Healthcare in Italy for retirees
Healthcare in Italy for a retiree on an elective residence permit means private insurance or a yearly contribution to join the national health service, which then treats you like an Italian citizen.
The hospitals retirees use, what insurance does and does not cover. Checked against official and hospital sources on Oct 7, 2026.
- Life expectancy
- 84 years US 78.9. World Bank, 2024
- Doctors
- 4.2 per 1,000 US 3.7. World Bank, 2022
- Health spending
- $3,398/person Per year; US $13,473. World Bank, 2024
- Paid out of pocket
- 22.3% Of all health spending; US 10.9%. World Bank, 2024
Hospitals retirees use in Italy
Rome
Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS
- 1,526 hospital beds
- Appointments through the national health service or privately
- Website in Italian and English
Policlinico Gemelli. Checked Oct 7, 2026.
Florence
Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi
- Public hospital integrated with the University of Florence
- Emergency department, inpatient and specialist outpatient care
- Regional and national referral centre for specialised care
Careggi hospital. Checked Oct 7, 2026.
Cefalù
Ospedale Giglio (Fondazione Istituto G. Giglio)
- Emergency department (Pronto Soccorso)
- Visits and tests through the national health service or privately
Giglio hospital. Checked Oct 7, 2026.
A foreign resident with an elective residence permit does not join the national health service (SSN) automatically. You either keep private health insurance or register voluntarily with the SSN by paying a yearly contribution, by F24 form, at the local health authority (ASL). Registration runs for the calendar year, January to December, cannot be split and is not backdated. It gives the same SSN care as an Italian citizen, but not the European health insurance card.
Paying for care in Italy
22.3% of health spending in Italy is paid directly by patients, about 2 times the US share, so plan how you will pay before you move.
Retirees use either an international health plan, which can also cover care at home and in other countries, or a local plan from an insurer in Italy, which costs less but covers care there only. Prices depend on age and on the insurer's terms for existing conditions; compare written quotes.
If you are on Medicare
Medicare usually does not pay for care outside the United States; the exceptions are narrow, such as a foreign hospital closer to your US home than the nearest US hospital.
Medicare.gov. Checked Oct 7, 2026.
Healthcare questions
Does Medicare cover me in Italy?
Medicare usually does not pay for care outside the United States; the exceptions are narrow, such as a foreign hospital closer to your US home than the nearest US hospital. Plan on private insurance or paying directly for care in Italy.
Do I need health insurance for the Elective Residence visa?
The consulates ask for health insurance to issue the visa. The Paris consulate asks for international cover of at least €30,000 with unlimited hospitalisation and repatriation; the Adelaide consulate asks for a policy valid in the Schengen area for 12 months. Once in Italy, voluntary SSN registration is the alternative to private cover.
How much of the bill do people pay themselves?
In Italy, 22.3% of all health spending is paid out of pocket, against 10.9% in the US (World Bank, 2024).
Can a US citizen retire in Italy and get health care?
Yes. With an elective residence permit you can register voluntarily with the national health service by paying a yearly contribution, which gives the same care as an Italian citizen. Otherwise you keep private insurance, which the consulate asks for to issue the visa anyway.
Does voluntary registration cover the whole year?
It covers the calendar year, January to December, whatever date your permit expires. It cannot be paid for part of a year and does not start retroactively.
Is there a hospital near Cefalù?
Yes. Ospedale Giglio in Cefalù has an emergency department and takes patients through the national health service or privately.
