Expat health insurance

Expat health insurance is an excellent option if you're a freelancer or self-employed. Expat insurance provides emergency and accidental coverage in addition to any illness you might have.

If you’ve been insured in the EU or the UK within the last three months, you have to get on public insurance after moving to Germany. You should check out our recommendation tool to go through the other options before signing up for expat insurance.

Freelancers and those who are self-employed are considered to be "voluntarily insured,” or freiwillig versichert, which means public health insurance companies are not obligated to insure them.

Yes, this policy meets the legal requirements for getting your first visa or residence permit in Italy and qualifies as your proof of health insurance.

However, it may not meet the requirements to renew your visa or residence permit.

If you need help getting health insurance to renew your visa or residence permit, reach out to us. We can talk you through your options after having expat insurance.

Immediately. Your policy documents will be waiting for you in your Feather account after you finish signing up.

You can use these documents as proof of health insurance for your visa or residence permit application.

Expat health insurance has a maximum term limit of five years. This five-year term starts on the first day you arrive in Italy (excluding potential previous touristic visits).

For example, if you moved to Italy on the 1st of January 2020 but signed up for Expat Insurance on the 2nd of June 2021, you can only remain on the policy until the 1st of January 2025.

If you purchase a policy and the policy becomes active within 14 days of purchase, then you have 14 days to cancel your policy from the date of purchase and receive a full refund (as long as no claims were made during this period).

However, if you purchase a policy with a start date in the future (over 14 days), then you have any time before the policy becomes active to cancel it and receive a full refund.

After this period, you can still cancel anytime! Whenever you cancel, you will then no longer be charged during the next monthly billing cycle.

For more information about how to cancel, please check out our handy FAQ.

Yes, a standard 31-day waiting period applies before you can use the insurance. However, sometimes, a waiting period can be waived. You can learn more about it and when it can be waived, you can find it in our FAQ.

Yes, you'll have to pay upfront. We suggest paying the doctor or clinic as soon as possible to avoid any late fees. Following that, submit photos of all invoices, receipts, and documents related to the incident in your Feather account to get reimbursed. The reimbursement will be made to you, not to the doctor

Yes, dependents can be added to your plan. Please note that each dependent will have to have their own policy purchased, but we can add them all under one account for ease of access.

To add a dependent, simply:

1. Sign up for expat insurance for yourself first (or for the person you want to be the main policyholder)

2. Once you sign up, log into your Feather account and click on your expat policy.

3. Click 'add dependents', then add the dependent with whichever policy you wish (basic or premium). You don't have to purchase the same policy for each person.

4. The basic policy price for dependents under 18 years of age is the same (72 euros), but the premium plan is cheaper than for adults (96 euros per month).

Yes, expat insurance will cover some dental treatment for new dental conditions requiring pain relief, like simple fillings and cleanings. This treatment is covered for up to €500 per year on the Basic plan and up to €1,000 a year on the Premium plan. Additional dental treatments, including cosmetic dental treatments like teeth cleaning or whitening, are not included.

Yes! If you upgrade from basic to premium expat insurance, then your policies will be linked and medical events that occurred in your basic policy will be included for coverage in your premium policy.

A switch from premium to basic expat is also still possible; however, please note if you switch from premium to basic expat health, the policies will not be linked.

• Yes, if you’ve recently relocated to Italy and are looking for your first health insurance plan, you're eligible for expat health insurance.
• Yes, if you are not working or working as a self-employed person.
• Yes, if you want to get insured quickly to get your visa or temporary residence permit because it's affordable health insurance coverage that you can sign up for entirely in English.
• However, it's not a long-term solution. There's a maximum term limit of five years.