The Italian government has announced plans to charge non-EU foreign residents of Italy €2,000 a year to use the national health service. The budget for 2024 is expected to include these fees.

It’s crucial to remember, though, that the government has made it clear that au pairs, foreign students, and legal residents will all receive unstated discounts from the pricing structure. Reassuringly, migrant workers and asylum seekers will not be charged this cost.

The Minister of Finance and Economy, Giancarlo Giorgetti, emphasized that as part of its larger goals, Italy is changing its healthcare system. Apart from the fees that are being proposed, the government plans to provide an additional €3 billion a year to the healthcare system by 2024. This financing will supplement the €4.2 billion in additional funds that will be provided starting in 2026, as well as the resources allocated to support the National Plan for Recovery and Resilience (PNRR) and the Sicilian region.

At the moment, Italy offers free public healthcare to all of its residents as well as to unaccompanied minors, foreign workers, job seekers, and asylum seekers. However, there are already certain fees associated with being a foreign national.

For example, the Italian health care is available to international students and diplomats for a variable cost determined by their annual salary. The annual maximum on student fees is now set at €150, but for those with higher incomes, the cap can reach €2,800.

Notably, the right-wing government of Italy recently passed an order requiring refugees to pay more than $5,200 in order to avoid being detained while their protection claims are being handled.

Even with the suggested price reductions, some people would still have far greater expenses—increasing by as much as 470 percent. The annual price for foreign students living in Italy, which is presently €150, would increase to over €700. Au pairs may see a significant increase in expenditures; their yearly costs could exceed €1,200 as opposed to the current €219 rate, which would represent a significant 547 percent increase.

While Italy has provided free healthcare services since 1982, a study carried out by the Society of Medical Sciences (SISMED) last year found that Italians have paid for some services through a ticketing system. Specialist medical consultations frequently require payment, while sessions with regular practitioners are still free.