Health insurance requirement for residence permit?
 

I have recently moved here with my spouse and am applying for the residence permit, for which I need to show insurance.

The only thing is, we are actually already insured for the next 3-4 months in another country, although this does not qualify for the residence permit requirement. AND, expect to start working and therefore become eligible for Spanish public healthcare.

In other words, the private insurance (sanitas which I am mostly looking at) is quite unnecessary for us, and as the minimum contract is 1 year, costing around 1500 euros, it is quite frustrating to waste this money, especially at a time in our lives when we need all the extra funds we can get.

So I wanted to ask, does anyone know of any way we can get around this? Or at least lower the amount as much as possible? Any information would be much appreciated!

Re: Health insurance requirement for residence permit?
 

Snap! I have just asked almost the same question in another thread today. It does seem very bad that no insurer seems to offer health insurance for when the customer wants it eg 3 or 6 months a year, but insists on fleecing you out of a year's worth of monthly premiums. So if anyone knows of an insurer that can do this then I would also be very interested.

Re: Health insurance requirement for residence permit?
 

Not really as once you obtain residencia it is fair that Spanish authorities will make the assumption that you are making Spain your main home and would therefore require access to full time health care.

Re: Health insurance requirement for residence permit?
 

Bobd22, that makes sense for full residency but I thought the 90 day rule applied to EU citizens as well as non-EU, so you still have to get a residencia permit, and lots of people just winter in Spain so it is not an uncommon scenario that you might want insurance for just 6 months a year.

Re: Health insurance requirement for residence permit?
 

Angus1 - you´d be covered by your EHIC if you were a visitor wouldnt you ?

As for Health Insurance for Residencia, there are quite a few options actually - theres https://www.seguromedicoextranjeros....de-residencia/ for example, found with a quick google - from 35€ to 85€ a month, depending on age. I know nothing about their plans and I havent looked deeper into it - ie: wether you have to pay for a year (although even the most expensive one is cheaper than your quote, at (85x12) =1020€ or wether they have any "family" plan etc that makes it cheaper.


and looking on rastreator it shows a price of 984 /year or 82 / month for myself and my wife to be covered. With a company called "start" https://ssl.proyectosyseguros.com/Co...d/Default.aspx

Re: Health insurance requirement for residence permit?
 

EHIC will, almost certainly, disappear after Brexit, so the 29th March becomes important

Re: Health insurance requirement for residence permit?
 

Angus getting residencia for long term living in Spain and signing on the foreigners register to comply with Spanish 90 day rule is one and the same procedure no difference whatsoever in the requirements. It is really geared for long term so as far as I know and from experience requires proof of 12 month health care is needed along with ability to provide for yourself i.e. money in Spanish bank etc. Also if you are doing this to be fully compliant you should also sign off when Spain isn't your home. Hence many people in your position 6 months Spain 6 months UK ignore it. That choice is yours. If you have not signed on the residencia/foreigners register then you are UK resident visiting Spain and can use the EHIC provided by the UK. It is a decision that you will have to make as best suits you.

Re: Health insurance requirement for residence permit?
 

Hi, yes, as far as I am concerned the EHIC, together with my travel insurance medical emergency cover, should be enough, hence why I was reluctant to shell out for more insurance especially when I'd be paying for 6 months I don't need. I couldn't get your 2nd link to work but the first one came out at a little bit more than the 72 euros a month I've been quoted elsewhere, but that's still 864 euros a year which is a lot of money when you are living off savings! Hence why I am trying to more fully understand all the obligations and rules around applying for temporary residency.

Re: Health insurance requirement for residence permit?
 

I would much rather just be a UK resident visiting Spain and using EHIC together with medical emergency cover via travel insurance, and had been happy with that to date until I read that stays over 90 days require applying for residency. But as you say this seems to be Catch22 because in doing that you are signing up to potentially longer term implications. I didn't want to plough ahead with it without fully understanding what I was doing. I'm still not sure what to do!

