Most international families arriving in Italy either overpay for coverage they will never use, or discover a gap at the worst possible moment. We coordinate a doctor and an independent broker to produce a written recommendation for your specific situation.
Public only — SSN registration alone. Free. For families with straightforward medical needs, comfortable with waiting lists for non-urgent care.
Public plus access — SSN plus a private GP on retainer. €1,500 to €2,500 per year. The configuration we recommend most often: public system for hospitals and emergencies, private doctor for continuity and English.
Public plus Italian cover — SSN, private GP and an Italian private policy. €5,500 to €9,000 per year. For families based in Italy wanting private rooms and fast specialist access without paying for worldwide coverage.
International — SSN, private GP and an international policy such as Bupa, Cigna or Allianz Care. €12,000 to €25,000 per year. For genuinely mobile families or complex conditions requiring cross-border treatment.
One point worth knowing: the SSN covers pre-existing conditions from day one, with no exclusions and no waiting period. Private policies almost always apply a twelve to twenty-four month wait.
A sixty-minute scoping conversation at no charge. Then a consultation with an internal medicine specialist, briefed on your case in advance. Then a review with an independent insurance broker, fee-based with no product commissions. Finally a written report setting out what to do, in what order, at what cost, followed by a period of email support.
Most people are deciding one thing: whether they need private cover at all, or whether SSN registration plus a top-up policy is enough. That is a question for a call, not a project. The orientation call is forty-five minutes followed by a written note — which configuration applies to you, what it costs at your age, and what you would need to settle before anything is bought. No broker and no doctor at that stage.
Orientation Call — €350 (VAT included). A forty-five minute call and a written note setting out which route fits your situation and what it costs. Credited in full against either service below if you proceed within 30 days.
Healthcare Orientation — €1,200 (VAT included). Medical consultation, broker review, written summaries and final report, 30 days of email support.
Healthcare Orientation Extended — €1,800 (VAT included). Everything above, plus identification and introduction to an English-speaking GP, within the SSN at no cost to you or privately on retainer, and 60 days of support.
Every professional you speak with is an independent third party. We receive no commission, referral fee or other payment from any of them.
Is SSN registration enough on its own? For many families, yes. The SSN covers emergencies, hospital treatment, specialists and prescriptions, including pre-existing conditions. The genuine weaknesses are waiting times for non-urgent care and the fact that the system operates in Italian.
How are pre-existing conditions treated? The SSN treats them like any other condition, covered from registration with no underwriting. Private insurers apply a waiting period of twelve to twenty-four months, exclude the condition permanently, or load the premium.
Should I cancel the policy from my home country? It depends on where you spend time and what you would be giving up. For US citizens approaching Medicare eligibility, cancelling early can create both a coverage gap and permanent enrolment penalties.
What does a private GP provide? A doctor who follows a small number of patients, speaks English, is reachable directly, knows your history and coordinates specialists. Typically €1,500 to €2,500 per year for a couple.
Do you sell insurance? No. We are not insurance intermediaries and we do not recommend specific policies. We coordinate independent regulated professionals and synthesise their input into a plan.
Request a scoping conversation: info@theitaliangateway.com
Read our full guide to health insurance in Italy
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