megmet

If you are on disability or long term incapacity benefit you will be entitled to free health care even though you are under retirement age, any of your dependents would also get free health care.

Ask the DHSS about it.

HBG

Private health insurance costs are around the same as the Valencian scheme, around 300 Euros a quarter, but the private one will not cover you for pre-existing conditions, the Valencian one will, but you need to be resident.

Severe disability, for which payment is received in the UK, can make you eligible for cover under the free (NHS) scheme in Spain, but it depends on the severity of the disability - Newcastle would know the answer.

Some people get by on the free EHIC, providing they have a bolt hole back in the UK should things go wrong, so selling up in the UK to buy here would be wrong. At this time it would be wrong to buy in Spain anyway, the house prices are in free fall.

snikpoh

Whilst they might be getting away with it, it's not legal! The EHIC is ONLY for temporary visits away from your normal country of residence (UK). It also does NOT cover major issues which might require continual treatment.

An example is that I slipped a disc a few years ago and needed an operation. Under the EHIC, I was allowed to get a pain injection but had to go back to the UK to have the operation to sort out the herniated disc.

The Government in Spain is really clamping down on this type of fraud at the moment so should NOT be attempted or recommended.

HBG

It's ridiculous to suggest it to be fraud. Many people, especially elder ones, are able to have holidays for lengths of their choosing, and there is no time limit imposed by the form EHIC. If they want to spend a couple of months in Spain, followed by a few months elsewhere, then return to the UK for a few weeks and start all over again, they are free to do so, and use the EHIC.

And the tens of thousands of expats who happily live in Spain are not committing any fraud if they choose to not bother with residencia and some of the other daft things that some people continually fret about. Parking on a yellow line is a more serious 'fraud'.

The Spanish authorities aren't bothered, why on earth should we?

snikpoh

Oh yes they are - residents with only an EHIC card are now being turned away unless it's an emergency. I agree that the EHIC can be used for temporary visits abroad (I stated this in my previous post).

It's also the rules that you SHOULD get a residencia if you have left the UK to live here.

I can't belive that you are advocating breaking so many Spanish rules

robd955

Thanks, it would make it easier if i was on disability, but im not. I am looking into the fact that i am on Bereavement benefit & whether that makes a difference.

robd955

Im a bit clearer now, I will be able to access free health care if i am in receipt of Bereavement benefit, but only if my daughter is in college until she reaches age 18. She is 16 now.

Mitzyboy

Wow, I would never have thought that Bereavement benefit would count the same as disability benefit.

robd955

I know - its all a bit complicated really.

lynnxa

I didn't even know it existed!!

I had to have a read up on it cos I was shocked that there is such a thing

apparently it lasts for a year...so presumably once it stops the OP would no longer be entitled to the free health care

Mitzyboy

Do you think they decided that you would be over it after a year then

lynnxa

well they can't keep paying it forever, can they?

Mitzyboy

No, for sure ... but like my sister said ... when you are grieving such a time limit for you being set almost seems a little devoid of feeling (which of course, it is)

lynnxa

well yes, you're right - there is no time limit for grieving - but there has to be a time limit for such a benefit, of course

actually I just read up a little more

the Bereavement allowance is payable for up to a year - you don't qualify if you have school age children

if you have children it's a different allowance entirely - http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTax...ed/DG_10018848 which lasts until the child stops qualifying for child benefit, it seems - which makes sense

I'm surprised that it's transportable, though

Mitzyboy

Death recognises no frontiers I guess