Politics · Italy · 13 hrs ago
Italy plans €300 health card for eligible people aged 75 and over
Italy’s 2027 budget sets aside €1.645 billion for a health card worth about €300 per person.
It is intended for people who receive pensions or specified social benefits, are at least 75 by 31 December 2026 and had total annual benefits of no more than €28,000 in 2025.
The finance ministry estimates more than 5.4 million people could qualify.
The card is planned to last for one year, and its value will not count as taxable income or towards the ISEE measure used to assess household economic circumstances.
The governing majority says it should pay for medicines, specialist visits, tests and dental care, including services outside Italy’s national health service, with the aim of easing waiting lists.
A decree expected in 2027 will set out how the card is issued, which providers can accept it and which services qualify.
Italy’s medical association objects to the health ministry being excluded from the process and has asked parliament to change that.
Italy’s 2027 budget plan includes a health card worth about €300 for eligible people aged 75 and over.
It is intended for pension and other specified benefit recipients whose total annual amount did not exceed €28,000 in 2025.
The measure is planned to last one year, and the money will not count as taxable income or toward the ISEE calculation.
The majority says the card should cover medicines, specialist visits, tests, diagnostics and dental care, including prostheses.
A decree expected in 2027 will set the payment method, participating providers and eligible services.
- Who
- People aged 75 and over who receive specified pensions or benefits and meet the income limit.
- What
- A planned health card worth about €300 for health expenses.
- When
- The measure is planned for 2027 and will last one year. Eligible recipients must have turned 75 by 31 December 2026.
- Where
- Italy.
- Why
- The majority says it aims to help cover health costs and reduce waiting lists.
Italian Medical Association
Italian parliamentary majority
Role of Health Ministry
Italian Medical Association
The Medical Association contests the Health Ministry’s exclusion from the measure and asks Parliament to change it.
Italian parliamentary majority
The majority’s stated plans do not specify a role for the Health Ministry.
Eligible expenses
Italian Medical Association
Not stated.
Italian parliamentary majority
The card should cover medicines, specialist visits, tests, diagnostics and dental care, including prostheses, also outside the National Health Service.
The income limit is assessed using the recipient’s total pension and specified benefit amounts for this year.
Eligible recipients must have turned 75 by this date.
The one-year measure is planned, and a decree from the Economy and Labour ministries is expected to define how it works.
- Card value
- About €300
- Income limit
- €28,000 a year in 2025
- Age requirement
- Turned 75 by 31 December 2026
- Estimated beneficiaries
- More than 5.4 million
- Budget allocation
- €1.645 billion for 2027, in addition to €2.4 billion for the National Health Service