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Processes for UK Pensioner obtaining full health cover

Processes for UK Pensioner obtaining full health cover

Postby Roy Dainty » Tue Aug 22, 2017 10:15 am

Obtaining full health cover as a UK pensioner.
I have written the following as too many pensioners mix up the limited health cover afforded by a SIP card with that of full health cover. SIP cards allow for visiting a GP and receiving prescriptions but not for hospital referrals. The EHIC provides only emergency hospital treatment but, again, not referrals. The following describes what you need to do to obtain full health cover.
There is a required sequence of actions. Unless fluent in Spanish, you should seek help, possibly from your lawyer, for those actions required in Spain.
1. Contact DWP on +44 191 218 7777 and arrange for your UK State Pension to be paid into your Spanish bank account. My phone call lasted under 5 minutes. This begins to establish your financial self-sufficiency in Spain. I was advised that this income is considered more dependable than the transfer of private pensions or capital. It took 6 weeks for my pension transfer to commence.
2. Obtain form S1 from the DWP’s Overseas Healthcare Team on +44 191 218 1999. Easy to arrange though it will take around 4 to 5 weeks to arrive (by post). Two original S1’s will be sent. (I was advised to scan the form onto my computer or take a copy.)
3. Obtain Spanish Resedencia. This is available by appointment from the main police stations in Torrieveja, Elche and Alicante. Documents required are S1, NIE, Padron, Passport, all with photocopies, passport photo (not always used) and proof that you are financially self-sufficient in Spain. Three months of bank statements showing your UK pension going in should be accepted though, also, I had a letter from my bank (Sabadell) that I was financially sound.
4. Arrange appointment at INSS (Social Seguridad) office in Torrevieja. This cannot be done by visiting the office but by phoning +34 965 90 32 46 or on-line at www.seg-social.es . I booked my appointment on-line, ticking the other services box, and was given an appointment 22 days later. I downloaded confirmation of my appointment, a ‘Cita Previa’, which included a unique appointment reference number. On the appointed day, take both of your S1’s together with your Resedencia. Although not needed, I took along my Passport, Padron and SIP, plus copies of everything. I entered my appointment reference number into a machine that produced a slip giving another reference number and the desk to attend. A few minutes later this reference was displayed on an overhead screen. The process of registering my S1 took about 5 minutes. I didn’t need Spanish but out of courtesy did explaining that I was there to register my S1. The only question I was asked was to confirm my address. Both S1’s were retained, hence having previously been advised to take a copy or scan. The culmination was being issued with an officially stamped certificate, a ‘Documento Acreditativo del Derecho a la Asistencia Sanitaria (Normativa Internacional)’.
5. Finally, I had to register this stamped certificate. This can be done at Rojales Town Hall on Tuesday or Thursday mornings or on any weekday at the Rojales Medical Centre. Besides the certificate, you will need to show your SIP and Padron. Delivery of the formal health card takes about 2 months and has to be collected from the Quesada Medical Centre. However, with your details on the computer, you now have full entitlement to health cover in Spain as well as elective hospital services in the UK.
The entire process to being registered on the computer took me about 9 months. Processes may change, especially if more automation comes in, but these were correct as of August 2017. I would like to thank Steve Ford, translator (0034 667 834 487) at Quesada Clinic, for advice on accomplishing the last two processes.
One final thing, having obtained Resedencia, you are obliged within six months to have transfered your UK driving licence to a Spanish one. The fine for not doing so is €200.
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Re: Processes for UK Pensioner obtaining full health cover

Postby dr.doolittle » Tue Aug 22, 2017 11:09 am

:text-goodpost: :text-thankyouyellow:
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Re: Processes for UK Pensioner obtaining full health cover

Postby sunnydale » Tue Aug 22, 2017 5:54 pm

This is most annoying please check your information total garbage xx
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Re: Processes for UK Pensioner obtaining full health cover

Postby sunnydale » Tue Aug 22, 2017 6:02 pm

xxx
Last edited by sunnydale on Thu Aug 24, 2017 7:32 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Processes for UK Pensioner obtaining full health cover

Postby sunnydale » Tue Aug 22, 2017 6:15 pm

xxx
Last edited by sunnydale on Thu Aug 24, 2017 7:33 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: Processes for UK Pensioner obtaining full health cover

Postby marcliff » Tue Aug 22, 2017 6:16 pm

sunnydale wrote:This is most annoying please check your information total garbage xx



There are one or two things that you don't need to do but Roy Dainty is giving his experience of how it went for him.
However, we got out residency and SIP cards within a month of moving here (well, 3 months if you count getting the actual permanent health card).

The bit in the first paragraph about the limited health cover offered by a SIP card should, I assume, mean by a EHIC card.
If you contact Newcastle for your S1 before arriving it will be waiting for you when you get to Spain. It shouldn't take more than a week for it to arrive. Same with having a pension paid here. it will depend when you apply but it should be the next pay day unless you have gone past the processing date when it could take longer.
Yes, the rest is personal experience and seem a bit complicated. We simply got the S1 (completed) posted to us, went to Elche for the residency documents, the padron from the town hall and handed in the S1 forms to the lady there. That, really, was it.
Oh, the bit about changing your driving licence within 6 months is not correct. If you have a EU style photocard issued in the UK then you need to exchange it after 2 years, not 6 months. Of course, if it expires (and it's only valid 10 years) then it has to be renewed and you can't do it in UK if you are a resident nor can you exchange it in Spain once it has expired so get it done before then.

.
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Re: Processes for UK Pensioner obtaining full health cover

Postby sunnydale » Tue Aug 22, 2017 6:28 pm

Well said , I agree with you and feel very sad to see misinformation posted for our fellow countrymen which only adds to confusion . Another misapprehension is the exchange rate , when being paid by the DWP direct to your Spanish bank account the rate is higher than if you elect to do the exchange yourself .
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Re: Processes for UK Pensioner obtaining full health cover

Postby sunnydale » Tue Aug 22, 2017 6:42 pm

Well said , I agree with you and feel very sad to see misinformation posted for our fellow countrymen which only adds to confusion . Another misapprehension is the exchange rate , when being paid by the DWP direct to your Spanish bank account the rate is higher , than if you elect to do the exchange yourself .
Last edited by sunnydale on Tue Aug 22, 2017 7:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Processes for UK Pensioner obtaining full health cover

Postby sunnydale » Tue Aug 22, 2017 6:54 pm

ok
Last edited by sunnydale on Thu Aug 24, 2017 7:30 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Processes for UK Pensioner obtaining full health cover

Postby sunnydale » Tue Aug 22, 2017 7:19 pm

sorry x
Last edited by sunnydale on Thu Aug 24, 2017 7:27 am, edited 1 time in total.
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