International Health Insurance in Italy
Whether you’re a student, expat or business transfer, protect yourself and your loved ones with private health insurance in Italy – and beyond.
Our policies are international, so you’ll be protected in Italy and over 200 countries and territories.
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Get a quote in under two minutes
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Customizable plan to meet your needs
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24/7 support and assistance available
Why choose Cigna for global health insurance in Italy?
Wide-ranging cover for medical expenses
We cover many costs at doctor’s clinics and hospitals in Italy. From accommodation charges and emergency treatment, to screening for cancer.
Direct billing with most care providers
We can settle the cost of treatment directly with the provider. This means you don't have to foot the bill upfront.
Customer care team available 24/7
Our customer care team is available 24 hours a day, every day of the week. You can also speak to a doctor remotely if needed.
Our health insurance plans
Our Global Health Options plans are available in Silver, Gold and Platinum. Access wide-ranging support across medical providers and hospitals worldwide – from hospital rooms and outpatient medicines to rehabilitation assistance. Key cover includes:
- Mental health care
- Cancer treatment and preventative surgery
- Emergency outpatient treatments in hospitals
You could also receive maternity and dental care, depending on your health insurance plan.
In addition to our global plans, we also offer regional cover via our Close Care℠ plan.
| Silver | Gold | Platinum | |
|---|---|---|---|
Our Silver plan covers day-patient cover, including hospital stays and treatment. | Our Gold policy package includes maternity cover, and dental treatment. This plan could be ideal for you if you’re moving with your family. | Our most extensive insurance package, Platinum gives you and your family access to a broad range of treatments – often paid in full. |
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| Geographic cover | Silver | Gold | Platinum |
Worldwide | Worldwide | Worldwide |
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| Overall annual benefit | Silver | Gold | Platinum |
$1,000,000 | $2,000,000 | Unlimited |
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| Inpatient, day-patient and accommodation costs | Silver | Gold | Platinum |
Private room paid in full | Private room paid in full | Private room paid in full |
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| Cancer care | Silver | Gold | Platinum |
Paid in full | Paid in full | Paid in full |
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| Mental and behavioral healthcare | Silver | Gold | Platinum |
Up to $5,000 | Up to $10,000 | Paid in full |
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| Maternity care | Silver | Gold | Platinum |
Not included | Routine inpatient maternity cover – paid in full up to $7,000 | Routine inpatient maternity cover – paid in full up to $14,000 |
Our Silver plan covers day-patient cover, including hospital stays and treatment.
Our Gold policy package includes maternity cover, and dental treatment. This plan could be ideal for you if you’re moving with your family.
Our most extensive insurance package, Platinum gives you and your family access to a broad range of treatments – often paid in full.
Worldwide
Worldwide
Worldwide
$1,000,000
$2,000,000
Unlimited
Private room paid in full
Private room paid in full
Private room paid in full
Paid in full
Paid in full
Paid in full
Up to $5,000
Up to $10,000
Paid in full
Not included
Routine inpatient maternity cover – paid in full up to $7,000
Routine inpatient maternity cover – paid in full up to $14,000
Our essential plan covers you in your country of residence and your home country. You can also add modules to extend this cover, including dental and wider outpatient care. |
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| Geographic cover | Close Care℠ | |
Country you’re living in and home country only |
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| Overall annual benefit | Close Care℠ | |
$500,000 (with $250,000 condition limit) |
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| Inpatient, day-patient and accommodation costs | Close Care℠ | |
Semi-private room paid in full |
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| Cancer care | Close Care℠ | |
Paid in full |
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| Mental and behavioral healthcare | Close Care℠ | |
Not included |
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| Maternity care | Close Care℠ | |
Not included |
Our essential plan covers you in your country of residence and your home country.
You can also add modules to extend this cover, including dental and wider outpatient care.
Country you’re living in and home country only
$500,000 (with $250,000 condition limit)
Semi-private room paid in full
Paid in full
Not included
Not included
How does international health insurance work?
1. Get a free quote and
buy your policy
Build a quote online or give us a call at +44 (0)1475 492119
Choose a plan, customise your deductibles & cost shares, find a cost that meets your needs, and choose how you want to pay. Choose from monthly, quarterly and annual payments.
2. Manage your policy
with our easy app
Manage your health and wellbeing on the go, wherever you may be.
The Cigna Wellbeing® App gives you access to Global Telehealth consultations from anywhere in the world. Use our online customer area to access your policy documents, at any time.
3. Get your treatment
and make a claim
Get in touch with our customer care team to make a claim.
We’ll connect you to a medical expert within 24 hours, via global network of over 2.2 million partnerships.
Direct billing available in most cases, as we liaise directly with your treatment provider.
Private health insurance in Italy
From Florence’s famous galleries to Ancient Rome, the Amalfi coast and the fashion houses of Milan, Italy has so much to offer for expats, students and globally mobile workers.
Italian citizens and residents can access free healthcare in hospitals from Italy’s public health service, the Servizio Sanitario Nazionale, or SSN. This taxpayer-funded system is free at the point of use. However, the quality of services and access to them – as well as standards – can vary from region to region.
