Thread: Health Care in Spain

Now living in Spain I have been looking at obtaining health care.
I have been told by the The Pension Service in the UK that any benefit is based on the contributions I have made in the UK over the last two years.
Needless to say that as I have been in Spain for nearly 4 years there is no chance that I shall get any free cover.
Can any one else confirm this and can anyone give me advice on getting health care for myself and my family. Private or otherwise.
We all have our N.I.E. numbers and have "Certificacion de Inscripcion Padronal"

Hello rogerbirch, Don't quote me on it but I think you may have to find private health care. I do not fit the norm here and have to pay as we go basically.

rogerbirch..(1)..You say you have been in Spain for four years. What have you done about healthcare up until now.
(2) If you were paying National Insurance whilst in the UK, it is worth continuing paying the basic stamp which will entitle you to a full pension at 65. (although you don't have to pay that long). You would also be entitled to free medical treatment and prescriptions as a UK pensioner.

Can anyone confirm whether he would still be entitled to Form 106 which I think gives a years free medical (paid for by the UK)

(3) You say that you are self employed here in Spain. If you are a resident and taxpayer, I don't understand why you are not entitled to a Spanish medical card???

Many thanks for your response CDThader.
Up until now we have not had the need to consult a doctor - thank the Lord!
I have checked my pension rights and understand that I have the full amount of contributions to allow me a full pension in October and do not need to top -up, at which stage I shall get some form of medical care as well.
When we first moved out I got a 106 but only for a short period which I now understand was based on my last two years of employment before leaving the UK. Unfortunately because my company folded in 2004 I only had a short time being employed in that period. He Ho!
From what you say, the 106 does not allow for a life time cover anyway, so perhaps I am not missing out so much!
I will now either take out a medical insurance or start paying into the Spanish system which are both pretty expensive. (Or else I may be able to hold out until October and PAYG!)
Has anyone any thoughts on medical care and can recommend a suitable company for me and my family?

Hello Roger.
Well as you know in October you will be a pensioner & will be entitled to all medical care FOC. (including prescriptions)
If you work for a company that pays into the system (as most should of course) you will qualify for free health care immediately, even if you work for only a few weeks , you will have to pay for your prescriptions, but at a reduced rate.

Brian

Whoever reaches pensionable age first, either husband or wife, will now receive Form 121, whch you take to your local Social Security Office together with your passport, NIE, Empardiamento. They will need three copies of each including Form 121. However, make sure that the nonpensionable aged person is included on the 121, together with two copies of marriage certificate. This might have to be done after receipt of initial 121 by asking Newcastle to include either hubby or wife on the form. You will then receive a social security number which you take to your local health centre and both husband and wife are entitled to free medical car including most prescriptions.

So there is not healthcare for all residents in Spain? I really appreciate that about life here in Sweden. Young and old, employed, self employed or unemployed or retired, every resident and citizen has access to very low cost healthcare.

Originally Posted by Holly

So there is not healthcare for all residents in Spain? I really appreciate that about life here in Sweden. Young and old, employed, self employed or unemployed or retired, every resident and citizen has access to very low cost healthcare.

Ah! but I fancy that tax in Sweden is a tidy piece higher that it is here ??

Brian

Yes, Brian, of course the taxes are notoriously high here in Sweden. I don't agree with all of them, but I do like taxes that actually yield true benefit to the people. I think society helping society is extremely important when it comes to health care. It seems most of you are Brits here, so maybe you're soured on NHS? It's true that NHS is not perfect, which I have experienced firsthand. Still, some healthcare for all is far better than only healthcare for some of the population, even if you want to look at it just purely from an economical standpoint. Socially, feeling that there is hope, when in trouble or need, has got to save in terms of crime, poverty, and all of the desperation that comes without good education and options. I don't mean to go on here, but the lack of healthcare is something that really bothers me about America. I'd have been dead a couple of times over if I wasn't one of the lucky ones. I feel very strongly about healthcare in modern society, so I hope to have it available in whatever move I might make. I would like it available for everyone, particularly with so many out of work right now. I just don't think it's a good idea to have the option to stay alive tied up with the chance of good employment. I am not very well educated about the whole of Europe, but I tend to assume it's better than the US in terms of healthcare, retirement, childcare, vacation time, etc... Being content means having basic needs met, right? I'm just curious what options there are for myself and others. I will look into it further.