Health cover: national health service or private insurance?

Short answer: You need health cover for the permit. Choose voluntary registration with the national health service (SSN) for €700 per calendar year, or a private policy that meets the legal conditions.

• SSN: €700 a year for students with no income other than scholarships. It always runs 1 January to 31 December, cannot be split or backdated, and gives you a family doctor (Ca' Foscari guide, University of Bologna).
• Private: accepted if it covers urgent hospital care with no limits or exceptions (MUR circular). Often cheaper, usually no family doctor.
• A common plan: a private policy for the first autumn months, then SSN from January so the €700 covers a full year.