Foreign Visitors May Be Required to Pay for Emergency Hospital Care in Tuscany, Italy Starting September 2024
Key Takeaways
1. Starting September 2024, non-EU visitors may be required to pay for emergency hospital care in Tuscany.
2. The proposal for mandatory health insurance aims to alleviate the burden on hospitals.
3. This change will not affect foreigners in Italy who hold a residence permit.
Non-EU visitors may soon need to pay for emergency hospital care in Tuscany, Italy, starting September 2024.
Given the growing number of foreign visitors to Italy, authorities suggest that this measure will help relieve pressure on regional hospitals.
As reported by The Florentine, Tuscany officials are considering a mandatory health insurance requirement for all non-EU visitors to benefit Florence's capital.
Eugenio Giani, president of the Tuscany region, highlighted the chaos caused by the influx of tourists, particularly in the emergency rooms of Florence's Santa Maria Nuova hospital. He emphasized the principle of reciprocity, noting that Italians traveling to the US are aware of the need for health insurance to avoid high medical costs.
"Our intention is straightforward. When we travel to the US, we know that health insurance is necessary to avoid significant emergency room costs. By the same principle, travelers from outside the EU should do the same," said Giani.
Giani added that the additional funds collected from this requirement would be used to pay emergency room staff and reduce waiting lists.
Impact on Foreigners with Italian Residence Permits
The proposal for mandatory travel insurance for non-EU visitors in Tuscany still requires approval before implementation. Authorities clarified that this measure would not affect foreigners in Italy who hold residence permits.
This means non-EU citizens with residence permits, granting them the right to live and work in Italy, will not be impacted by this proposed change.
The primary impact will be on non-EU nationals permitted visa-free entry to the EU who currently are not required to purchase travel insurance.
Non-EU nationals who must obtain a visa to enter Italy are already required to have travel insurance, so this measure will not affect them.