Private health insurance in Italy for UK citizens
If you are registered with the Italian health service (SSN), private health insurance is not compulsory, but it shortens waits and covers costs the SSN leaves to you. Our policy, DayByDay by Reale Mutua, is built alongside the SSN: depending on the guarantees you choose, it pays for private specialist visits and tests, refunds SSN tickets and pays cash for every night in hospital. It is not a substitute for the public system, and not a visa policy.
Consultation in English is included
Italian policies are written in Italian. We explain the cover, the exclusions and the paperwork to you in English, before you buy and when you claim, at no extra cost. Call +39 0141 441493 or email info@assicurazionecastellodiannone.it.
In short
- Specialist visits and diagnostic tests: 90% paid in network facilities, 70% refunded elsewhere, up to €3,000 per person a year; SSN tickets refunded in full.
- A daily cash benefit of €50 or €100 for each night in hospital, public or private, up to 180 nights a year.
- Up to 30 specialist video consultations a year per policy, plus home assistance after a hospital stay.
- For residents of Italy, aged up to 70 at the start.
- Consultation in English is included: we explain the Italian policy to you and help when you claim.
Health insurance
Get a price in a couple of minutes
RealmenteInSalute DayByDay, underwritten by Reale Mutua. Consultation in English is included: we go through the Italian policy wording with you before you sign.
Do I need private health insurance to live in Italy?
It depends on how you are covered. If you work in Italy, are protected by the Withdrawal Agreement or have a registered UK S1, you are in the SSN and private insurance is a choice. If you are not working and arrived from 2021, Italian law asks you to be insured either by registering voluntarily with the SSN or with a policy valid in Italy that covers illness, accident and maternity. Our healthcare guide explains each case.
What DayByDay covers
| Guarantee | What you get | Article |
|---|---|---|
| Specialist visits and tests | 90% of the cost in network facilities, 70% elsewhere (within the limits per service), up to €3,000 per person per year; tickets for SSN-accredited services refunded in full | 10.1 |
| Daily hospital cash | €50 (Standard) or €100 (Premium) per night, doubled from day one for stays of 15 nights or more, up to 180 nights a year | 7.1 |
| Specialist video consultations | Up to 30 a year per policy, through the Reale Mutua platform | 10.2 |
| Assistance | Home services after a hospital stay, such as medicine delivery | 13.1 |
Why a cash benefit is useful in Italy. In a public hospital the stay is covered by the SSN, but the extras are not: taxis for your partner, someone to look after children or pets. The daily cash is paid whatever the hospital costs, so you decide how to use it.
What is excluded. Among others: hospital stays for childbirth, services during a hospital stay under the reimbursement guarantee, paediatric, gynaecological and dental visits, and the exclusions in article 8. Illnesses are covered after a waiting period of 30 days from the start.
Health insurance
Price DayByDay for you or your family
RealmenteInSalute DayByDay, underwritten by Reale Mutua. Consultation in English is included: we go through the Italian policy wording with you before you sign.
Who can buy it
- Residents of Italy: the Conditions define residence as the place in Italy where you habitually live.
- People aged up to 70 when the policy starts; cover can continue until 75.
- If you move your residence abroad you must tell the insurer within 30 days, and the policy ends at the next annual renewal date.
- You need an Italian tax code (codice fiscale). Online purchase is not available in every Italian region: the quote tool checks your residence at the first step.
Claims, documents and English
The policy documents are in Italian, and so are invoices and medical reports in Italy. That is where an intermediary earns its keep: we explain the Conditions before you sign, tell you which facilities are in the network, and help you put a claim together. Consultation in English is included at no extra cost.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need private health insurance to live in Italy as a British citizen?
Not if you are registered with the Italian health service through work, the Withdrawal Agreement or a UK S1. Non-working residents not otherwise covered must either register voluntarily with the SSN or hold a policy valid in Italy covering illness, accident and maternity.
Is DayByDay enough for an elective residence visa?
It is not designed for that. DayByDay complements the SSN and does not pay hospital bills in full. Visa requirements are set by each consulate: ask for them in writing and we will tell you whether we can help.
How much does private health insurance cost in Italy?
It depends on age, the guarantees you choose and the number of people insured. The online quote calculates the exact premium from the current tariff in a couple of minutes.
Does private health insurance reduce waiting times in Italy?
It lets you book specialist visits and tests privately or in network facilities, with most of the cost paid by the policy, instead of waiting for an SSN appointment.
Is private health insurance tax deductible in Italy?
The premium for a policy like DayByDay is not deductible. Medical expenses it does not reimburse remain eligible for the usual 19% tax credit on health expenses, if you pay Italian income tax.
Health insurance
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RealmenteInSalute DayByDay, underwritten by Reale Mutua. Consultation in English is included: we go through the Italian policy wording with you before you sign.
Sources
Official sources checked on 24 October 2026. Rules change: always check the latest version before you act.
Important information
This guide is general information, not personal advice. Cover, limits, excesses and exclusions are set by the policy documents (DIP, additional DIP and Conditions of Insurance), which are in Italian and are what counts legally: we give them to you, and talk you through them in English, before you sign.
Assicurazione Castello di Annone di Rabacchin Matteo, VAT no. 01627330051, is an insurance intermediary registered in the Italian Single Register of Insurance Intermediaries (RUI), Section E no. E000517439, supervised by IVASS. Online quotes and purchase are not available in every Italian region: the quote tool tells you at the first step if the service is not available in your region.