FREE MEDICAL COVER JUST BY BEING RESIDENT IN SPAIN

This is info which I received from a friend who is a USA national (with a Chinese wife) it seems they will get free national health cover.  He has Residencia (not just the EU Citizens Registration, i.e. the green paper) as he is from outside the EU.

If he and his wife are entitled to free cover, then it may be of considerable interest to many others.

I would appreciate comments on this, from those who have knowledge and maybe can point us to where we can read the facts.

Guesses and ‘I would assume.. ‘ posts will not be helpful to those to who need to know, so if possible may I request that general comments be opened in another thread, so as not to confuse those needing help ?

Thanks  John.

My friend’s email:- 

My experiences so far.

Yesterday I went to present my documents at the Oficina de Extranjeros in Malaga…with attorney Oscar ***  who specializes in RESIDENCIA matters.

When they saw that I have a membership with Helicoperos Sanitarios all they asked was that I have my wife included in that membership, which is NOT at all expensive. To have her included to the end of the current period (September ´14) will cost me EUROS 25! That will generate the paper I need to satisfy the minions that be. We will then, after registering at the Seguro Social in Malaga, be entitled to inclusion in the Spanish healthcare system. 

In an earlier conversation with Oscar I asked why the officials ask for private health care insurance from a RESIDENT, like me, who actually does not need it to be included in the Spain system once he is a Resident. He asked me if I had had any health issues in Spain since I´ve been a resident and I told him, YES! He asked how that was paid and I told him by my private insurance, which I had at the time because I was under 70 and could buy it. I then told him that I didn´t know then that as a Resident that I could have had those health issues taken care of inside the Spain system. He just smiled! It was/is obvious to me that the Spanish don´t want foreigners to get benefits that they, the Spanish, pay for any more than you Brits and we Yanks like it when all sorts of immigrants leach off our social services without them paying anything into it/them.

I am not sure but if you "sign on" with the social security as a resident looking for work then you should get the same entitlements as an unemployed Spaniard which includes health care.

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It's not hidden, it's the same law that allows UK expats health facilities, provided they have no cover elsewhere, and earn under €100,000. It's known as "sins recurso". In addition to covering citizens if the EE/EAA who qualify, it also covers citizens of other countries who are properly registered. I.e have a residents card, providing they were registered before 24th April 2012.

Thanks Kathyslad.

So EU citizens and Non EU citizens, who needed to prove they had medical cover, to either Register as EU Citizens (green paper) or to get Residencia Status as non EU citizens, who registered before 24^th April 2012, can now cancel their private cover and sign on and get free cover ?

Or have I missed something ?

This message was last edited by johnzx on 26/06/2014.

Johnzx- its all on the UK  government website. The thing about being a fiscal  resident before 24th April 2012, and income under 100,000 in order to be eligible for free health care is  well known and  has been  publicised in the free press and other ex pat forums for ages.

This message was last edited by camposol on 26/06/2014.

really wow that news is so good

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This message was last edited by Tadd1966 on 28/06/2014.

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Thumbs down....

Truth hurts.

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Sometimes there is great information on this forum, other times it reminds of the school playground 50 years. This is the main reason I only post occasionally now.

Although Johnzx's post could have been phrased better, I think he was trying to stop it drifting, which also happens quite frequently.

Just in case you think otherwise, I have had big rows with Johnzx both publicly and privately, usually about issues and information though, rather than playground stuff.

Kathyslad

Fair comment but many threads drift - natural on a forum and people should not even try to make their own rules we can choose to drift or not, comment or not, ignore or not, be it childish, irritating or whatever

I do take exception to people trying to dictate to others what they can post or not (right or wrong!!!) especially when they use hearsay as a starter on a thread, which makes it even worse and  hypocritical at best

hey ho! thats what forums are for