medical coverage
#1
BE Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 766
medical coverage
Hi my husband and I are thinking of renting in spain for a year, and I noticed on JoJo 's thread she had a problem with the hospital treating her son. If we rent for a year do we keep our european health card numbers, and if so would we get treated at a hospital should anything go wrong. My husband had some health issues so we need to be near hospitals ect: I know about the medical coverage with a helicopter co, sorry can't remember the name now. I would appreciate any information, I would'nt want to lose our NHS status. Thanking you
#2
Re: medical coverage
Be careful, your family's health is too important to leave to chance.
#3
Re: medical coverage
Without knowing more it is impossible to advise.
If one of you is a pensioner or on certain benefits you will be covered.
If one of you have enough NI conts you could both be covered for up to 2 and a half years in Spain paid for by the UK.
The NHS system is based on residency so if you leave to live in another country you loose that cover. However if you move back to the UK you get cover back if you can prove residency. This is easy.
I know people who have lived elsewhere for years who have just registered at the doctors and had no problems.
If one of you is a pensioner or on certain benefits you will be covered.
If one of you have enough NI conts you could both be covered for up to 2 and a half years in Spain paid for by the UK.
The NHS system is based on residency so if you leave to live in another country you loose that cover. However if you move back to the UK you get cover back if you can prove residency. This is easy.
I know people who have lived elsewhere for years who have just registered at the doctors and had no problems.
#4
BE Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 766
Re: medical coverage
Without knowing more it is impossible to advise.
If one of you is a pensioner or on certain benefits you will be covered.
If one of you have enough NI conts you could both be covered for up to 2 and a half years in Spain paid for by the UK.
The NHS system is based on residency so if you leave to live in another country you loose that cover. However if you move back to the UK you get cover back if you can prove residency. This is easy.
I know people who have lived elsewhere for years who have just registered at the doctors and had no problems.
If one of you is a pensioner or on certain benefits you will be covered.
If one of you have enough NI conts you could both be covered for up to 2 and a half years in Spain paid for by the UK.
The NHS system is based on residency so if you leave to live in another country you loose that cover. However if you move back to the UK you get cover back if you can prove residency. This is easy.
I know people who have lived elsewhere for years who have just registered at the doctors and had no problems.
#5
Re: medical coverage
Thank you for your reply, my husband is retired although not yet 65, due to ill health ie triple heart bypass,2 aortic aneurysms repaired too many operations to go into detail. He seems better in a warm climate and enjoys a game of golf with a buggy, but can't walk too far, he needs checkups twice a year, but the cold and damp are getting to him. thought we would look at spain but he would need to have access to the hospitals and doctors. Would we have to pay for these?
Of course there is private health insurance which is relatively cheap here, but it wont cover pre existing conditions
#6
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Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 766
Re: medical coverage
thanks for that, we had visited spain once for 5 weeks and had to get the ambulance, at that time ( I think it was 3-4 years ago) there was no charge and I think there was no charge for the hospital with our eu health cards. It sems that has changed now I find getting any kind of medical insurance very hard wonce they hear he had aneurysms that seems to be it no coverage at all, even though the doctors say it was successful. And probably will never return try telling that to the insurance companies, they don't want to know cheers
#7
Re: medical coverage
thanks for that, we had visited spain once for 5 weeks and had to get the ambulance, at that time ( I think it was 3-4 years ago) there was no charge and I think there was no charge for the hospital with our eu health cards. It sems that has changed now I find getting any kind of medical insurance very hard wonce they hear he had aneurysms that seems to be it no coverage at all, even though the doctors say it was successful. And probably will never return try telling that to the insurance companies, they don't want to know cheers
#8
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Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 766
Re: medical coverage
He is on DLA I don't know if that helps and I still pay mu NI contributions as I can't work as I have to be with him, but I wanted to pay my N.I. for my pension does that help
#9
Banned
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 335
Re: medical coverage
Thank you for your reply, my husband is retired although not yet 65, due to ill health ie triple heart bypass,2 aortic aneurysms repaired too many operations to go into detail. He seems better in a warm climate and enjoys a game of golf with a buggy, but can't walk too far, he needs checkups twice a year, but the cold and damp are getting to him. thought we would look at spain but he would need to have access to the hospitals and doctors. Would we have to pay for these?
MAYBE.
I retired from government service in UK aged 48. I was on Invalidity benefit.
The overseas branch of DHSS (Newcastle) sent me form, I think E121, which entitled me to sign on to the Spanish Heath Service.
When I got married at 66, my wife, who is 32 younger than me, also qualified as my dependant.
So Call Newcastle and ask.
#10
Banned
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 5,008
Re: medical coverage
MAYBE.
I retired from government service in UK aged 48. I was on Invalidity benefit.
The overseas branch of DHSS (Newcastle) sent me form, I think E121, which entitled me to sign on to the Spanish Heath Service.
When I got married at 66, my wife, who is 32 younger than me, also qualified as my dependant.
So Call Newcastle and ask.
I retired from government service in UK aged 48. I was on Invalidity benefit.
The overseas branch of DHSS (Newcastle) sent me form, I think E121, which entitled me to sign on to the Spanish Heath Service.
When I got married at 66, my wife, who is 32 younger than me, also qualified as my dependant.
So Call Newcastle and ask.
#12
Banned
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 5,008
Re: medical coverage
You dont know who Ronnie Wood is???
Unlike yourself, he "cant get no satisfaction" (clue)
And hey, you do seem like a lucky guy, I am thinking of part exchanging my missus for one 32 years younger when I get to your age.......
Just keep it to youself for the time being..
Unlike yourself, he "cant get no satisfaction" (clue)
And hey, you do seem like a lucky guy, I am thinking of part exchanging my missus for one 32 years younger when I get to your age.......
Just keep it to youself for the time being..
#13
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Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 766
Re: medical coverage
MAYBE.
I retired from government service in UK aged 48. I was on Invalidity benefit.
The overseas branch of DHSS (Newcastle) sent me form, I think E121, which entitled me to sign on to the Spanish Heath Service.
When I got married at 66, my wife, who is 32 younger than me, also qualified as my dependant.
So Call Newcastle and ask.
I retired from government service in UK aged 48. I was on Invalidity benefit.
The overseas branch of DHSS (Newcastle) sent me form, I think E121, which entitled me to sign on to the Spanish Heath Service.
When I got married at 66, my wife, who is 32 younger than me, also qualified as my dependant.
So Call Newcastle and ask.
#14
Banned
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 335
Re: medical coverage
I am sure someone will be able yo answer you question, or maybe call the DWP, I am sure they will be able to help.
#15
Re: medical coverage
if you just visit for a holiday then you need to get a EHIC card for emergency treatment in the UK