Casa Santo Estevo

What have you been told is not covered?

lormar

Well, for a start, things like ambulances, some specialist visits (without long waiting lists), prescriptions and alternative health care like qigong, accupressure, etc...
We don't have much need for these right now, and haven't used them much in the past 20 years, but since they're for the 'what if' situations....what can you advise?

Casa Santo Estevo

Re waiting lists: I suppose you have to compare The Netherlands with Spain.
It is going to be for you to calculate if extra insurance is going to be worth paying on top of the obligatory rates which the Spanish Government demand from autonomo, is something only you can answer.

Seeing as you are going to be an "autonomo", then I would assume you already have a gestoria lined up. Many of them can sell you insurance as it is a part of the services they provide. Do not forget that you will need insurance for public liability etc.
If the gestoria cannot help directly they will know someone who can.

PS; Should have added ambulances and specialist visits plus prescriptions are included within the health care system. The latter you will have to pay part of, just like in most countries.

Tadd1966

If you register and pay autonomo you will get full Spanish state health care (IMO better than UK NHS)
Note: S1 is not just for pensioners e.g spouses who work in UK (commuters, oil rig workers etc) and have dependants living in Spain (or EU / EEA countries) also qualify for S1
As for insurances there are many just do a google search

Bigmomma1

Now, this may be a bit of a 'radical' approach, but may answer your questions much better than a generic 'Google search'. Go to your local 'Spanish' Doctor or medical centre. Pay the €20 consultation fee, or whatever it costs these days. Explain your situation, living in the area, do not have a bottomless pit of money to go 'private', what is the best medical plan they can suggest ?

snikpoh

You could do that but unless you are a UK state pensioner then you only have one option - go private. This can be done in one of two ways; get private health insurance or pay-as-you-go.

If you are a UK state pensioner then with the necessary paperwork, you get the standard, Spanish health care.

EsuriJohn

I noted the change in the rules on April 1st 2015 and am now aware as a UK State Pensioner with S1 registered in Spain I can now have full health care in England. What I have not seen is how can I do it. Obviously for general matters I am registered for health care at my local "NHS Clinic" in Ayamonte, but say I want a new hip and want to have the operation in England how do I go about getting it done? You cannot just pitch up at MK HOSPITAL and say I need a new hip you must be referred by your UK GP for X Ray's and investigation. Then back to the GP for results and discussions on timings. Then a referral onto the relevant consultants list then wait to be called for pre ops not more than four weeks from the OP then cancellations notwithstanding the OP. Just how do I do this sat here in Ayamonte?

Tadd1966

I would suggest in this case you contact the issuer of your S1 form (International Pension Centre on 0191 218 7777) on ask there better than 2nd guessing.

David J

Here is what I was told by a private GP who worked for many years in the NHS:

The most important thing is your relationship with your GP combined with your residence address in the UK. i.e. If you still own your home in the UK and receive your mail there from your local surgery, go regularly for appointments to your GP, have your prescriptions sent to your UK address, then for all practical purposes you are living in the UK, and just travel a lot for your work (or holidays).

Also, at some point you will need to weigh the pros and cons of becoming a Spanish resident. I have not been here long, but I have not seen the 'pro' side very clearly yet since I do not own a home in Spain. That probably needs to be a new thread.

snikpoh

If you are here for more than 183 days per calendar year, then you have no choice - you are then Spanish resident.

Your only choice in the matter is to stay out of the countryt for 6 months of the year and to not stay longer than 90 days at any one time.

Fred James

This might help.

Accessing the NHS this Christmas | Healthcare in Spain

Bigmomma1

Certainly not wishing to be argumentative or difficult, however, your above statement is a 'little' confusing. Surely, if you are merely a 'tourist' that is when the 90 day rule is applicable ?

As a 'Temporary Resident', that being someone like myself, who has registered as such and been granted a 'NIE' number, then, according to my Spanish Lawyer, I can reside here for no more than 183 days in any one Calander year, whilst they do not have to be consecutive days, I can stay here for that whole period if I wish.

However, if I wish to stay for longer than 183 days then I become a 'Spanish Resident' as you rightly state and come under the Spanish system, Taxes etc.

That is my understanding of it ?

snikpoh

Close ....

There is no concept of registering as a temporary resident - it simply can't happen.

You need an NIE for any fiscal transaction - buying house, car, mobile phone etc. It has nothing to do with being resident - anyone can have one.

You are obliged to sign on the list of foreigners within 90 days - some argue that this makes you resident but @Fred James will argue (ISTR) that it doesn't. You are then 'in' the Spanish system.

After 183 days (in calendar year etc.), you are automatically considered tax resident. You are then even more 'in' the Spanish system.


Your lawyer isn't really helping you to understand the situation at all so I would forget what he's saying.

Bigmomma1

Thank you for not taking 'umbridge' with my search for clarifications, I just want to ensure that I am not doing anything wrong. However, please bear with me, you say that you are 'obliged' to sign up as a 'foreign visitor', what happens if you don't ?

Fred James

Short answer - not a lot!

At the very worst, you could be fined a small amount. Failure to pay taxes after you have become fiscal resident (the 183 day rule) is a very different matter and can result in large fines.

Just to restate the legal situation, under EU and Spanish law, you can only remain in an EU state for a continuous period of 90 days. After that, the EU state may require you to register on the list of EU foreigners. All that does is give you the right to reside in the country for more than 90 days and to become resident eventually, should you exceed the 183 days fiscal residency rule.