Albir_Tom

I'm 28 y/o and have been residing in Spain on and off since 2012. Since my steel company in the uk ceased trading in August I have sold my properties and decided that I want to stay here in Spain permanently as all of my immediate family live here. I have a permanent address, have an NIE, have Spanish bank account, am registered as none-tax resident and also signed onto padron.

I am heavily involved in different sports here and have recently damaged my shoulder quite seriously and I am 100% sure I need an operation. I still have an EHIC card which is valid until Feb 2017 but I also take out private healthcare insurance here in Spain each year. Will never be able to renew my EHIC again as I have no UK address anymore.

Do most private insurances cover all aspects of healthcare ?

I am covered for private hospitals I know that much.

Is it possible for me to just walk into one of the hospitals I'm covered for and say "I'm in pain with my shoulder" and they will look after me ?

Cannot go back to UK for treatment because 1. I have nowhere to stay. 2. I don't think I'm even eligible for NHS treatment anymore because I don't have UK address anymore.

CONFUSED.COM

rspltd

Perhaps your first step should be to contact the the Health Insurance Company?

Albir_Tom

Am going to obviously but just wanted an idea of where I stand when it comes to operations or any feed back of people who may have been in a similar situation.

Example: friend of mines retina burst in his eye and he had to pay 3000€ to get it fixed. He has passed on now God bless his soul so cannot ask him if he had insurance or not.

Bigmomma1

Take a look at your Insurance Policy. Usually, these Medical Insurance Policies have several premiums and the extent/level of cover will be determined by the premium you pay. All of this will be detailed in your policy so that should be your first port of call. If you are covered then contact your Insurers, as already stated. I know of people who have had treatment for 'major' illnesses in Spain, they all praise the Spanish Medical Treatment they recieved.

Mitzyboy

I had private care with Sanitas, and on the odd occasion we had any issues we used to just look in the register book we had for the specific kind of specialist we needed and ring them for an appointment. They would decide what needed to be done and where. I did have some tests done once, and they simply sent me to a hospital for them

As stated, it depends on what kind of private cover you have .... and as you have given up your UK residency now and are quite young, it's worth getting decent cover even if you have to upgrade

Eric S

By the way, the correct Spanish is "el problema".

- Eric S.

iano

Tom, your health insurance should give you access to a private doctor, a gp equivalent. Might be better to make that your first port of call.

S/He would then refer you to a hospital if necessary, depending on your level of cover ?

Mitzyboy

I blame The Terminator

Albir_Tom

¡Pardona mi hombre!

Albir_Tom

Thanks for replies.

Eric S

At least you're trying! (should be "perdona").

- Eric S.

Albir_Tom

Haha

Albir_Tom

Grasseeass