How much is health insurance for a permit in Italy?

For the visa the consulate wants cover of at least 30,000 euro for the whole visa period; insurance agents in the chats say that a policy has recently become mandatory for the questura filing too. Universities ask for a policy bought right before the questura appointment, together with the enrolment and housing papers.

Cheap travel policies work for the application (a member got her visa with a one-year "tourist" policy), but the small print voids them after 90 days in the country - replace it with a non-tourist annual policy after arrival. One member paid about 500 euro a year for the policy demanded for his residenza.

The alternative to a private policy is voluntary enrolment in the SSN; after the mandatory contribution went up, many moved to private insurers. Inside the SSN a visit costs a 15-30 euro ticket, emergency care at the pronto soccorso cost members nothing, and a blood test at a private clinic 37 euro.

Insurance does not replace income: for the permit they are two separate documents, and a policy cannot cover a missing income. Foreign policies bought at home end up in the Italian tax return as foreign assets - a member reminded people from his own experience.