Health card without chip: what changes and why identity cards and debit cards are also at risk

Here comes the health card without chip. An "obligatory" choice that leads to greater difficulty in accessing some services in the health and waste fields. The green light was given by the Ministry of Economy and Finance with a decree dating back to June 1st. “The novelty – explains the Ministry of Economy and Finance in a note – is due to the shortage of semiconductor materials for the production of microchips, generated by the serious international crisis”, a difficulty that is also affecting other sectors, such as the automotive, telephony and technology sectors.

Why doesn't the new health card have a microchip?

The "microchip crisis" started because of the restrictions due to pandemic which imposed a sudden stop on deliveries and decreed the closure of some factories. The commercial dependence on China weighs in particular, whose relations have been severely tested by the "zero-Covid" policy. The crisis was then fueled by the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The two warring countries are in fact exporters of palladium and neon, indispensable components for the semiconductor and chip industries. To this problem has recently been added the embargo on supplies of raw materials by China to the detriment of Taiwan, a leader in the assembly of microchips. At the moment, in fact, supply is no longer able to keep up with demand: compared to 5 years ago, the delivery times for the chips needed for computerized banking security systems have expanded to reach 52 weeks against 27 weeks pre-Covid.

But the problem isn't just about health insurance cards. The lack of semiconductors is likely to become a problem for the production of cash machine, credit cards e electronic identity cards. 

Health card without chip: what changes

The new health cards without microchips will be valid as tax code e European health insurance card (Team), to be used in case of health problems encountered during travel within the European Community, but will not have the functionality of the National service card, i.e. online identification and authentication and advanced electronic signature in relations with public administrations. Functions that can be superimposed on those of Spid, the "immaterial" digital identity made up of a username and password.

If to purchase drugs there shouldn't be a hitch, since pharmacies use the barcode, the real problem will be to fix the specialistic examinations, given that this service is available with the "passage" in the smart card devices that read the microchips. And it will no longer be possible to use the card in those Municipalities that require the Cns for the disposal of garbage e waste.

How to extend the expired one

Those who, despite having received the new card, are in possession of the old one and want to continue using it to access public administration services can do so. Before expiry, you must extend the duration of the authentication certificate until December 31 2023 through software published on portal of the health card system managed by the Ministry of Economy and Finance. But there is a problem, to extend the validity of the previous card it is essential to be in possession of the code Pin provided when sending the document that many will not have kept. Otherwise, the Team option remains, which allows access to treatment throughout Europe, or, for many (but not all) online services, electronic identity cards or the Spidocchiantesi service can be used.