you, you can get a Provisional Replacement Certificate (PRC) to prove your entitlement to medically necessary healthcare. Full details on how to apply for a PRC are available near the bottom of this page: www.nhs.uk/…/apply-for-a-free-uk-global-health…/.
