Re: SERIOUS SCARY STUFF
 

And the NI contributions would be more than private health care!
It was a major factor for us too,about moving here.
We have private cover,always have had...but I'm gonna miss the cheapo prescriptions :unsure:

Re: SERIOUS SCARY STUFF
 

hi all
Not been on here for a while as I returned to UK, but still like to see what is happening in Porkieland.
So its come home to roost at last.
I spent 10 years in the Algarve, and became a resident as you (at your peril !!)
Back in 2005, in the Algarve, at least, it was common practice that if
you held a residencia, your local Junta, would send you to the Centro de Saude and tell you to get a medical card. Almost without exception that was issued and in I think 2006, the tatty piece of paper was changed to a card.
The ironly was that at that time, in order to get a residencia card, you had to prove that:
a) You had PRIVATE MEDICAL CARE insurance
b) That there was at least 10,000euros in your Portuguese Bank Account.
That was all stopped in 2007 I think when the European Laws started to bite in Portugal, then they asked for no proof of anything.

Of course, all of this was wrong !!!!!
The people in the Algarve as usual had no idea what they were doing.
Medical cards for state healthcare are ONLY available if you have a SOCIAL SECURITY number, and that has nothing at all to do with your Contribuante.
The only way to get a Social Security number is to be in work and pay Social Security,,,,,,,,,,simple as that.
If you dont have a social security number you should not receive free health care in Portugal.
As I understand it when you become 65 (for men) you are able to get free health in Portugal and the UK will pay.
What wouldn`t surprise me is that the authorities try to retreive any costs paid out to people that should not have had a card !!!!!! ie medication and any hospital work.
My suggestion is to get private health care from AFPOP, there is pretty cheap cover and it covers you anywhere in Europe for emergency treatment as well as private in Portugal.
Get the IHIC from UK on line, I think all you need is your NI number and an address in UK

Re: SERIOUS SCARY STUFF
 

try reading

http://www.nhs.uk/nhsengland/Healthc...areabroad.aspx

jeff

Re: SERIOUS SCARY STUFF
 

Well here I am trying to inform people of what is happening and you get posts like the last one which is incorrect, when you move here you must register with the social security so you can register at Centro du Saude, ( 1 ) you do not have to be working to get this, ( 2 ) if you are resident here you are not entitled to a UK EHIC CARD, ( 3 ) the tatty piece of paper is not turned into a card, it is a tatty piece of paper. I joined this web site 4 years ago and it has been really helpful but at times we get people coming on it who have not a clue and as one of the threads ( Tavira Mugging ) when one of the members who thinks they are helping out gets crucified with stupid comments. Any way back to the plot, went to the Centro du Saude this morning with our PT neighbour, spoke to a lovely girl in reception, explained what had happened, she asked for our Carto de Utente, PT EHIC card then she phoned Lisbon, after 15 mins she took our tatty piece of paper, ripped it up then issued us with a new tatty piece of paper and told us we are entitled to health care in PT. We now have to go back to the Social security office with loads of paperwork to get them sorted out, watch this space, I would like to add more but we are of to Faro to see Toy Story in English.

Re: SERIOUS SCARY STUFF
 

I'm confused.How did you get a PT EHIC...I thought you said we couldn't get one?

Re: SERIOUS SCARY STUFF
 

And im confused too... as I have a numero de utente/registered with centro saude yet I have never registered at the social security, I have been to the local health centre many times & I have had emergency treatment at the hospital.(as a resident not a tourist)

Although I would not be surprised if what you are informed of is the truth...its just a case of the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing:unsure:

Re: SERIOUS SCARY STUFF
 

Me too. Does anyone have the definitive?

Re: SERIOUS SCARY STUFF
 

Same.

Re: SERIOUS SCARY STUFF
 

to chopperfrom NHS web site:

IN PORTUGAL

If you're receiving a UK state pension, or in receipt of long-term incapacity benefit, you may be entitled to state healthcare paid for by the UK. You will need to apply for an E121, which you should then present to the Portuguese health authorities.

