labus

Hi,

The facts:
My wife and I are retired, but no pension for at least 10 more years but we are self-sufficient.

If we intend to take permanent residency how can we solve the health care issue, taking in consideration that we don't have any coverage from the original country part of EU?
Any chance to get anything else but private insurance?

Thanks

Fred James

Basically no.

If you live in Valencia there appears to be a scheme where you can pay for cover but it costs pretty much the same as private cover.

It scores if you have some pre-existing medical problems but in terms of value - no brilliant.

labus

Thanks Fred.
Could you provide an aproximate euro figure for private insurence, just to have an ideea on how much I should expect. And your quotation would be per peron/family?

Mitzyboy

Depends on your age, but cover with Sanitas cost us about €1100 a year for two in their early / mid fifties when we retired early over here.

labus

Thanks Mitzyboy. We are in the mid and early fifties too. Is the coverage comprehensive please?

The only thing that scares us with Spain is the language. And spaniards don't speak anything else. We visited Prado in Madrid and no inscription for the paintings other than spanish. The attendants were totally mute when we tried to ask something in english. And it wasn't only Prado or Madrid.

cricketman

Hardly anyone speaks Spanish in England either

scampicat

We can get by (just about) in every day Spanish, but when my husband had an operation in Granada, we had a translator at the end of a mobile phone, just in case. We used her once - the surgeon spoke to her on the phone, then she told us what he had said.

As for them not speaking English, do many British Drs speak Spanish?

labus

While you cricketman and scampicat have your point I would like to add:

- english is quite an international and offical language in many world organizations, spanish is not
- english are lucky not to have to learn foreign languages, unless they retire to Spain
- we traveled to Portugal, Italy, Holland, France, Monaco, Austria, even GB and we could get by with the locals in english
- spanish people are too proud to learn foreign languages
- english doctors don't speak spanish, spanish doctors don't speak english, but I would expect at least those involved in tourism to speak something else. Spain is a heavy touristic country.

paintermujer

I do not agree that the spanish are too proud to learn english.They love practising it and know it is important to learn itesp. for in the workplace if they want to get anywhere in life.

Now, brits learning spanish - thats another story.

paintermujer

And why are brits lucky enough to not have to learn another language?

Bizarre comments.

Im sure the other posters will have a comment also.

labus

The answer was in the previous post:
english language is international, even official language in many international organizations.
So if your mother tongue is spoken worldwide, do you need to learn anything else? Learning a foreign language is not an easy task, especially when older.
What is so bizarre?

cricketman

Spanish is most definitely an international and official language, look at all the international meetings between Spain and Latin American for example. English has only grown over the past 30 years to be the international language because of the influence of the US. Before, it was French.

Do those who work in tourism in London speak Spanish? I can tell you that most do not! And tourism is a huge part of the London economy.

If you want to move to Spain then it is a good idea to change the idea that English is THE language of the modern world, it only is for those people who do not get out much, or stick to the well trodden path when travelling.

And lots of Spanish people do speak English, just not very well.

cricketman

The whole point is that English is NOT that well spoken worldwide. Well, no more than Spanish.

Unless you spend all your time at the UN headquarters and Hilton hotels

Rotor

Most younger medical staff speak resonable english, if you go private you will definatley find one.

English is the international language ,ask any pilot or mariner .

jackytoo

Where did you find that from Have you travelled anywhere except Spain?