Registering for Doctor and Tessera Sanitaria

Some friends of ours (UK individuals) have just got their residency and are trying to get registered in the health system.
 
When they went to register at the local hospital to get their Tessera Sanitaria etc they have been told that in addition to the health insurance they have to pay E320 to cover to 31 December and then E320 per year to renew it (Jan to Dec).
 
They have been told that this is something that should have applied to all foreigners registering under legislation going back to 1988 but that for some reason has been missed/not enforced.
 
Has anyone come across this or can either confirm it is correct or point to the relevant legislation/rules demonstrating it is not correct (or is correct).
 
Thanks

new one to me !   

V

part years are appaerently not payable as part years.  It runs from 1.1 to 31.12 and the fee is for each year.  Happening down here too now -

When I first moved here, 2004, you could get a form from the UK DWP that meant they paid for your health care for the first 5 years in Italy which was until you were entitled to cover like an Italian has.

This then got reduced to covering you for 2 years and has now been scrapped (with a few exemptions).

The health insurance policy your friends had to take out for residency was to prove that at the time of claiming residency they have health cover as you are caught in a catch 22 situation. You can't get residency without proving you have health cover and you can't register with the Italian SSN until you have residency. This means you are effectively paying twice for the first year.

They are quite correct that the fee to be paid has existed for many, many years but due to the forms you used to be able to get I mention above, British people weren't aware. Extra-EU citizens will have been paying it all along. In fact in some areas the ASL say that this fee ONLY applies of you are not an EU citizen. This seems to be changing. In fact the €320 quoted is the minimum and it is a %age of your income you should be paying.

As Modi says you pay for the whole year or nothing and it runs 1st Jan to 31st December.

So, yes if they want to use the Italian SSN they have to pay that amount for at least 5 years. After that, once they have permanent residency (although given Brexit who knows if they will get that now) they can have cover like an Italian and will not need to pay the minimum. Working people obviously pay IRPEF and INPS and so we are covered that way and do not pay this fee.

Is this some of sort of plan to stop people starting to live here ?

V

But nothing has changed Vicino. It is the UK that has changed what it pays for!

Admin

Thanks for the information. Just one point of clarification.

If paying in the minimum, or the % of income, is it necessary to continue paying for the insurance taken out to get residency after getting the residency? I always assumed that the insurance was a continuing requirement until you achieved permanent residency.

Also, for future reference do you know what the % is

Well, if you are paying voluntary contributions to the SSN then you have health cover and don't need a private policy. If you don't pay voluntary contributions then you need the private cover.

The minimum is €387.34 per annum or 7,50% on your income up to €20,658.27 per annum; from that amount to €51,645.68 you pay 4% on any sum above the €20,658.27. This also covers family members who live at your expense.

Thanks Admin

Info much appreciated. Will pass on the info to our friends