Private health insurance (again).

[cathnmike]

Sorry about this - I know there have been other threads but they are a year or so old now and I need some up to date information. Of course things may not have changed in those twelve months, but then again this is Italy and things do ...

So question number 1 : - do we, or do we not, need private health insurance cover to obtain our Residence? Our solicitor (in Italy) has said we do,so we are taking her at her word. However, to take it out for more than a few months at a time is incredibly expensive (unless someone here knows different) so my next question is :
Number 2 : Is it OK to take out cover for a few months or, say a year, or does it have to be forever?

and finally number 3 : If we do need it, does anyone have any recommendations for us?

Hope this isn't being too repetitive, and thanks for your help.

Cath.

[chrisnotton]

Originally Posted by cathnmike

Sorry about this - I know there have been other threads but they are a year or so old now and I need some up to date information. Of course things may not have changed in those twelve months, but then again this is Italy and things do ...

So question number 1 : - do we, or do we not, need private health insurance cover to obtain our Residence? Our solicitor (in Italy) has said we do,so we are taking her at her word. However, to take it out for more than a few months at a time is incredibly expensive (unless someone here knows different) so my next question is :
Number 2 : Is it OK to take out cover for a few months or, say a year, or does it have to be forever?

and finally number 3 : If we do need it, does anyone have any recommendations for us?

Hope this isn't being too repetitive, and thanks for your help.

Cath.

Why don't you ask "like the Roman" about the inexpensive health insurance he knows about see: http://www.italymag.co.uk/forums/leg...residenza.html

Also here is an interesting article about various methods that Expats are using to get into the French health system A Strategy for Health Cover in France
Also some other threads that you should read:

http://www.italymag.co.uk/forums/leg...o-comunes.html
&
http://www.italymag.co.uk/forums/leg...th-system.html

I am going to my commune tommorow to enquire about my residency. I will report back as to what happens. This may not be particularly relevant to you as I am self-employed but we will see.

Pip pip

[Penny]

I changed my residency from one comune to another last year and had to go through this whole process again as I had a permesso di soggiorno which now does not exist (sort of!).

I had to either self-certify or prove my income with an accountant's letter if I was working (which I was); the comune polizia visited me and I had to either be contributing to the Italian health system, have private health cover or produce an E106 (which would cover me here for 2 1/2 years). As I left the UK 4 years ago, I had not contributed to NI for the last 3 years in the UK so was not entitled to an E106.

Luckily, because I was working and contributing to everything, I was covered. I mistakenly believed that because I was just transferring my residency that I wouldn't have to go through this rigmarole but I was wrong.

I also have a friend (different comune) who had to go through the same process when their permesso di soggiorno ran out after 5 years of being resident here.

In both cases, the comuni were very insistent and there was no way round it.

Just be warned that it doesn't just affect people taking out their residency for the first time but also those who move house and originally came here on a permesso di soggiorno and also those whose permesso expires and requires renewal! Don't mistakenly think that becuase you have a medical card you are covered. They want proof of your contributions.

[simone-non-martini]

Hi there. I have just been through all of this. You have to show that you have health insurance which is valid for one year at least--so it does not necessarily have to be private. They also insist that the policy be in Italian. I ended up taking out private insurance with Generali. it cost 400 euros for one year and the policy was of course already in Italian. (Translation costs for an exisitng policy would have been huge). This option seemed to save the most time and money. If you ask around there are several insurance brokers who design insurance especially for foreigners seeking their residency permit. This was accepted and I am now just awaiting a visit by the vigili. I have attached the latest information as a pdf for you to read. Good luck.

[chrisnotton]

Don't forget you can get at least two and a half years with your E106 this will only leave you with another two and a half to find before you automatically get full status.

It also turns out that there are various species of E106, more later.

I had an interesting chat with my local commune today I will post full details of my experiences when I get a moment.

Those of you who are going to use the E106 should read this about getting maximum time from it.

RE: Advice on Applying for E106 - France Forum

Pip pip

[cathnmike]

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to reply to this. It's all a bit mind-boggling really and does seem to vary from one Comune to another. We're going to have a look at all the options over the next day or so and we'll keep posting how it's all going.

Thanks again for all the advice.

[chrisnotton]

Okey dokey,

Here goes. I spent about an hour chatting with my friend from the commune office about my application for residency. The reason that we are all getting different stories is that there have been about 8 recent revisions of the rules and some communes are using different versions. The change of governmenrt will bring even more as it has promised to be tougher on E. Europeans. They (the commune workers) are pretty pissed-off themselves about the moving goalposts.

Yes you do need medical insurance or a form from the DWP saying that you are covered.

Yes you do need to have an income of €5000 or more per year. You can self-certify. I just showed them a bank account with €6000 in and they ticked that box.

