medical care in Spain for a person with EHIC card enquiry, help please
#16
Re: medical care in Spain for a person with EHIC card enquiry, help please
I know someone who has used the card, they have since had a bill.
#17
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 145
Re: medical care in Spain for a person with EHIC card enquiry, help please
Hi,
Apart from British expats, it very difficult to find anyone these days who describes the health care system as "contribution-based". The Minister of Health describes it as "publicly financed, free and universal". Having said that, in reality though you are probably going to have make contributions into the Social Security to receive health care. That means either having a work contract or being self employed. That is the way the system will work for you as an EU resident irrespective of what Spanish law actually says.
Similarly, foreign pregnant women have a legal right to health care during pregnancy, birth and for post natal care. What happens in practice may be quite a different matter. So if you´ve no other cover from the UK, I´d think about private health insurance or perhaps wait till your baby is born before considering coming over ?
Apart from British expats, it very difficult to find anyone these days who describes the health care system as "contribution-based". The Minister of Health describes it as "publicly financed, free and universal". Having said that, in reality though you are probably going to have make contributions into the Social Security to receive health care. That means either having a work contract or being self employed. That is the way the system will work for you as an EU resident irrespective of what Spanish law actually says.
Similarly, foreign pregnant women have a legal right to health care during pregnancy, birth and for post natal care. What happens in practice may be quite a different matter. So if you´ve no other cover from the UK, I´d think about private health insurance or perhaps wait till your baby is born before considering coming over ?
#19
Just Joined
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 15
Re: medical care in Spain for a person with EHIC card enquiry, help please
hello little weed,
you are right, looks like we're out of options on this one.
thanks anyway.
you are right, looks like we're out of options on this one.
thanks anyway.
#20
Re: medical care in Spain for a person with EHIC card enquiry, help please
You asked about having a baby using the EHIC that is what they have been charged for, they very obviously bucked the system , now had the bill.
#21
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 7,749
Re: medical care in Spain for a person with EHIC card enquiry, help please
Hi,
Apart from British expats, it very difficult to find anyone these days who describes the health care system as "contribution-based". The Minister of Health describes it as "publicly financed, free and universal". Having said that, in reality though you are probably going to have make contributions into the Social Security to receive health care. That means either having a work contract or being self employed. That is the way the system will work for you as an EU resident irrespective of what Spanish law actually says.
Similarly, foreign pregnant women have a legal right to health care during pregnancy, birth and for post natal care. What happens in practice may be quite a different matter. So if you´ve no other cover from the UK, I´d think about private health insurance or perhaps wait till your baby is born before considering coming over ?
Apart from British expats, it very difficult to find anyone these days who describes the health care system as "contribution-based". The Minister of Health describes it as "publicly financed, free and universal". Having said that, in reality though you are probably going to have make contributions into the Social Security to receive health care. That means either having a work contract or being self employed. That is the way the system will work for you as an EU resident irrespective of what Spanish law actually says.
Similarly, foreign pregnant women have a legal right to health care during pregnancy, birth and for post natal care. What happens in practice may be quite a different matter. So if you´ve no other cover from the UK, I´d think about private health insurance or perhaps wait till your baby is born before considering coming over ?
I am helping someone now in Spain get free healthcare for their baby even though they dont pay social security. The "Ley del menor" allows for this.
And those families who can prove that they are in difficult financial times can also get free healthcare. If you are earning money without declaring it though, then you wont want the Spanish authorities investigating your financial situation! That is the problem with this couple.
#22
Re: medical care in Spain for a person with EHIC card enquiry, help please
Yes the Spanish health service is effectively free and universal.
I am helping someone now in Spain get free healthcare for their baby even though they dont pay social security. The "Ley del menor" allows for this.
And those families who can prove that they are in difficult financial times can also get free healthcare. If you are earning money without declaring it though, then you wont want the Spanish authorities investigating your financial situation! That is the problem with this couple.
I am helping someone now in Spain get free healthcare for their baby even though they dont pay social security. The "Ley del menor" allows for this.
And those families who can prove that they are in difficult financial times can also get free healthcare. If you are earning money without declaring it though, then you wont want the Spanish authorities investigating your financial situation! That is the problem with this couple.
I followed this route for my children and have received several official responses stating just that - for expat children as well as Spanish, the 'ley del menor' only applies for those in financial hardship.
#23
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 145
Re: medical care in Spain for a person with EHIC card enquiry, help please
The 'Ley del menor' also ONLY applies to those in financial difficulties or with low income.
