mitzipurr

The Inlaws are coming out in April.

I think there is a form which they can get from the Post Office in UK which covers them for any emergency medical treatment but not sure which E number it is??

jjh

Hi Mitzipurr

The E111 is no longer in use. I believe it's now called the European Health Card which is the same sort of thing. Tell your in-laws to go to the Post Office and ask, that's probably the best thing for them to do.

JJ

mitzipurr

Hi jjh

Thanks for your advice and I will tell them to do that...

Hillybilly

You can also apply for it online www.ehic.org.uk/

mitzipurr

Hey that is great thanks Hillybilly...

Geddy

Hi Mizzipur

The EHIC replaced the E111 2 years ago. The main difference is that once you have a EHIC it does not expire ( the E111 had to be renewed annually)

Applications are per address rather than person, and can be checked at the post office before submission, for a charge of £2

The application takes aprox. 2 weeks, after which you recieve a credit card sized plastic card, rather than the old A4 piece of paper.

If they are coming out in less than two weeks, they need to apply for the card, then ring Newcastle for instructions as to what to do if they need to claim whilst in Spain.

Hope this helps

Geddy
(postmaster)

mitzipurr

Hi Geddy

Appreciate your reply and information.

They are not coming until April so plenty of time to do it.

What a good idea to make a card more permanent rather than having to renew...

mrsjdr

Have just applied online for two for relatives, it said it would be delivered to their address in a week, and very simple and quick to do online.

zims500

Could any one clarify if as an EU pensioner
( age 60 +) & wishing to reside in Spain,
would this EHIC card or indeed some
other card only be for emergencies,
or would all health care be free..

I read somewhere that medicines
( not sure about all else ) are free for EU
pensioners living in Spain...?
A

jdr

You need to get an E121 if you are a pensioner living over here.
Read HERE and HERE and of course from the handy info links thread at the top of the page HERE

mikelincs

You need the E121, available from Newcastle, then when you get out here, register on the padron, then with your local social security office, then take the form they give you to the local health clinic, you will be given a temp SIP card, then after a few weeks you will get the full one, a plastic credit card thing, which you are advised to carry with you at all times, one thing it does establish you are a resident, and entitled to free care. You would be advised to bring out a three month supply of any medicines you need to take as it could take this length of time to get registered, your UK GP should prescribe them for you, and also get them to do a resume of your medical records, they will charge a fee for this though, but essential to have with you, you can then hand it in to the local health place.

zims500

thanks very much for this..
would you know if one is still advised to take
some private cover incase of long waiting times
for procedures/ operations or
whatever as is unfortuately in the UK?
A

mikelincs

We haven't, and most of the people round here use the same health centre, and it has a very good reputation, as has the local hospital, which has only been open about 4 months. Can't really help, but most things I've heard are positive, you have to look at the WHO statistics that rank Spain as 6th in the world for it's health service, compared with the UK rank of 24.

Mitzyboy

We took private with Sanitas only because at this early stage we don't have enough Spanish language to make ourselves clear and I think this is important. Although private health care doesn't guarantee an English speaking doctor its fairly certain. Where we are, no one speaks english in the local centre. For what it costs (65ish a month) its worth it for peace of mind at the moment, although I have heard nothing but praise for the Spanish Health care system.

zims500

thanks all for very much for the helpful info.
A