School health insurance: surge in enrollments, over 250,000 'yeses' in 72 hours.

The free supplementary health insurance for school staff is seeing massive enrollment. In just 72 hours since registrations opened on September 10, over 250,000 employees have already joined, including teachers, school leaders, and administrative, technical, and auxiliary staff.

The Ministry of Education and Merit clarified in a note that the initiative, funded with an overall allocation of approximately 320 million euros, will not lead to any reduction in the Fund for the Operation of Educational Institutions. The resources indeed come from additional allocations specifically earmarked for this purpose.

Enrollment, which must be voluntarily expressed by September 20, 2026, is regulated by the National Collective Supplementary Agreement signed on December 29, 2025. If not formalized within the deadline, the insurance coverage cannot be activated.

The free supplementary health insurance policy for school staff stems from a specific request by workers in the sector and is founded on Article 15-ter of Legislative Decree No. 38 of 2026, converted by Law No. 88 of 2026. This welfare instrument represents a significant innovation for approximately 1.2 million potential beneficiaries.

The legislative process began with Article 14, Paragraph 6, of Legislative Decree No. 25 of March 14, 2025, subsequently converted by Law No. 69 of May 9, 2025, which initially provided for funding the policy through a reduction of the School Operating Fund. This mechanism generated protests and concerns.

The Ministry has therefore clarified that the original provision was not adopted and that funding instead occurs through additional allocations, thereby ensuring insurance coverage without affecting school funds. The policy, valid for the four-year period 2026-2030, represents an expansion of protection instruments for personnel working in the Italian educational system.