ITALY HEALTH SERVICES

​Let's try to understand with this article what the services of the Italian health system are and how you can have your rights recognized.

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In Italy, healthcare is guaranteed by the National Health Service (SSN), to which all residents in one of the situations indicated by national regulation are obligatorily signed up.
Healthcare services (medical care) are provided to those signed up by Local Healthcare Authorities (LHA) and Hospital agencies which constitute organs of the SSN. 
To sign up to the SSN and receive an SSN number, consult the LHA in your place of residence. When signing up, the person can choose their GP from a list of doctors who agreed with the SSN. General assistance is provided directly through the office of the pre-selected or local doctor.
 IN WHAT SITUATION CAN YOU CLAIM IT?
 As a patient, you can consult your selected general practitioner or, in their absence, their substitute.
In urgent cases, there is a medical service available at night, on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
In case of a temporary absence from your place of residence, you can consult any doctor approved by the SSN for an occasional visit.
In this case, you will be directly responsible for the cost of the examination. Still, you can use the services prescribed (drugs, diagnostic tests, specialist examinations, etc.) in the framework of the services offered by the SSN.
In addition, if you are in a place other than your habitual residence for a period longer than 3 months for study, work or health reasons, you can temporarily sign up to the LHA lists in that place. Quick sign-up, which is valid for a year and can be renewed, allows you to receive general medical assistance in your temporary place of residence.
 General medical assistance is guaranteed for your children under 16 by your selected paediatricians.
 SSN NUMBER & OTHER DETAILS
 Signing up for the SSN is a fundamental requirement for making use of its healthcare services.
At the time of sign-up, you are issued an SSN number which includes:
 

• your details and Tax Code;
• the expiry date for healthcare purposes only;
• a clear area for any regional healthcare information and three braille characters for the blind;
• the Tax Code in bar code format and a magnetic strip.
• The back of the card is your TEAM (European Health Insurance Card).

 
For each change of place of residence, you must sign up to the LHA in your new place of residence.
 FORMS TO FILL IN
 To sign up for the SSN and receive an SSN, you can consult the LHA in your place of residence.
You must choose your GP from a list of doctors who agreed with the SSN when signing up. General assistance is provided directly through the office of the pre-selected or local doctor.
The various necessary forms are available from the LHA.


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