Re: Health insurance requirement for residence permit?
 

Sorry, it was a link from www.rastreator.com - https://www.proyectosyseguros.com/ go to those instead.


The Law is the Law - If thats what they require in order for someone to get a residencia certificate, then theres not really a way around it.

Re: Health insurance requirement for residence permit?
 

There is, one day out of Spain say Portugal France or UK before your 90th day in Spain currently re sets the 90 day clock so after your minimum one overnight stay away you come back to Spain and have another 90 days using the EHIC . That is totally legal at the moment. I would add that you would of course need receipts etc to prove you had left Spain if in the unlikely event you were asked for for them at some point

Re: Health insurance requirement for residence permit?
 

Thank you, that seems a good option. Does anyone actually check though? You don't get stamps in your passport so when you go through airports they don't know when you previously came or went. I wonder how many people in my situation do actually head off to another country for a day in the middle of their 6 month stay.

Re: Health insurance requirement for residence permit?
 

I haven't heard of anyone checking but never say never, just keep hotel receipts etc. I do know someone who does this this I'm not aware they have ever been challenged or had any issues.

Re: Health insurance requirement for residence permit?
 

​​​​​​Very dubious as the EHIC is intended solely for emergency medical care while on holiday.

From the NHS website. 'The EHIC covers treatment that is medically necessary until your planned return home.'

I very much doubt that it would be acceptable for residence application as health cover as by definition you aren't on holiday if you live here.

Doesn't travel insurance normally have a maximum trip duration, and only valid when away from home travelling.


​​​

Re: Health insurance requirement for residence permit?
 

I did not infer that the EHIC could be used for residencia? I was saying if the op stayed for 90 days they could use the EHIC for any necessary treatment they may require. The EHIC is not just for emergencies or holidays it covers you for non permanent trips outside the UK for any necessary treatment and can cover such things as dialysis if pre arranged. There is a myth that somehow the EHIC is tied into the 90 day rule? It isn't simply non permanent trips outside UK. I have checked on this both with the EHIC group on Facebook (official EHIC team of advisors) and I have around 2 years ago attended an EHIC working group where I asked the very question this was direct to the people that operate and issue the EHIC there answer was there is no actual stipulated time limit simply you are visiting as a UK resident for a non permanent trip. They even commented that many that live half year UK and half year in say Spain or Cyprus do and can use it. Of course they recommend health insurance for such things as after care repatriation etc and theft of luggage money . You have missread my post I'm afraid.

Re: Health insurance requirement for residence permit?
 

Healthcare in Spain is now free to everyone, legal or not. Quote the law when asked for proof of health insurance. :lol:

Re: Health insurance requirement for residence permit?
 

Re: Health insurance requirement for residence permit?
 

What excuse would an Autonomous Region have for not following a national law? Maybe Maria on the front counter does not like it.

Re: Health insurance requirement for residence permit?
 

It's probably just a time issue. All these things, even though it is law, have to pass through the regional parliament to be ratified - well, that's the most likely reason.

Re: Health insurance requirement for residence permit?
 

Although I have read up on this I am still confused re this change and how you actually get this free health care. I currently through necessity to get residencia had to take out private for a year. Hopefully shortly and Brexit permitting I will get my S1 and problem solved. But if Brexit wheel comes off the waggon and no s1 how does one go about getting signed on for the free universal health care? I know those that had convenio especial (in area I live ) we're transferred to free but I don't know of anyone otherwise who has applied and obtained it without first being on the convenio.
As for Maria on the front desk, main hurdle as always is getting beyond Maria!

Re: Health insurance requirement for residence permit?
 

the NHS healthcare is not avaliable in andalucia yet.

Re: Health insurance requirement for residence permit?
 

I know a couple that have been put on it from the convenio especial?

Re: Health insurance requirement for residence permit?
 

It most certainly is, I personally know 2 couples and 3 single people who have got it.

Re: Health insurance requirement for residence permit?
 

