snikpoh

Hmmm... a bit of misinformation I'm afraid.

Healthcare is NOT free in Spain. As a pensioner, the UK will pay for it. As a non-pensioner - YOU pay for it!

You can only, now, access the health system if you are paying into it. This can either be via a reciprocal agreement with UK or by you working here and making your SS payments. If you have made sufficient NI payments in UK (recently, that is), then you are entitled up to 2 years worth of cover (reciprocal agreement again).

Porth

Therefore we received the form for France in that we have both paid in over 44 years of contributions. I know ring Newcastle and ask for a new one to cover Spain. Bit confused as to two years coverage. Here in France it remains as long as one remains.

Surely it is the same in Spain for it follows when the two years run out do you run back to the UK?

rdgs

Domino

http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthc...reinSpain.aspx

and

http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthc...reinSpain.aspx

will tell you all about the whys and wherefores of medical in Spain. But the sooner you can get into paying into the system the better

`

Domino

if you are of retirement age then it is an open-ended S1, if you are not then it only lasts 2 years
please see my references like anything there are always ifs and buts

`

Porth

Thank you once more I now have a feel for what has to happen very much like France but in France it is nationally based there in Spain it is regional?

Before we left the UK over twelve years ago my wife was allocated a special medication to control her Rheumatoid Arthritis. It is not cheap not cheap at all. Her needs followed us to France and here the drug is prescribed by a specialist and no problems whatsoever. Just simply email the Pharmacy and it is there the following morning.

What please is the procedure in Spain and as I say I think I now know the basics and again grateful to everyone.

rdgs

redmum89

Thanks for that! We plan to get the residency sorted once we get there, so does that mean my husband will be able to access meds in the same way? He has statins, metformin, insulin, the whole lot really! Oh and betablockers, ace inhibiters!

redmum89

Hi! Certainly, at first, my husband will be employed, as he is now in the UK. His company are making him redundant, but have agreed he can carry on working for them from home or the zaragosa office, until they make him redundant. After that, we plan to get our income from our finca crops and maybe TEFL. We know you have to be paying into the system thanks! I didn't explain very well! Here we are both employed, so have NI payments up to date!

cricketman

Wow, how big is your finca! You would need 100,000s of square meters in order for it to give you an income you could live on

Remember you will have to pay social security payments of at least 254 euros each if you are working as self-employed

lynnxa

ok - so if your NI is up to date in the UK you should qualify for S1s from the DWP in Newcastle which, as said previously, will last up to 2 years - that will take care of the healthcare aspect of registering as resident

you will also need to show proof of funds or income

when you start work - if you are both self-employed you will have to register as such & pay upwards of 250 € a month each in 'national insurance' payments - then you will be able to access state healthcare in your own right (as opposed to the UK paying it for you)

for TEFL work you have to pay the full rate - for some agricultural work there are reduced rates

and then tax on top of that..........

bob_bob

There are no prescription charges in Wales

Porth

As to prescription charges in Wales I am aware of that. I used to live in Chepstow for over 35 years and Chepstow is some two miles from England over the old bridge in town. People in England have moved Doctors to take advantage of no prescription charges.

dorishaslop

I was sure that I read on here there is some sort of pay as you go system here, I am not of pensionable age yet (7 yrs to go) but I do have rheumatoid arthritis and need to take methotrexat once a week, I believe I can get my other drugs Prednisolone and planaquil from the local pharmacy... presently I am staying in a rented house for six months and buying later in the year.. also how do I go about getting my blood/liver tested as is required in the uk because of methotrexate. I really want to settle here but am daunted by the health system.

Porth

I do apologize for hogging and indeed on my first posting. However it is a very important concept at least for the previous posting and ourselves. My wife did not get on well with methotrexate and was moved immediately so from it to Humira and which is an immune system drug. Again blood tests are important and careful watch has to be undertaken.

My wife only exists with Humira and steroids and if Humira is not available then simply we cannot put her health at risk and we would have to stay in France.

I have emailed Doctors in Calpe who have patently failed to respond and to the manufacturer Abbvie (previously known as Abbott) in Madrid but again no response.

For those of us with aches and pains I can see relatively few problems but when one deals with very specific and damaging illnesses such as RA I have considerable concerns.

When we moved to France from the UK all those years ago we had all ducks in a row it is proving difficult Spain wise. One cannot simply get in a car take a rental and then find out no Humira.

Once more apologies for 'grabbing' the space.

cricketman

I suggest you go to Calpe and pay for a private consultation with a local Dr who should be able to tell you what the situation is with those drugs.

If you dont speak Spanish then you will need to pay for a translator to help you navigate the system, or explain your situation to a gestor or may be able to help

Fredbargate

Porth unfortunately Spain has yet to discover emails