European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
Plain English
It's the European Health Insurance Card. In Italy, the TEAM is printed on the back of your tessera sanitaria. It gives you access to public healthcare during temporary stays in any EU country, plus Switzerland, the UK, and a few others.
Why it matters
If you fall ill while travelling inside the EU, the TEAM lets you access state healthcare at the same conditions as locals. Without it, you may have to pay upfront and chase reimbursement later.
Real example
"During a weekend trip to Vienna from Belluno, Lukas needed a doctor for an ear infection. His TEAM (on the back of his tessera sanitaria) was accepted at the Austrian clinic, with no upfront payment."
Common confusion
TEAM covers public healthcare during temporary stays. It\'s not health insurance for long-term moves and doesn\'t cover everything (like medical repatriation). For some trips, extra travel insurance is wise.
Official source
European Commission