The EHIC (replaced the E111) for those of you living in Spain will change next year on 1st May. From then on, even if you have retired to Spain, your EHIC card will have to be issued by your country of origin (mainly, on here, UK and Ireland but will also affect those from other EU countries.
Access to healthcare: UK European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
Important information for UK State pensioners living in Spain
If you are a UK State pensioner and are resident in Spain then you probably access free healthcare through the form E121 issued by the Department for Work and Pensions. Currently, if you travel back to the UK or to any other EU member state then you need a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) issued by the Spanish Social Security Authorities (INSS) to access free necessary healthcare during your visit.
This is set to change next year when the UK will become responsible for issuing the EHIC to UK pensioners resident in other EU countries. The UK is finalising its processes for the implementation of the new regulations. When these processes have been finalised, we will be contacting everyone concerned in all member states.
The planned date for the new regulations to take effect is 1st May 2010. We are aware that the INSS has issued some EHICs to people due to expire on 28th February 2010, based on a previous planned date for the regulations coming into force. If you are one of these people and you plan to travel before the new regulations come into effect, you should contact the INSS regarding an extension to your EHIC.
These changes will not affect your basic right to healthcare. The EHIC will cover you for necessary treatment during a temporary stay in a different member state to the one you live in.
Treatment covered by the EHIC
In Spain, the EHIC covers:
• all medical care that becomes necessary during a temporary stay;
• oxygen and dialysis treatment, as well as treatment for chronic diseases or a pre-existing illness. You should inform healthcare authorities at your destination in Spain before you travel, to ensure that supplies are available;
• routine maternity care;
• 60% off prescriptions, and free prescriptions for pensioners (you may need to prove your pensioner status to get free prescriptions – see below).
Treatment not covered by the EHIC
The EHIC won’t cover you:
• if getting treatment is the main purpose of your trip. In this case you need to get permission from your UK local healthcare trust who will issue you with form E112;
• for long term, routine or planned treatment;
• for private sector healthcare providers. You must use the State Health System;
• if you are a resident in Spain. If you live here, check with the Department for Work and Pensions whether you have any entitlement to free healthcare in Spain.