AN OVERVIEW ON HEALTH CARE PROVISION IN SPAIN Below is a very general overview of health care provision in Spain as well as contact details for the Department of Work and Pensions and a number of other organisations. A very useful starting point is the DWP contact-line, which has very helpful and informative, trained staff. Emergency Health Care for Non-Residents As of January 2006, the E111 is no longer issued, rather one ought to apply for the EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) which will cover emergency treatment in the case of accident and urgent illness. Resident
over UK retirement age
Residents over the UK retirement age ought properly to be entitled to free public health care as would be enjoyed a Spanish person. One needs to apply to Department of Work and Pensions for the E121 pack. Upon completion and return, you will receive two copies of the E121 form. One copy should be lodged with your local Centro de Salud, even if have EHIC and retain the other copy. In course, you will receive confirmation card from the Spanish authorities. You will receive a confirmation card Resident less than UK retirement age Residents who are yet to reach retirement age and who have paid UK National Insurance contributions for the last 2-3 years, ought to be able to receive free public health care as would be enjoyed a Spanish person for 2-2½ years subsequent to their last national Insurance contribution. Thereafter, public health service entitlement ceases as the authorities assume one has either found a job or retired. For those who do not fall into either category, one need take out private health insurance. One needs to apply to Department of Work and Pensions for the E106 pack. Dependants may be added. Resident under 65 years and working One ought properly to be covered by employers’ contributions Self-employed and under 65 One ought to be contributing to the Spanish Social Security system i.e. €240 pcm which will entitle one to free health care as availed to a Spanish person. Family can be included within terms of cover as dependant UNITED KINGDOM Department of Work & Pensions (www.dwp.gov.uk) Pension Service, Tyneview Park Medical Benefits Newcastle upon Tyne NE98 1BA Tel. (00 44) 191 218 19 99
Services & Benefits Section, see: Social security arrangements with other countries, Spain. Last updated January 2006 (website is not definitive) DWP produce number of booklets & leaflets which can be requested upon providing Full name, date of birth & NI number. Key publications: ‘Your Social Security Rights when moving within the European Union’ ‘Going Abroad and Social Security Benefits’ - (GL29) ‘Social Security Abroad’ - (N138)
Write to DWP: tvp.internationalqueries@thepensionservice.gsi.gov.uk TVP-IPC-Customer-Care@thepensionservice.gsi.gov.uk
Also Department of Health (www.dh.gov.uk) – section Overseas Visitors SPAIN One should also consult Spain’s DSS (www.seg.social.es) There are also a number of companies providing health insurance provision. Myles Jackson
Disclaimer Although we hope this handout will be of interest to readers, the author accepts no liability and offers no warranties in relation to it and its content, to the fullest extent such liability can be excluded by law. This document is not a substitute for legal advice, and is not intended or offered as such. Every case is different, and the only way to ensure that the advice is appropriate to your particular circumstances is to instruct a lawyer, who can take full instructions on all relevant issues. The author does not therefore accept any duty of care to anyone who makes use of, or seeks to rely on, material in this handout without formally instructing us to. Copyright Notice The copyright in all material on this website belongs to Myles Jackson unless expressly stated otherwis
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