raymondodeblanc

We are thinking of moving to Calabria. We will not be working. If we pay voluntary contributions to the SSN will we be entitled to their health care straight away and if so how do we do it. We are not at retirement age yet. Just a few years to go!!!!!

Marocco

Why are you doing this to yourselves? If you move there you will be able to register with an "Azienda Usl" as soon as you can prove you are a resident. Before then you can use a European Health Insurance Card. However, don't think of either of these as a substitute for private medical insurance. The Italian health service is in some ways better, in others a lot worse than the NHS. It will also be very difficult to find English speaking doctors.

TestaRossa

Also the law changed on Feb 6th and to get residency you have to have Health Insurance - Catch 22! And you can't get on the health scheme here without residency! Hmm!

raymondodeblanc

Thanks folks

Do you know if they will accept the 106 which is a form you get from the Department of Works saying they will cover our health costs for a maximum of 2 and half years in another EU country. Once we can get residency we will happily give contributions to cover ourselves in the Italian health. My husband can speak Italian so not too worried about the doctor's not speaking English. Any help will be most appreciated

Margaret M

We are in Puglia, have just completed the purchase of our house, and are 5 years away from state retirement age. Do you know where we can get cheap health insurance, quite happy to make voluntary contributions once residency sorted.

Also my 79 year old mother is going to be living with us. What is the best option for her?

TestaRossa

Sorry, I can't really help! We are still trying to sort out what to do ourselves. The Anagrafe here isn't pushing for us to have residency and as we are EU citizens there isn't a great deal Italy can do if we don't get it, other than deny us healthcare. The advice we got from the British consul here was to make sure we had our EHIC cards and use them when we had to! Not ideal but a solution for now.

Quotes I have had range from 2000 pounds down to 1800 for 4 of us for a year. Not bad but I haven't checked if these are by companies on the Italian list of accepted companies.

I'm expecting the laws to change again, as they seem to keep doing since we arrived.

If anyone can enlighten me as to what is really going on I would be interested to know.

So far not having residency hasn't stopped me getting a school for my daughter, open an Italian bank account (not a tourist account) and it won't stop me buying a car as long as it is a new one. So other than the health issue I'm looking for a reason to get it just yet!

Margaret M

We are probably taking pretty much the same stance as you for now, but it is really healthcare for my mother that concerns me. I bought a second hand car here within 2 weeks of arriving, and that was last December, we didn't complete on our house until last week.

raymondodeblanc

My understanding of the health system is that once you are receiving a state pension you qualify for Italian health care. I would have thought that this would apply to your mother. We have just had a reply from the British Embassy in Rome who says we can use our E106 form, then pay voluntary contributions and then be entitled to free cover when we are retired.

Margaret M

Can we apply for the E106 from here? I can always telephone Newcastle, but if we can do it on line so much easier. I presume once we do this they will take her off her doctors list in the UK, in which case we want to be 300% certain she is staying for good before taking this step.

Can we get an E106 for ourselves. We are still getting a UK income, and so paying UK tax and NI.

Margaret

raymondodeblanc

I am not sure if you would qualify as we would be moving under retirement age and not working. The E106 form lasts for up to 2 and a half years.You have to have been paying NI to England. I would have thought you would have been entitled to something as you are still contributing. You need to contact the International Pension centre Department for Works and Pensions. I don't have an e mail but have the phone number 0191 218 1999. Open
Mon to Fri 8am-8pm. If they can't help they may know which department you need. Hope this is of some help and good luck

Margaret M

Thanks for the advice. We are semi retired, and our income comes from:

a) our own Company back in the UK - which is where our tax and NI comes in

and

b) our SIPP and SSAS pensions

Will give Newcastle a ring to find out about ourselves, and also to say that (potentially) mum may be coming to live with us - thus not burning any boats just yet. Thanks for the advice. Will report back if I get any more interesting information.

By the way we are 60 and 55, so still a way to go for State Pension.
Margaret

Marocco

This is slightly off topic, but even if you do get registered with the Italian health care system I would still recommend getting some form of private insurance, especially if you live in the south. On the whole I prefer the Italian system to the NHS (much faster access to doctors, specialists and hospitals, among other things) but keep in mind that waiting lists exist in Italy as well, even for life saving operations. Also if you live in the south you may find that there are no local hospitals or health centres where some tests or procedures can be carried out. I remember once meeting a guy in a hospital in Rome who had driven over from Naples (2-3 hours drive) for a simple allergy test. He got a bit upset when they told him to come back the following day. On the other hand if you live in a place like Parma or Bologna you probably don't need health insurance.

Margaret M

There's a huge new hospital at Brindisi which looks pretty state of the art. My son had to go there when he broke his arm very badly whilst holidaying here last July, and was pretty impressed with their service. Got a quote for £8000 a year for BUPA's most basic of basic cover for the 3 of us the other day would need to be cheaper than that for us to be able to afford it

ginty

Hi Margaret
oh my god! all this insurance business seems a nightmare! This is something we have to sort out too when we settle in Calabria. Like you, we are retiring early - yippee! can't wait haha, but will have to watch the pennies, coz we won't be earning anything! seems like everyone recommends some sort of private medical insurance, but we'll have to try and find reasonable quotes first!! Whats an E106 form? I can't say I've heard of that one. We have an
E111 card, but I think they're invalid if you live anywhere other than the UK. Just have to hope that all the healthy food and drink in southern italy keeps us fit and well! haha

ginty

Hi Margaret
When you mentioned making voluntary contributions, were you meaning to the italian system? any ideas how much it would cost per month? I was once told we could (if we wanted) carry on making contributions to the NHS system in England even when we've left, so that our english pension won't be affected! Totally confused - think I need some serious expert advice. If i find out anything i'll let you know!