I followed this route for my children and have received several official responses stating just that - for expat children as well as Spanish, the 'ley del menor' only applies for those in financial hardship.
I followed this route for my children and have received several official responses stating just that - for expat children as well as Spanish, the 'ley del menor' only applies for those in financial hardship.
Except in Valencia where what happens in practice is sometimes rather different. I don´t know whether this is a policy of Generalitat or just down to particular funcionarios/ health centres The Sindic of Grueges (Valencia Ombudsman) has said that children are covered and suggested anyone having problems should contact him.
#24
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Joined: May 2007
Location: Alfaz del Pi, Costa Blanca
Posts: 205
Re: medical care in Spain for a person with EHIC card enquiry, help please
Have you read an old thread here
Does your partner speak good spanish? Is this a first child? I think she would be better off giving birth in UK where there are much more midwife births with more options.
Does your partner speak good spanish? Is this a first child? I think she would be better off giving birth in UK where there are much more midwife births with more options.
#25
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Apr 2009
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Re: medical care in Spain for a person with EHIC card enquiry, help please
Have you read an old thread here
Does your partner speak good spanish? Is this a first child? I think she would be better off giving birth in UK where there are much more midwife births with more options.
Does your partner speak good spanish? Is this a first child? I think she would be better off giving birth in UK where there are much more midwife births with more options.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...mortality_rate
#26
Re: medical care in Spain for a person with EHIC card enquiry, help please
Yes the Spanish health service is effectively free and universal.
I am helping someone now in Spain get free healthcare for their baby even though they dont pay social security. The "Ley del menor" allows for this.
And those families who can prove that they are in difficult financial times can also get free healthcare. If you are earning money without declaring it though, then you wont want the Spanish authorities investigating your financial situation! That is the problem with this couple.
I am helping someone now in Spain get free healthcare for their baby even though they dont pay social security. The "Ley del menor" allows for this.
And those families who can prove that they are in difficult financial times can also get free healthcare. If you are earning money without declaring it though, then you wont want the Spanish authorities investigating your financial situation! That is the problem with this couple.
Strangely, my wife is of pensionable age. We did all the right things to get health care, yet as a dependent at this moment I have no health care in Spain. I live here. I'm a resident. I'm entitled to it. I'm not getting it. Thats the reality of what happens in Spain, although Im sure it will be sorted eventually
I know of at least one person who tried to use an EHIC card for a minor illness in Spain and was refused Spanish healthcare. I know of someone that moved back to the UK because they became ill, had no money and again were refused heath care here
Im sure that the EHIC card does do more than just emergencies, but in real terms its not always seen that way over here it seems!
#28
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Joined: Apr 2009
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Re: medical care in Spain for a person with EHIC card enquiry, help please
And I agree the paperwork is difficult and it took me a trip to 3 different offices and several different people to be able to locate the correct form for the Ley del menor
#29
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 15
Re: medical care in Spain for a person with EHIC card enquiry, help please
Yes I should have said that healthcare is free and universal for Spanish residents. Although if you are deemed to have enough income and you do not already pay social security then you will be asked to make social security contributions.
And I agree the paperwork is difficult and it took me a trip to 3 different offices and several different people to be able to locate the correct form for the Ley del menor
And I agree the paperwork is difficult and it took me a trip to 3 different offices and several different people to be able to locate the correct form for the Ley del menor
thanks all for your wonderful contributions, I gather from that that we need to know the right place to ask and be on top of it knowing all our circumstances.
I will be back to update you on the situ.
Mitziboy,
if you knew the real reason which Fred already knows I sent to him by PM you would be so sympathetic mate, however I really thank you for showing me what happens if all go wrong.
cheers all
#30
Re: medical care in Spain for a person with EHIC card enquiry, help please
hello
thanks all for your wonderful contributions, I gather from that that we need to know the right place to ask and be on top of it knowing all our circumstances.
I will be back to update you on the situ.
Mitziboy,
if you knew the real reason which Fred already knows I sent to him by PM you would be so sympathetic mate, however I really thank you for showing me what happens if all go wrong.
cheers all
thanks all for your wonderful contributions, I gather from that that we need to know the right place to ask and be on top of it knowing all our circumstances.
I will be back to update you on the situ.
Mitziboy,
if you knew the real reason which Fred already knows I sent to him by PM you would be so sympathetic mate, however I really thank you for showing me what happens if all go wrong.
cheers all