SIP Card Access to the Spanish Healthcare?

Are there regional differences to healthcare access for those who have settled in Spain? I have been told that SIP Card access to the Spanish system, on the same basis as NHS care, applies only to Valenciana and not to other regions such as the Costa del Sol. I find this difficult to believe.

Yes there are regional differences. Here in Murcia the card is renewed every 5 years whereas in Andalucia there is no expiry date. both here & Andalucia you can get cards entitling you to full healthcare whilst under retirement age without paying in.

Firstly, there's no point asking anyone in Andalucia about SIP cars, because we don't have anything called SIP (nor SUMA, by the way) that I'm aware of here. So in that small matter alone, and in many other details, there are plenty of regional differences. The "autonomous" regions are just that. (Some even have their own language - but you knew that already!) Having said that, as far as I am aware, anyone in receipt of their state pension, and with an S1 from Newcastle, will receive full health care benefits when becoming resident in Spain, wherever they settle. For those below retirement age, the situation is different. Some regions at least used to give free health care based purely on residency (Cataluña, I think - don't know if they still do) and Valencia may do, or may have done, but I thought there was a voluntary contribution system in place now? Or is that Alicante? Anyway, I'm intrigued by Guslopez' statement that in Andalucia you can get full healthcare under retirement age without contributing. Not as far as I know! I'm sure there's many people here who'd like to know more.

Firstly, there's no point asking anyone in Andalucia about SIP cars, because we don't have anything called SIP (nor SUMA, by the way) that I'm aware of here. So in that small matter alone, and in many other details, there are plenty of regional differences. The "autonomous" regions are just that. (Some even have their own language - but you knew that already!) Having said that, as far as I am aware, anyone in receipt of their state pension, and with an S1 from Newcastle, will receive full health care benefits when becoming resident in Spain, wherever they settle. For those below retirement age, the situation is different. Some regions at least used to give free health care based purely on residency (Cataluña, I think - don't know if they still do) and Valencia may do, or may have done, but I thought there was a voluntary contribution system in place now? Or is that Alicante? Anyway, I'm intrigued by Guslopez' statement that in Andalucia you can get full healthcare under retirement age without contributing. Not as far as I know! I'm sure there's many people here who'd like to know more.

Sorry about the double post - triple actually, but you can only edit your last post (WHY?)

I have recently moved from the UK to Malaga province and all my friendshere pay into private health care because they tell me that there is no free availability for those who do not work (i.e. pay into the system) and who are under retirement age.  A bit shoddy really, particulary as we're all part of the EU.

Would love to find that I'm wrong!

There's a lady I know on another forum who lives Jerez de la Frontera way & has healthcare under retirement age & which is available to everyone.. She is actually a member on here & hopefully will explain it . Apparently everyone is entitled to healthcare under Spanish law, I get it here in Murcia.

Some additional information posted by the lady some while ago.

"EU residents of Andalucia can now get free state healthcare if the following conditions apply:

• You are registered at your local clinic but your EHIC/E106 cover period has expired
• You don't get qualify for free healthcare cover as a State Pensioner
• Your income is less than a certain amount (12,000 euros a year for a couple)
• You are registered on the Empadronamiento (remember this needs renewing every two years)"

In addition there's this ;  

"A bit shoddy really, particulary as we're all part of the EU". You have to understand that (as yet) there is no integrated European Health Service; each member state has it's own system, and they're not all as generous as the UK's. The UK gives free healthcare to all residents, regardless of age or whether they are contributing - just being a resident qualifies you. But once you are no longer resident (in the UK) they aren't going to pay for your health care indefinitely wherever you choose to settle. If you are below retirement age, it's assumed that you will be working and contributing in your new country of residence, so that country should provide the health care for you. Logical. Unfortunately Spain doesn't automatically give free health care to non-contributing people below retirement age; the system Guslopez mentions here may be one way to get it, but I wouldn't count on it - when dealing with Spanish bureaucracy, don't expect anyone to know the rules!

Thank you Roberto and guslopez for taking the trouble to reply.

I will make further enquiries to see if I get anywhere!

Ros