residency in Spain

Hi all, I wonder if anyone can help me out?

A friend of mine is moving to Spain full time (in fact he's been in spain for a while). He's applying for residency and it looks like he will have to take out private medical insurance as his UK NHS reciprical cover won't work as he hasn't paid enough in - or something like that. I have heard that even EU members are being aske dot take out private policies before they are granted residency.

My questions are really more around what this means - for example if that were the requirement and once you could demonstrate that in order to get residency granted, wouldn't you simply cancel the private policy and as an EU member with residency granted, you'd be covered under the Spanish NHS system - or is that too simplistic?

If you take private insurance and aren't covered for any special conditions what would happen if you then needed treatment on those - would the spansh NHS treat you?

I welcome some clarity to any of the above.

Best regards, Carl

UK citizens make the mistake of assuming that once in an EU country we qualify for full health care. Unfortunately that is not usually the case as many EU countries operate a contribution based system, whereas the UK operates a residency based system. We must be treated the same as a citizen of whichever country we choose to make our home, but that means if we haven't paid into their system then we don't get anything out (different rules apply for pensioners). It may not seem fair but that's the rules!

xetog - understand your point and you are probably correct but what happens to a Spaniard if they have not contributed to the system for whatever reason - for example if they have never worked since leaving school due to lack of jobs. Will they get health care?

Thanks all, so I'm reading the reply from xetog to mena that even once residency has been granted, you don't have the right to walk into a Spanish hospital and have free healthcare?

I still don't think the issue around what's not covered in any private healthcare policy has been addressed. If for example you'd had a heart attack in the past, that likely wouldn't be covered on any private insurance - what happens if you have another once you are have residency? Who pays for that treatment?

Regards, Carl

You do, I suppose Carl (ie the person who has had the heart attack) but to be honest I don't really know. You are probably right in assuming that private healthcare wouldn't cover serious per-existing conditions. In that case it would probably be best to join the new healthcare system for immigants to Spain, which would cover pre existing medical conditions. We don't live in Spain so just know what we read about it. I was just answering your query as to why it seems as though everyone gets free healthcare etc.in the Uk and we don't get it elsewhere in the EU!

Kathyslad

Good point but assuming over 26 and not under parents etc my point is a Spaniard who has not contributed in any way to the Spanish health care system will get full health care in Spain.

Does this then make the rule that EU citziens should get the same health care as that nations citizens a bit selective?

Is the Spanish contribution health system flawed as a result as there are many unemployed in Spain some who have contributed, others who have not contributed and some who have contributed very little (for various reasons)

It further asks the question how long do you need to contribute before it is removed. eg if you have worked legally for 6 months or 6 years when does contribution based cover run out for Spanish or non Spanish EU citizens (they should get the same cover or not covered).

Or once you have contributed are you then entiltled for life as long as you remain a resident?

Hi just started reading this and it is of interest to us as we are moving out there permanently next year.

Xetog mentions the new special arrangements as promised in the new health bill in Spain for non spaniards.

I have read that you have to have residencia for 1 year to qualify and once resident for 1 year the contribution is 60 euros per person per month. For rthat you get health cover in Spain but i have yet to read anything which expalins how much cover you get for you're money. Assuming you can do this then you would presumably only have to show that you have cover for the initial 12 months. Does anyone know more on the new special arrangements ?