GILLINCHICLANA

I Use Centro Medico Regularly. Yes It Is Cash Only, However If You Have Private Health Insurance You Pay With Your Card Which Does Look Like A Credit Card. If Anybody Has Any Problems With C.m They Can Ask To See Everisto Who Speaks Perfect English - Being American. I Am Unsure Of His Position There Or How Many Hours He Works, But It Is To Help Ex-pats.

Arco-Iris

We joined Centro Medico in Chiclana four years ago and have had nothing but very good treatment from them. When we signed up, we were given a hand-written price list showing 24 hour free family doctor, male nurse and ambulance. As associates, specialist consultations are half price - around 20€
per consultation. A full blood test cost 30€.

We pay around 22€ a month for a whole family - if we had dependent children they would be included. The only really big hit is the cost of some medications with a private prescription.

We've always paid cash, as requested, and really don't find that a problem as there's an El Monte hole-in-the wall, with zero commission, round the corner opposite La Hacienda.

We rate them highly for speedy attention for acute conditions. For anything chronic we need to join the health centre because, as retired people, we'd get free treatment and prescriptions. Just need to gird my loins to face the
bureaucracy.

mitzipurr

[QUOTE=GILLINCHICLANA;4456807]I Use Centro Medico Regularly. Yes It Is Cash Only, However If You Have Private Health Insurance You Pay With Your Card Which Does Look Like A Credit Card. If Anybody Has Any Problems With C.m They Can Ask To See Everisto Who Speaks Perfect English - Being American. I Am Unsure Of His Position There Or How Many Hours He Works, But It Is To Help Ex-pats.[/Q

Everisto is a great guy and is very helpfull. His postion in the clinic is to encourage more ex pats to use Centro Medico and assist them in any problems they experince through translating etc. However I think he is only there up to 2 oclock each day.

mitzipurr

Could you please tell me who you contacted to get a price list for treatment I was told they did not have one. The system has it stands is open to abuse.I agree the cost is reasonable but my experience has led me to the conclusion that the quality of health care is not much better than than the state health center. My advice is to register at the center. If you go and make a appointment in the morning you can usually see a doctor the same day. If you require urgent medical attention you can see a doctor straight away. Yes of course another major plus is you get free medication. I still maintain it is crazy in this day and age to expect people to pay cash for treatment. After all this is the 21st century?:confused

Arco-Iris

Hi Mitzipurr - it was the clinic that approached us, as for the first three visits for an ear infection, I was paying 60€ each time for a consulta privada, not knowing about the Associate scheme.

Via Gloria, they explained the scheme and wrote out the benefits and fees. I would think that if you go to Admin upstairs, they would be able to help you.

mitzipurr

Hi Arco Iris

By Admin upstairs do you mean the desk at the top of the stairs?

Really think it would be helpful if they had a printed out list for most treatments offered as unfortunately when I asked at the desk at the top of the stairs the price was just given verbally and quote "will be around 45 Euros!!"

Arco-Iris

Yes, Mitzi, office on the next floor, facing the stairs. All establishments in Spain have a notice about complaints. Maybe you could make a written suggestion that their prices be printed.

Good luck.

cherie

That rings a bell.......franchise, I mean.

cherie

Poollounger, do you realise that uk is still not offering.....in this day and age of european citizenship.......spanish national health, to those uk citizens who are entitled to same?

cherie

Oh My........I do hope these centro medico clinics now how intensive care facilities........if not, well hope all you non spanish people have papers available to give you access to same, should your life actually need to be saved.

accommodation-in-spain

This also happens in the UK - in a pub I know down the road the locals all have passes that they show to get the normal price beer and the tourists probably pay double that!

We went to the Centro Medical in Novo Sancti Petri a few years back for our son who had difficulty breathing. We were very scared when we arrived and even though we only spoke Spanglish they were really helpful and put us at ease straight away. Our son was much better only hours after going there. I am sure we paid by credit card then.

I have also found the farmacias really good too - they seem to give you a miracle cure every time you go in