Processes for UK Pensioner obtaining full health cover
Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2017 10:15 amObtaining 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.
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.
