STUDENT AREA · HEALTH INSURANCE
Health insurance: requirements for non-EU students
Health insurance is mandatory to obtain the study visa and to apply for the residence permit for stays longer than 90 days. We recommend buying it before leaving for Italy.
01 Requirements
Minimum policy requirements
According to the Italian healthcare system, the policy must meet all of these requirements:
- In your name, in Western Latin characters.
- Issued in English or Italian.
- Valid across the whole Schengen Area / Italy.
- It must cover the entire duration of the stay (start and end date).
- Minimum cover: €30,000 for medical expenses (amount expressed or converted into euros).
- It must include: emergency care, urgent hospitalisation, repatriation expenses and repatriation in the event of serious illness.
02 Options
Three practical options
A. A policy from your home country
International companies with global cover (Allianz Travel, AXA, World Nomads, Cigna Global). Check that they meet the 7 requirements above. Advantage: it is already active when you land.
B. An Italian online policy
The waitaly.net platform is simple, designed for international students and produces a compliant document. Indicative cost: €50-150 depending on the duration.
C. SSN enrolment (National Health Service)
Only for yearly or multi-year residence permits. Cost: about €700/year for non-EU students (figure updated each year). It is paid at the post office with the F24 form. Once enrolled, you get:
- A GP (free): your first point of reference for any non-urgent problem.
- A Tessera Sanitaria (health card) linked to your codice fiscale.
- Free A&E.
- Specialist visits and tests with a small ticket fee (€20-60).
For those staying more than 6 months, the SSN is almost always the most affordable option.
Where to enrol with the SSN: ASL offices and hours
Go to the local ASL/ATS office with: passport + residence permit (or postal receipt) + codice fiscale + university enrolment certificate + F24 payment receipt.
Milan - ATS Milano
Corso Italia 52 · 20122 Milano (MI)
Hours: by appointment, varying by Municipality district
Booking: ats-milano.it
Voluntary SSN about €2,000/year for some categories of students; check the rate at the time of enrolment.
Florence - ASL Toscana Centro
Presidio D'Annunzio, Via D'Annunzio 29 · 50135 Firenze (FI)
Hours: by appointment (centralised booking)
Booking: tel 055 545454 opt.2 · email iscrizioni.volontarie@asf.toscana.it
Other offices: Lungarno Santa Rosa 15 (Q1-4), Viale Morgagni 33 (Q5).
Mantua - ATS Val Padana
Via dei Toscani 1 · 46100 Mantova (MN)
Hours: Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri 08:30-12:30 · Thu 08:30-16:30
Booking: tel 0376 3341
Bring all the originals plus one photocopy of each.
Turin - ASL Centro ISI
Via Bazzi 19 (corner of Lungo Dora Savona 24) · 10152 Torino (TO)
Hours: Mon-Fri 08:30-12:00 + 13:00-15:00
Contacts: tel 011 240 3625 · centro.isi@aslcittaditorino.it
Centre dedicated to foreign students and migrants, multilingual staff.
03 Residence permit
What to include in the residence permit kit
When you submit the residence permit kit at the Sportello Amico, include a photocopy of the complete policy + the certificate of cover (the page showing name, dates, maximum amount, requirements). Keep the original with you.
Common trap
Basic "travel" policies, bought at the last minute at the airport, do not meet the requirements (maximum amount too low, duration too short, no repatriation cover). Check the 7 requirements before buying.
04 EHIC card
If you have an EHIC (European Health Insurance Card)
EU/EEA/Swiss students with a valid EHIC have public healthcare cover in Italy equivalent to the SSN, without needing a further policy for the residence permit (where required).
Help with the SSN and the policy
Our orientation team accompanies you to the ASL for SSN enrolment during the first week. Write to info@accademiaditaliano.it for any doubt about which policy to choose: we reply within one working day.