I am a Spanish citizen. I will soon be going to study in Italy, this is also my first time living alone (I'm over 18). As I understand it, my European Healthcare card is still tied to my family's address, but I will be registered as a resident in Italy. I would rather my family not know about my healthcare decisions. Will mail regarding my healthcare be sent to my family's home or is there any other way for them to find out about my health care decisions?


6 comments

  1. An EHIC is for urgent or emergency care only, not routine care. When I moved to France as a student, I registered with the university health service for primary care needs, using my address in France.

  2. It only works for traveling. If your going to live there it doesnt work.

    I only used it once but i travel for work during short periods.

  3. If your family is opening your mail you really need to find a new address.

    And your day-to-day healthcare needs to be tied to your new country of residence, not to an emergency medical-care card from your country of origin.

  4. Are you studying in Italy as erasmus or any other exchange program? Then EHIC covers you as if you where an Italian citizen, that means that if there are services that italians pay but in Spain are covered, you have to pay…

    If you are only as a student without any program, then EHIC doesnt cover you, you need to inform yourself how this works.

  5. Your EHIC is not relevant here, that’s for so-called temporary stays, so anything too short to be registered as a resident. Mostly tourism or some other short-term circumstances.

    You’re going to be a resident in Italy so you’ll register per Italian rules and then have access to healthcare there. Nobody’s going to send letters to your Spanish address, but I think you have a family problem if you have to be concerned about your family opening letters addressed to you.

  6. https://education.ec.europa.eu/news/accessing-healthcare-while-studying-in-europe

    The EHIC is usually the most appropriate document to use for EU students studying in another EU country, especially if you do not intend to work there

    https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/health/when-living-abroad/health-insurance-cover/index_en.htm

    However, if you intend to work in Italy as well, you may be required to sign up for the Italian social security system. If so, then if you intend to work for less than two years, you may designate yourself as a “posted worker” and [apply](https://www.seg-social.es/wps/wcm/connect/wss/53e09218-020a-43d6-9202-25d778e78fce/C-218_Castellano_2_Editabilidad+%287%29.pdf?MOD=AJPERES) for Form S1, and still be covered by the Spanish social security system. More than that, then you will have to sign up for the Italian social security system

    https://www.sns.it/sites/default/files/2021-07/Access%20to%20the%20National%20Health%20Service%20by%20Foreign%20Citizens%20-%20Informations%20from%20Italian%20Health%20Ministry.pdf

    Those who are only studying in Italy are not eligible for automatic enrollment in the Italian healthcare system. However, you may enroll voluntarily in it, but you will have to pay a lot of money (they recently [increased the fee to €2000 per year](https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/italy-charge-foreigners-2000-euros-year-health-service-2023-10-16/))

Leave a Reply