Health

First of all let's check if you are entitled to state/public health care in Spain.

• EHIC (European Health Insurance card) entitles you to medical services in state/public health centres on temporary stays only in the Canary Islands/Spain. Highly recommended that you also take out travel insurance to cover any costly medical incidents.  

• Tarjeta Canaria de Salud (blue card) issued only if:
• You work and pay social security contributions in Spain
• You receive a Spanish state pension or benefit
• You are in receipt of a UK state pension obtain an S1 form and register with local INSS office 
• As of 1st July, 2014 early retirees are no longer eligible for S1 form.

If none of the above apply, but you have a Residencia Certificate, issued prior to 24th April, 2012, and are registered Padron for more than a year, you may be eligible for health care on the basis of residency by applying for a Convenio Especial. If granted, the cost is 60€ per month up to 64 years of age and 157€ per month 65+ years for state/public health care. Please not that this does not cover prescription discounts or prosthetic aids.

Further useful information can be found on this link Health Care in Spain.

Many Expats will be aware that whilst you can find an abundance of public primary health centres, it is another matter in the case of public hospitals, specialists and/or consultants, due to the delays in the construction of Hospital Sur (Mojon), which inevitably means lengthy trips to the north and has created longer waiting lists for medical treatments. I personally, highly praise the state health system we have, I am able to converse in Spanish without an interpreter, but I do not like waiting periods;   1-2 months for diagnostic tests and 4 months for an x-ray, when I have had the same done within a week under private insurance.

My choice was simple and my partner and I sleep better at night knowing that we have a safety net in place with private insurance, if and when we require urgent medical services. We have access to a faster private medical diagnosis and services in the event of a serious medical condition.

The choice is now yours....You can find information on Adeslas health plans under the Health Plans tab. Please do not hesitate to contact me, should you require any questions answer, need more information or a free, no obligation quote.

Email: vicki.chalmers@gmail.com