Talk Quesada forum

My husband is coming up for state pension age in a couple of months and we are considering then moving our primary residence to our apartment in Spain. We will keep our house here and ideally live in Spain for 8 months of the year and 4 months in the UK.

I have been reading up on how to obtain an S1 certificate but it states you must cancel registration with the NHS as it is residence-based healthcare. So what happens in the 4 months we are here? Does Spain have a similar thing to the EHIC card?

Ignore Brexit as I am fairly confident that whatever is put in its place will be pretty similar to the arrangements now. So if anyone knows or has first-hand experience of living in both countries please let me know what happens at the moment.

You will still be a British Citizen and as such fully entitled to use the NHS in UK while you are visiting
Your EHIC as a pensioner will be issued by the country that pays your pension in your case UK

Hi Ton Tri,

I read up on this subject this week for my parents, and from memory, so long as you are in receipt of a UK state pension, and are a holder of an S1 form, you will continue to receive the same service from the NHS as and when required, even though you mainly live in Spain. (Good to see the UK government do something for our elderly)
I will try and find the link to where I was reading this, and post it here for you.

Happy retirement, and may you you both enjoy many years of happiness in Spain together.

S1 form
Anyone who is in receipt of a UK state pension, long-term incapacity benefit or bereavement benefit will be eligible for the same medical treatment as a local. In order to register for this, you need to obtain an S1 form from the International Pension Centre (IPC) in Newcastle. This needs to be filled in and presented, along with your Registration Certificate (Certificado de registro) and your local resident certificate (Certificado de Empadronamiento), and passport to your local INSS office. They will issue you with an accreditation to take to your local health centre.
Once you have your S1 form and have registered it in Spain, you are also entitled to return to England to receive treatment for free, just like someone who is ordinarily resident in England. Since patients in England are required to make contributions towards the cost of their NHS care, such as paying prescription costs or dental charges, you are required to make the same contributions.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/ ... -care.html

The girl at the health desk in Rojales townhall is extremely helpful.
We knew we were supposed to take our S1 to INSS office, but went to see her instead.
Didn't have to say anything, she said 'Ah! S1! I take that!' and she sorted it for us.
Saved a trip to INSS!
(Can't remember now whether we received our permanent SIP cards in the post or whether she gave us a date to collect them from her.)

Thanks all, that's really helpful and also very good to know. Thank you Chico for the link, I will bookmark it.

This is also a very useful link:
http://healthcareinspain.eu/living-in-s ... stionnaire

It still looks like a minefield to me!

If someone ISN'T of pensionable age, and is resident but NOT working, do they then need to pay the €60/€157 per month into the Convenio Especial scheme, or take out medical insurance?

And if that's the case...does having a chronic condition affect entry into the scheme or affect premiums for the insurance?

najizan123 wrote:This is also a very useful link:
http://healthcareinspain.eu/living-in-s ... stionnaire

It still looks like a minefield to me!

If someone ISN'T of pensionable age, and is resident but NOT working, do they then need to pay the €60/€157 per month into the Convenio Especial scheme, or take out medical insurance?

And if that's the case...does having a chronic condition affect entry into the scheme or affect premiums for the insurance?

1. The UK stopped those under pensionable age from claiming healthcare abroad based on their NI contributions a couple of years ago. Now only over pensionable age, under 18, registered disabled or pregnant are eligible for free healthcare in Europe. It will also cover beneficiaries (spouses and children, gay partnerships but not co-habitation partners) of the eligible person.
2. You cannot pay into the Convenio Especial until you have been resident for a minimum of 1 year. The €60 a month is for anyone not in the categories in 1. €157 a month is for over pensionable age so wouldn't apply as you can then get the S1. All pre-existing conditions are covered under this scheme.
3. To become a resident you need to show you have medical cover. If not in one of the categories in 1 then you would need private insurance. Yes, private schemes will either add a premium for chronic conditions or not cover that particular problem.
4. The EHIC is supposed to be for short term visitors (holiday makers, basically) but Rojales allows you to go on to a temporary cover scheme which will cover you for 3 or 6 months depending on the circumstances which will allow you to visit a GP without going through the EHIC paperwork each time.
5. The rules are the same for everyone including Spanish who haven't paid into the system through social security payments.
6. For those who are in one of the categories listed in 1 then it is probably one of the easiest things you can do here in Spain. The lady who works at Rojales town hall will do it all for you once you have the other documentation necessary. She will issue a temporary card and then you have to go back to collect the permanent one a couple of months later.

Caveat: All this may change after UK withdraws from the EU (or may not).

Magnificent answer, Marcliff - thanks!!!

Can I get advice on prescription costs In Spain. We are moving to Spain soon to retire and we are both pensioners but have repeat prescription. We intend to take permanent residents status. Do we need private health care or is there the equivalent of nhs in Spain . Thanks in advance