Yes the Vigilli should come round and check you live where you say you do. I explained that I wasn't always there & my friend said "tell me when you are in and he will come round that day"

Yes after five years of residency you are fully covered whatever your previous status. If before then you have reached the official retirement age (60 or 65 and rising for UK residents), when you will be able to obtain free State health cover through an E121 form

Health cover: If you are leaving the u.k. permenantly then the E106 (all forms here HM Revenue & Customs: National Insurance Contributions, Retirement Pension Forecasts and advice for those abroad [www_hmrc_gov_uk] ) will cover you for 2+ years. There is cheap medical insurance available if you want it see this thread http://www.italymag.co.uk/forums/leg...residenza.html. It doesn't matter how good the policy is it is as it will give you the official tessera sanitaria which will get you treated in the state system.
My friend said that this method should be renewed on a "year by year basis" but you would be able to switch to "asicurazione voluntaria" after you had got your tessera sanitaria issued. I asked if I could go straight for the "asicurazione voluntaria" and they said no because they have not been informed of the latest rates. Also I am a registered farmer (don't ask) so it is different (more complicated) for me.

O.k. with me so far? By now my friend was glazing over so I thought I didn't want to overstay my welcome.

Now what I have discovered from the DWP.

The E106. There are at least two types. The non-workers one & the workers one.

The non-workers one. This the one that runs out after 2 and a bit years. You get this when you write to the DWP and say you are leaving & don't plan to work anymore. When it runs out you no longer have entitlement to the UK health service either. Yeah right! Have you ever been asked for your N.I. number in hospital? No neither have I
You get this type of E106 if you have been normally employed and have at least 3 years of class 1 (the usual one) contributions. Explantion here National Insurance contribution types | Business Link [www_businesslink_gov_uk]

The workers one. This is for people who plan to live abroad but continue to work in the UK either employed or self employed and pay a class1 or class 2 (self-employed) contribution. This is open ended and issued for 1 to 5 years at a time.

You can also pay voluntary class 3 contributions but these only count towards your State Retirment Pension, so don't bother.

Here is the interesting bit, for me anyway. If you are self employed you pay your contributions by direct debit (or similar). If you apply for a workers E106 (like me) and continue to work in the UK for more than half the year but live in Europe then you will continue to get a workers E106 as long as you pay your contributions (£2.30 p.w. in my case)
This is self declared and there are no checks whether you do work in the UK as long as your contributions are made you will get your E106.
It is very easy to become self employed & start paying class 2 (self-employed) contribution. If you have earnings of less than £4,825 you will be exempt from paying contributions anyway & will probably get them back. I don't know about this as I have never qualiied.

So these appear to be your options.

Get your E106 and then buy some cheap insurance or pay the "asicurazione voluntaria" for the 2-and-a bit years you are left with until you have been resident for 5 years.

Get a workers E106 and pay an NI contribution in the UK.

Get a friend to employ you in Italy for a couple of months then you will be in the system. This should work because the new regulations only apply to those from the EU who remain 'inactive'. Once the cycle of 'inactivity' is broken, and you have undertaken a period of employment, then you are entitled to the same rights as Italian persons, including the right to join the State health insurance system.
You should offer to pay your friends expenses, and invest in a crate of good wine.

Get lucky at your commune!

That's it. I will let you know how I get on applying for my workers E106 as I go.

Pip pip

[NickZ]

Originally Posted by chrisnotton

The change of governmenrt will bring even more as it has promised to be tougher on E. Europeans.

The problem is they can't write the rules so they don't hit all EU nationals.

[Carole B]

Originally Posted by NickZ

The problem is they can't write the rules so they don't hit all EU nationals.

The Security Act currently passing through parliament (Chamber of Deputies) is to deal with illegal immigrants. That is those people of whatever nationality - including those from the EU - whose 'paperwork' is either not in order or non existent. If passed (unamended), this law will allow the Italain authorities to return people, who are found without their documentation in order, to thier home country immediately. This could affect anyone... it would/could, for example, affect an American who was here working 'in nero' (no work visa) or a Brit who perhaps did not meet 'residency' requirements despite being a member of the European Union!

Perhaps that's why nearly half the Deputies walked out yesterday, before the vote, in protest about how this new legislation 'might' be mis-used by certain parties (with a small 'p'....but then again, maybe parties with a big 'P' too!)

[ram]

I saw the head of the local ASL yesterday - he has had a letter from the ministry saying that assicurazione volontaria for EU residents is NOT possible, as it is designed only for extra communitari. This means that for EU residents to get italian residency, the only way is via a private health insurance policy - though he did add that the EU is aware of the anomaly and are sorting something out... In the meantime as an EU citizen you are entitled to emergency health care, but that of course doesnt help with residency.