Essential Levels of Healthcare
Plain English
It's the list of healthcare services the SSN must provide to everyone, free or at low cost. The list is national, so the same essential services should be available in every region, even if waiting times and quality vary.
Why it matters
When you\'re refused a service or asked to pay privately, knowing whether it\'s inside the LEA tells you whether the SSN is legally on the hook to provide it.
Common confusion
Regions can offer more than the LEA, but never less. If your service is in the LEA but unavailable locally, the regional health system is supposed to find a way to provide it, sometimes through accredited private clinics.
Official source
Ministero della Salute