abpel

I’m a bit confused about what documents I will need for giving birth in a Spanish hospital. I am a UK citizen, 5 months pregnant and will be staying in Spain for about 4 months from when I am 6 months pregnant. I have a long leave of absence from work, a great free accommodation with a friend in Jerez and sufficient funds to support my husband and I for at least six months and more. So we are essentially going to be long-term tourists I guess, not looking to work or to settle.
o I have the EUHIC card, but realize that is only to be used in emergencies (and essentially replaces the E111);
o I am registered with a GP in the UK and am entitled for full health care in UK, but want to see how I can use the Spanish system based on the EU reciprocity agreements properly;
o I have no desire to cheat any system and want to make sure I get myself organize before we go to Spain 1 July.
- How do I get an E112 (is that the one I need for non-emergency cover in EU)
- I might apply for residency, but it depends how quickly I can do that, given that I will not be working (nor need to), so essentially I will be considered to be on holiday in Spain I guess. Will that affect my ability to get an E112;
- What are my options for using the public health care to give birth in Spain?

In case nothing else, I am trying to see about extending my private health care, but due to the nature of my work it is proving a little difficult. Any suggestions gratefully received.

Mitzyboy

Someone will put me right I guess if I'm incorrect, but I dont think you have any rights to care here. If you were coming here to reside then you would get an E106 document from DWP Newcastle which you would use to get a temporary SIP (health) card. But as you are only here on holiday, and as Spain has a contribution based system rather than a residency one, I'm not sure if your EHIC will be any good.

What the hospital would do faced with a lady giving birth however is another thing, but what about the pre care?


The 112 you mention is for pensioners

jdr

This is one for DWPinSpain I think, very complicated, maybe you should stay in the UK till you give birth to be safe.
You can`t actually be a long term tourist or leave the UK for too long or you forfeit your health cover.

Mitzyboy

We dont want a birth with complications do we!

Dessiree

I doubt you will be able to extend your healthcare to incorporate pregnancy as i had a baby in spain (private healthcare) and you had to be paying the maternity premiums 6 months prior to falling pregnant. In any case, do you really want all the upheaval of giving birth in another country? Do you speak spanish? if not, its none of my business but i really don't recommend it. I gave birth a year ago and the midwife in the private hospital didn't speak english, however, i speak good spanish but even so, i think i would have felt more comfortable with someone who could speak english due to the nature of what you are going through. Just a thought......

Also. if you had a baby in spain you would not automatically gain citizenship, nor would you qualify for the payments that the spanish government give out to new babies.......

Dessiree

To be fair, i was out of the UK for 4 years, and returned last november, i took my son to the doctors and even though he wasn't born in spain - straight away he has health care, as did I when i found out i was expecting again in december (due in july) so i don't believe you forfeit any health cover.

jdr

The pre care is great, birth care is excellent, but there is no after care, but if you are a resident you get free prescriptions till the child is one.
Also if they think you came over for the purpose to get medical care you could end up with a bill.

jdr

No you don`t forfeit it if you are returning to the UK permanently and can prove a UK address.

Chiclanagir

I would speak to Newcastle about this because it may be best to get an E106 if you have paid enough contributions.

abpel

Thanks everyone for the answers and suggestions. Just a few things to clarify, I speak almost fluent Spanish (learnt from living in the same town I’ll be giving in birth, but 15 years ago). We aren’t interested in claiming any of the other benefits – like citizenship, as I have dual US and UK citizenship, both of which the child is entitled to in this case; nor State payments for a baby. Financially we don’t any assistance package, but did want to see about using the public system, as from what I understand you are entitled to the same level of care as in your home country (provided you are still contributing in the UK). I work in peacekeeping, and so have spent the last 7 years living all over the world in conflict zones, but maintain a home in the UK, pay taxes and voluntary contributions to NI. We have rented out our house in London for a year (before I got pregnant), and because of the nature of my work, I’ve been given an extended leave, and Spain is the only option that makes sense for us – we also have more friends and family there nearby, rather than in London strangely.

I understood that if a medical procedure if say free in the UK, then I would be entitled to the same in another EU country, regardless of whether the procedure were one that required contribution in that EU country. And the NHS would reimburse Spain in that case. The reverse is also true – if say in Spain a treatment were free, while in the UK there was a fee, then the UK citizen would have to reimburse the NHS. It is spelt out under “Planned Treatment abroad” on the NHS site, http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthc...treatment.aspx, but I find it a little complicated as to how to apply it exactly. And wanted to see if anyone had made use of this. It is about harmonization across Europe and all that jazz.

Once the baby is born, it will be covered under my family private health care so don’t need to worry about that in Spain or UK, but for bizarre reasons in my line of work, pregnancy is covered but birth itself isn’t!

In case this isn’t possible – to use the State system – does anyone have a rough idea of what an average (hopefully straight forward, no complications!) birth costs at an average private hospital in Spain?

Thanks again for a great forum, and for discussion.

DWPinSpain

The EHIC does cover routine maternity care but you may want to enquire about the E112 to be certain. Call the Overseas Healthcare Team in Newcastle on 0191 218 1999. They will also advise you on the amount of time you can be out of the UK and still be entitled to NHS care.

Mitzyboy - she said E112 not E121 and the E106 is only for posted workers or early retirees, not people on extended holiday.

Veleta

Why don't you call one of the clinics/hospitals to find out?

There is the Clinica Serman which specialises in fertility and babies in general. 956301211. [email protected].

Or the private hospital is Hospital Juan Grande. 956181650.

Jur

In Huelva about € 200 per night, but you do need to take care of the pre-care. We have paid 3 years ago € 55 per scan.

Mitzyboy

I must be disloxic
Yes I know what the E121 & E106 are

Thats interesting that maternity is covered

Nothing is ever straightforward is it!

The Pope

When our little one was born we paid private for the scan's €50 and then the gyno got us a spot in the hosipital, we didnt need to provide anything accept a copy of passport and NIE.... Im sure a bill will arrive one day and over a year on Narda!

Must say we didnt got private but the staff were excellent.!