chrish5177

Dear all,

Thank you for allowing me to join.
I was wondering if anybody could advise me. My parents are in spain on a long term rental.
My dad became ill with retention of urine which needed repeated catheterization.
Now he is being told that he may need to go home if he needs surgery, but apart from physical examination and blood tests no other investigations have been done. My parents take an interpreter to the hospital/clinic who seems to give them advice but is saying that they are not entitled to treatment under the spanish national health service. My parents have the new E111 with them. My father had no pre-existing illness and this is totally new illness.
I understand that my dad is entitled to the same level of treatment as a spanish resident would be. Please can anybody tell me what this is and if this would be included in the spanish NHS.
thank you
Christine

jackytoo

I think some health centres have a rule that the E111 only covers emergency treatment. Seeing a specialist for investigation is not considered an emergency. They do seem to be tightening up the rules. If he is a pensioner he is entitled to full care if he gets a form E121 and registers with the local centre.

chrish5177

Hi Jackytoo,

Thank you for your reply. Please how do you get a form E121.
Thank you
Christine

rugbymatt

Try here, look under Healthcare.

chrish5177

Thank you

rugbymatt

Your welcome.

Be sure to check out the Gardening tips, they are very good, and the author is a good friend of mine.

Mitzyboy

Hi Christine

The E121 should have been applied for when one of them reached retirement age, from the DWP in the UK. With this you can get a SIP card which in effect will entitle you to health care in Spain. If neither are of retirement age then there is a good chance that they are not entitled to Spanish Health care

I'm afraid if they live here in Spain they wont be able to go back to the UK for an operation under the National Health system as they are no longer UK residents and therefore dont qualify. The only possibility might be that the UK health service dont know that they have left.

DWP in Newcastle for Overseas medical benefits is 0191 218 1999

Chiclanagir

If they haven´t been away six months they will qualify back in the UK and if they go back and state they are living there permanently I am sure they won´t be turned away. Otherwise how can a migrant from Eastern Europe come to the UK and be qualified?

Mitzyboy

Well I wish it was so, but once you have left to take up residency in another country it seems they wash their hands of you. As you say, an illegal immigrant has more chance of getting health care in the UK than we do.

As I mentioned, there is a good chance they dont even know they have left if the documentation has not been done correctly (E106/E121) so it may be worth a try. I'm not sure if they have been gone 6 months or not

Solarwhizz

we have been living here for 5 years, now, took E106 from UKand registered here in Spain for myself and wife, we go back to the UK regularly, and my wife visits the local GP virtually every time, and never been questioned.

We have now transferred onto the Spanish system as I have gone autonomo. but
for others who do not qualify under F121 or E106 the only other chance is if your are in a region that offers reciprocal treatment FOC, IE Valencia region!!

E111 wont cut it for non urgent stuff. and even if it is urgent then they may send you a bill later!! as happened to a neighbour.

Mitzyboy

Just goes to show how confusing it can be. I've been back and had to pay £30 consultation fee!

snikpoh

... and just to confuse matters even more. We move'd here some time ago and our E106 has expired, we're also not old enough for E121's.

We live in the Valencia region yet can NOT get 'free' health care of the reciprocating sort that you mention ...

Solarwhizz

HEhe!!!,

Bien Venidos a Espana!!!!

Mitzyboy

Nor me ..... I have only a temporary SIP card which runs out this month

scampicat

If you receive Incapacity Benefit from the UK (one of the few British State Benefits that can continue to be received in Spain) you are entitled to an E121 to cover you and your dependents even if you are not of State retirement age.

This will entitle you to free healthcare the same as a pensioner and lasts for as long as you are on the Benefit.

My husband (59) has an E121 for this reason and I as his dependent aged 58 am also covered.

He has had an operation and a two-week stay in hospital in Granada (very good it was too) and not had to pay a centimo.