scampicat

My husband is on Incapacity Benefit from the UK and I am on State Pension..

We both have EHIC cards from the UK.

I'm really glad as it lasts five years whereas the Spanish-issued one that I had before only lasted one year.

I hadn't realised it was only State Pensioners and those on State Benefits who got them from the UK. I knew my husband's changed over, and then I was sent one too (I had just started receiving my Pension), so I assumed it was happening to everybody.

So, to recap: If you are a British State Pensioner and/or on any sort of sickness or disability Benefit from the UK, and Spanish resident, you will be covered for Spanish Healthcare under the S1 (E121) from the UK. Your spouse will be covered too.

If you have paid enough NI in the UK, and are not on Benefits or a Pension, you may be covered for up to two years when you first are resident in Spain.

If you work and pay into the Spanish system you will be covered under that (and family?).

If you are a British State Pensioner and/or on any sort of sickness or disability Benefit from the UK,and Spanish resident, then your EHIC to cover your Healthcare elsewhere in Europe will come from the UK.

If you work and pay into the Spanish system then then your EHIC to cover your Healthcare elsewhere in Europe will come from Spain.

If none of the above apply, then you will not be covered and will have to get private medical insurance (including for the UK).

Is that correct??

Michael74

Thankyou all and knowing Spain I reckon it's a big BUT !! My neighbour who is a Spanish Doctor in the Valencia Communitat say's that he would have to re-qualify to practice in another region

Fred James

Yes, that's right.

All I would add is that if you have private insurance in Spain it may well cover you for short stays in other countries as a sort of travel insurance.