Talk Quesada forum

My husband receives his healthcare from spain not the UK as he receives a small pension from spain ( also a full UK state pension. When I became of pension age the manager of our health centre arranged for me to be added to my husbands Spanish health care although I have the S1 form from the UK which I haven't used. My question is should my husband pass before me will my Spanish health care be cancelled.
Originally my husbands health care was funded by the UK when he started to receive a Spanish pension the UK said spain should now be responsible for his healthcare.

This was spoken about a few days ago, so check out that post. I think it was suggested to apply for your own card from the Social Services office

Don't wait to find out. You are best using your S1 to arrange your healthcare as an independent individual. Then you can be sure the care will continue seamlessly if you outlive husband.

You definitely need to get your own healthcare, a friend of mine went to a hospital appointment a few years ago to find it had been cancelled, she than found out as her husband had died and she was piggy backing on his, her health care had been withdrawn.

Not quite the same Chris Dee as my husband s healthcare is funded by Spain not the UK. as his wife I am covered by his health care from spain not the uk.

I'd try the social service office, get an appointment and find out from them what's required. Only a couple of hours of your time then you'd know for sure.

karen jones123 wrote:Not quite the same Chris Dee as my husband s healthcare is funded by Spain not the UK. as his wife I am covered by his health care from spain not the uk.

I am funded by Spain too and my wife, who is older, has 'piggy-backed' my SIP since the noughties, but as soon as she reached UK pension age and was eligible for the S1 in her own right, we got her transferred over. Much more certainty for the future should anything happen to me and also independence for her. From memory it also gives her more rights to access the NHS if need be, including a UK EHIC.

If you are in receipt of a UK state pension, not just of pensionable age, then you are entitled to an S1 which for an expat is the gold standard for healthcare so yes, you absolutely should get and register your own.