Also, you cannot access SSN healthcare services in Italy until you have resident status, and, even then, securing an Italian Health Insurance Card – known as a Tessera Sanitaria – can be complex. Arranging private international health insurance in Italy can help to bridge that gap, and provide you with access to better quality treatment.
Additional benefits as part of your international health insurance cover
Telehealth
consultations
We understand how to provide the support you need, when you need it. Get unlimited phone or video doctor consultations, plus counseling and coaching.
International cover,
wherever you are
Your international cover (Silver, Gold or Platinum) can help wherever you are.
Flexible plans,
made for you
Your health insurance quote is tailored to you and your family’s needs. Match it to your budget today.
Add more cover to your policy
Once you’ve chosen from our Silver, Gold and Platinum packages, make them even more bespoke to you with additional cover.
Our international outpatient insurance provides access to a broad range of healthcare treatments that don’t require admission to a hospital. For example, you can get:
- Consultations with specialists, in-person or online
- Prescribed drugs and dressings
- Radiology and diagnostic tests
- Outpatient rehabilitation
- Cover for hearing aids
This medical insurance add-on covers emergency healthcare and assistance. It could help if there’s a global crisis, or to evacuate you if local treatment can’t help. It can give you:
- Emergency transport to good hospitals.
- Repatriation if you experience a serious medical event
- Crisis response services following travel or security risks
- Help with compassionate travel and living costs
- Travel costs for people who accompany you
Boost your health with insurance for screening, tests and dietetic consultations. There’s also a mental health support program for expats as well.
Get eye tests and help with the cost of eyewear, plus a wide range of preventative, and routine dental treatments.
Who comes to us for Italian health insurance?
International students
Italy was named 7th best value country for international students in a poll by the TES.
Whether you study in Milan, Rome or in the historic institution at Bologna, get emergency cover, mental health support and lots more with our insurance for international students.
Mobile workers
Italy is one of Europe’s manufacturing powerhouses, especially in fashion, machinery and automotive.
If you’re moving to a new role in manufacturing, or another industry, we can help you prepare. With our health insurance for globally mobile workers in Italy, you can concentrate on your work, rather than worrying about healthcare.
Retirees
Italy is a popular choice for those looking to retire. Medieval Siena, lush Tuscany, and cultural Turin, nestled beside the Alps, are popular locations.
Wherever you choose, our private international seniors’ insurance (for over 60s) can deliver everything from cancer care to mental health therapies.
More information about healthcare in Italy
Hospitals: You’ll find around 1,050 hospitals in Italy.
Healthcare ranking: 41st out of 195 countries (Global Health Security Index)
Useful drug names: You may see ibuprofen sold under the brand name of ‘Brufen’. Over-the-counter medicines are known as ‘Farmaci da banco’.
Emergency services number (while in Italy): 112
Cigna claim number (while in Italy): +44 (0) 1475 788182
Should you need emergency hospital treatment, call 112 for an ambulance or visit your nearest public hospital. You can access treatment for free or for a limited payment – regardless of whether you have an Italian Health Insurance Card or not.
Should you have to pay for treatment in an emergency department, you may be able to claim it back on your private health insurance. It can depend on the exact treatments you receive in Italy, plus the terms of your policy.
Italy ranks high globally for heat-related health problems and fatalities in extreme hot weather, and during average summer temperatures, according to data from the World Health Organization (WHO). This is markedly worse in urban areas such as Milan, Florence and Rome. The WHO also warns of the rise of mosquito-borne diseases in Mediterranean basin countries.
If you’re worried about experiencing climate-related illnesses, consider arranging private health insurance for added peace of mind for your new life in Italy.
Frequently asked questions about health insurance in Italy
The potential benefits of using Italy’s public healthcare system include:
- Safe, clean and well-staffed clinics and hospitals
- Affordable prescriptions and access to family doctors and hospital admissions
- Parental choice of a free paediatrician for children aged 0-14 years
Potential drawbacks include:
- Potentially long waiting times
- Varying quality of services across Italy due to services being managed regionally
- Lack of privacy and comfort at some facilities
Yes, expats can access public healthcare in Italy, but how it works depends on which country you have arrived from:
- Outside the UK and EU: You’ll need an official permit to stay (permesso di soggiorno). With this you can then apply for an Italian Health Insurance Card (Tessera Sanitaria). This entitles you to receive free services from the Italian national health service, the SSN.
- From the UK and EU: You can access public healthcare on the same basis as a resident of Italy or other EU countries, with either a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for residents of EU nations – or a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) for UK residents.
Arranging private health insurance may not be a legal requirement in Italy, but it is generally advised for expats. The UK government, for example, advises people to arrange private travel and medical insurance before moving to Italy. There are also limitations to what an EHIC card can cover you for, as outlined by the European Commission.
No. Prescriptions are not usually free in Italy. However, if you hold an EHIC or GHIC card, or obtain an Italian SSN prescription with a Tessera Sanitaria, you may pay less for standard prescriptions. Our optional International Outpatient add-on can help cover you for prescribed outpatient drugs and dressings.