Hi did they transfer from convenio especial or simply apply if so how? Cheers just in case I need to fall back on it if no s1 is forthcoming with state pension

Re: Health insurance requirement for residence permit?
 

The CAB have a lot about the new universal health law.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.es/fa...-27-2018-faqs/

Re: Health insurance requirement for residence permit?
 

It is important for people to realise that CAB is not an official UK or Spanish site. It provides opinions and information but is sometimes taken as a governmentt mouth piece

Re: Health insurance requirement for residence permit?
 

Thanks Fred in mid summer I will have my state pension so will know then whether I get an S1 which hopefully I will. If not I can make enqs then re the new health care as Spanish election will be over and overall situation should be clearer. I am covered private until end of the year.

Re: Health insurance requirement for residence permit?
 

They make that very CLEAR on their Homepage. They provide a valuable service and all backed up with links and factual evidence. You only have to visit the site and their Facebook page to see how professionally they run it. They never claim to be a Government mouthpiece, just the opposite. They are fully transparent.

Re: Health insurance requirement for residence permit?
 

One of the couples Transferred over from Convenio, the other couple just went to their local Salud with relevant documents (they have been resident since 2015) One of the singles he has been here since 2013 and again went to his local Salud back in Dec and his two friends followed suit. They are all early retirees No S1.

Re: Health insurance requirement for residence permit?
 

Be that as it may but CAB insisted it was a law but as has been pointed out by people who knew legal procedure the decree is not law as it hasn't been voted on and now won't until after the elections provided that PSOE are the ruling party. I think I am right in saying this

Re: Health insurance requirement for residence permit?
 

Thanks for that information. I will make enquiries if I am unfortunate enough for some Brexit issue to mess up me getting the S1.

Re: Health insurance requirement for residence permit?
 

Well it was voted on and passed through Congress into Law back last September......so please name these people who "know legal proceedure" you state.....any where we can read their findings that contradict what was in the media

https://elpais.com/politica/2018/09/...02_681558.html there is even a Video that was on all Spanish news showing that Congress had voted it into Law
https://www.abc.es/espana/abci-congr...620_video.html​​​​​​

"El Congreso de los Diputados ha convalidado el real decreto ley del Gobierno de Pedro Sánchez por 173 votos a favor, 133 en contra y 31 abstenciones"

Re: Health insurance requirement for residence permit?
 

Let me know and I will get you a definitive of exactly what they took if you need if you have a problem

Re: Health insurance requirement for residence permit?
 

Thanks much appreciated

Re: Health insurance requirement for residence permit?
 

Well I might not take everything CAB as gospel even they accept that the decree has not passed into law. In other words they seem now to accept they were a bit hasty in making judgements about the decree. This was also pointed out in the Spanish version of El Pais although it is not really that big a thing for Spanish voters

Re: Health insurance requirement for residence permit?
 

So no evidence I requested regarding these " in the know legal people" you mention forthcoming?
The piece in El Pais recently was a one line comment which you seem to believe over their entire whole page article with accompanying photos on 6th Sept 2018. And next you'll be claiming the actual video is a mock up and done in photoshop with actors.....get real....

Aprobación del Real Decreto Ley de Acceso universal al Sistema Nacional de Salud - Asjusa AbogadosAsjusa Abogados

Re: Health insurance requirement for residence permit?
 

I´m not saying that you are lying, i just havent seen anything saying that it is avaliable in andalucia. i just dont believe anyone without seeing it in black and white, sorry - theres so many "yes i´ve done everything" or "yes i was in the SAS" sort of people in spain :blah:

Re: Health insurance requirement for residence permit?
 

Were you on the balcony?:sneaky:

Re: Health insurance requirement for residence permit?
 

They all entered their particular INSS Office through the appropriate public entrance, they ruled out using a tactical entrance via second floor windows with flash/bang grenades as unnecessary ;)

Re: Health insurance requirement for residence permit?