However, if you move to Portugal to live but not work and do not receive a UK benefit, you may be eligible for up to two-and-a-half years of state healthcare cover, paid for by the UK. In this case, you will need to apply for an E106.

For more details on how to apply for an E121 or E106, visit the 'Moving abroad' section.

Re: SERIOUS SCARY STUFF
 

We found this sometime ago, but as I stated we are under pensionable age so this does not apply. As for the PT EHIC, we have had this for 2 years by applying at the social office, but now they are saying we are not entitled to get one, after our visit to Centro du Saude they have told us to go back to the social office so will let you know the next instalment, as Ged says right hand left hand.

Re: SERIOUS SCARY STUFF
 

also from NHS website

New EU regulations from May 1 2010
New EU regulations from May 1 2010


Due to changes in European Union regulations, from May 1 2010 the United Kingdom may be responsible for the issue of your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) instead of the member state where you live.

This will apply if you are a national of an EU member state and live in an EU member state, and you either:
receive your state pension or other long-term benefit from the UK and you have registered the form E121 with the health authorities in the member state where you live; or
you are dependent on a citizen working in the UK and have registered the form E109 issued by the UK
You will need to send your application by post. An application form, along with an explanatory letter, will be posted to you during February 2010. This application form will be different from the EHIC application form available in the UK, and will be modified to prove your entitlement to the new UK-issued EHIC card.
These cards will be sent out from April 2010 onwards. If you return your completed application form by the end of March 2010, your card should arrive before the new regulations come into force.
If you are not a national of an EU member state, or you live in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland, then the country where you live will remain responsible for issuing your EHIC. In these circumstances, please contact the authorities in your country of residence.
For more information please call the Overseas Healthcare Team on 0191 218 1999.

the way i read this is that if you are NOT in receipt of either state pension or incapacity benefit the EHIC should be a PT one

jeff

Re: SERIOUS SCARY STUFF
 

So does that mean that Portugal is ultimately responsible for paying for +/-1,000,000 non Portuguese EU nationals but resident in Portugal, that have never paid anything towards the PT state by way of NI contributions, if they have an emergency in any other EU state?

Re: SERIOUS SCARY STUFF
 

that's the way it reads to me - i can only comment on what this website says - not sure what the PT government will have to say about it

jeff

Re: SERIOUS SCARY STUFF
 

So it would seem that if you are in receipt of either state pension or incapacity benefit the card is issued in the UK.

Anyone who does not qualify under this has to be paying contributions (working or self-employed) to be able to use the health system.

Re: SERIOUS SCARY STUFF
 

seems like it unless you have the 2.5 years where the NHS pays your PT medical bills - again from NHS ebsite

If you move to an EEA country to live but not work and don't receive a UK benefit, you may be eligible for up to two-and-a-half years of state healthcare, paid for by the UK.
You will need to apply for form S1 (or form E106 if you are moving to Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland) with the Overseas Healthcare Team (Newcastle). You also need to prove that you have worked in the UK and paid National Insurance contributions up to three years before your departure.
For further advice, contact the Overseas Healthcare Team (Newcastle):
Overseas Healthcare Team (Newcastle)
Room TC001
Tyneview Park
Whitley Road
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE98 1BA
Phone 0191 218 1999 (Monday to Friday 8am-5pm).
The S1 (or E106) will entitle you to treatment on the same basis as a resident of the country you are moving to. This may mean that you have to make a patient contribution toward the cost of your care.
When the cover on the S1 (or E106) expires, you cannot get any further medical cover from the UK until you receive a UK state pension. It is up to the country’s authorities to decided whether you are eligible to join their healthcare scheme.
You will also be entitled to a UK-issued EHIC, allowing you to visit other EEA countries besides the one you are a resident with.

jeff