Talk Quesada forum

After being resident now in Spain for just over 12 months and being penalised beyond belief by our private health insurer, I am now looking into paying into the spanish healthcare system. My partner and I are early retirees so both under 60 years of age. I believe this will be at a cost of €60 each per month.
I am interested to know if anybody has done this and how easy it was to apply for, what documentation was needed (we both have resdencia, up to date Padron and NIE numbers) and where the application was submitted to.

Citizens advice.org.es have some useful information and forms. There are various methods of application it would appear, dependent on the mood. Process of elimination me thinks.

Your Centro Salud should be able to help. In Torrevieja, they were most unhelpful and even told us it had been disbanded. Our lawyers eventually did all the paperwork for us. We had to go into Alicante to the Valencian health authority in the centre of Alicante. It took,all of 5 minutes!!
What you have mentioned is what is needed. Your bank details also required for each direst debit payment. You will receive full health cover, including any existing problems. Only Thing is you pay 100% of your prescription charges.
Apologies as I cannot remember the actual name and address in Alicante.
Hope this helps.

Hi i feel i need to comment, the cost of private health is prohibitive to us so we appied for the Convenio Especials about 4 years ago, we can chose to use private consultants etc should we need anything dealing with more quickly its approx 125 euros to see a consultant and have had a diagnosis and treatment quickly without the waiting for Docs appointments etc and then waiting for the Hospital appointment. From what i have seen many people use both in tandem and its worked perfectly for us, hope this helps. Linda.

Please remember that the Convenio Especial goes up to 159 euros each per month when you reach 65 years of age!!!! Obviously if you get your State Pension at that age, then no problem. We don´t get ours until we are 67 yrs. The chances are you may having pre-existing illnesses by then in which case, you won´t get private insurance.
We are staying private for an extra 16 euros each a month!!!

Hi, we're looking to relocate to Spain in 2019.
My wife and I will be 52/53 and will not be working. We will be living off savings until our small pensions kick in at age 55.

The costs of private healthcare seems too high for us, even the 60 euro pm Convenio Especial seems expensive, BUT that might have to be our cheapest option long term.

We understand that to gain residence in the first place we MUST have health insurance for the first year?

If that is the case (and I think it is) can anyone recommend the cheapest health insurance on the market in Spain?

What insurers do you use or recommend?

We would greatly appreciate any help and advice - Thanks, T and S

We have recently been through this exercise and are in a similar position to yourselves albeit slightly older. After reading various posts about the costs of private medical insurance being around the 60 euros a month bracket we were gobsmacked to receive 5 quotes between 1800 and 2400 euros a year. This has rather put the mockers on things for us and we now have to remain British citizens subject to the usual visitor restrictions. God knows what will happen after Brexit ! We simply can’t afford to either retire and/or apply for Residencia.

Think the insurers have cottoned on!

We use Caser insurance and are a similar age to you. We pay approx €130 per month.

Tootandploot wrote:We have recently been through this exercise and are in a similar position to yourselves albeit slightly older. After reading various posts about the costs of private medical insurance being around the 60 euros a month bracket we were gobsmacked to receive 5 quotes between 1800 and 2400 euros a year. This has rather put the mockers on things for us and we now have to remain British citizens subject to the usual visitor restrictions. God knows what will happen after Brexit ! We simply can’t afford to either retire and/or apply for Residencia.

Think the insurers have cottoned on!

That seems how we feel about it too. Cheap to live and retire to Spain, but healthcare costs are prohibitive.

Angela17 wrote:We use Caser insurance and are a similar age to you. We pay approx €130 per month.

Thanks, I'll look them up...