HEALTH CARE

Hi there.  We are new to the site and are looking for some advice.  We have purchased an off plan  in Marina del Castillo which is almost complete.  We did not intend to keep it this long but have been unable to sell so it looks as though we will be living in Spain soon.  Can anyone advise on medical insurance.  My husband and I are both in our 50's

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Hi

There is a very large section on Healthcare in Spain on this forum- 462 posts to be precise- someone there must have surely answered your question! Have a look as this has been discussed many times and there are many people in your situation.

Good luck!

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Xetog is right, many have asked same question before so check out this board, click blue link >>   Healthcare in Spain & wade through relevant threads.

Also, can I suggest you join your owners forum too, just click blue link

Marina del Castillo

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Hi

You can use a European health card for emergencies while you are sorting out your private health care.

Incredibly, there is no way for you to join the Spanish health care system without having a job.  There is no system in place.

Sanitas is now a subsidiary of BUPA, so if you have insurance in UK with them, you might be able to negotiate terms with Sanitas.

Even though we are all in the big happy family (???!!) called Europe, in reality nothing is really joined up.  All those in Brussels / Strasbourg preen and talk incessantly, only interrupted by incredible lunches, but don't deal with the fine print.  

Why do I need a passport to go back to U.K.?

Why can't I have a residencia card like we had before?  (Now it's a c$$$$y piece of paper).

Why can't I get healthcare in any European country?

Sorry, but these MEPs have got to get their fingers out - they are costing us all a bomb and doing b$$$$r all.
 

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Please also remember that if you are resident in Spain you are not entitled to ' free' healthcare in the UK .  What many people don't realise is that it is your residency status that determines if  you are entitled to treatment or not , not your  nationality .   UK has been very lapse about this in the past but the govermnment is  tightening up  as NHS  Trusts realise there is money to be made out of overseas visitors.    Saying that the Spansh healthcare is probably better now than the UK .

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Tamsin is absolutely right - although many people simply give their old address when in U.K. and "fake it".

Spanish healthcare is years ahead of UK.  

My wife has had spinal surgery in Granada and the wards were spotless - cleaners scrubbing all day - behind TV, walls, floors, beds etc.  Couldn't fault it.  Also, emergency services are fantastic (in 20 minutes of arrival one time after an accident, someone I know had had ECG, CAT scan, X Rays, blood test results, exam, drip put up etc.)

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Am I right in believing that provided you have a UK address you can split your time between Spain and UK and not lose your entitlement to NHS care? 

We are hoping to move out there in about 4 years and because OH will be of pension age I understand that we get free healthcare.  But we may be coming back to UK for part of the year - I personally can't cope with the summer temperatures - and don't want to be classed as an overseas visitor.

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Someone spoke to Newcastle about this and posted the answer.

Have a look in Healthcare to see if it's there.

I think it was around the time that the postings were going on about the non residents certificate and freezing of bank accounts so it may even be in that thread.

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