Health care question,

upon further thought, I wonder if the private Spanish health care one would need to take out to get residency with being under retirement age, cover you while in the UK , THATS A QUESTION to ask the private healthcare provider in spain,or has anyone had experience of this,?

Yes. Ours with Salus and covers us for private medical care throughout Europe. I've never had to use it though, touch wood.

mondo wrote:How about this to add to the confusion..

As the UK system is residency based... suppose a UK guy who is resident in Spain, goes back to the UK and rents a property for a week... are they then okay for UK medical cover, as they now "reside" in the UK?


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No. Whilst the definition of "ordinary residence" may not be specific, bear in mind the 90-day rule, the deadline by which immigrants to European countries have to register as foreigners residing in another country. I assume that this would be the first benchmark that would determine a person's usual place of residence.

Friends of ours who have lived permanently in Spain for 2 years, returned to the UK for a month, staying with family in the area they used to live: she tried to book an appointment with her former GP and was refused. She was advised that, if it was urgent, she should take her EHIC to the nearest A&E dept. Of course, following Brexit, whatever alternative arrangements are made, those of us permanently residing outside of the UK will no longer be able to use our EHICs - the clue's in the name: EUROPEAN Health Insurance Card - as the UK will no longer be in the EU. This is stated on the Gov.UK website, where it's now being emphasised the importance of visitors ensuring they have adequate travel insurance.

In July this year I had an accident whilst staying with my son in England, I went to A&E with my SIP card but I wasn't asked to produce anything. They updated my address on their system and I had no problem at all.