Italian Health Card Includes EU Health Insurance Card for Travelers

Since 1 November 2004 the European Health Insurance Card (TEAM) has been embedded in Italy’s national health card. The card gives Italian citizens access to medically necessary public or contracted care when they are temporarily staying in any of the 27 EU member states and, through health‑coordination agreements, in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom under post‑Brexit rules. The card does not replace private travel insurance, does not cover repatriation or scheduled treatments that require prior authorisation, and users may still be required to pay any co‑payment or ticket applicable in the host country. Many travellers are unaware that this benefit is already available on the reverse side of their ordinary health card.

The system reflects the principle of parity: Italians receive the same treatment conditions as the host‑country nationals, without any special privileges, but also without free‑of‑charge entitlement.