Chiclanagir

Now I am a pensioner and receive free healthcare in Spain. On receiving my pension I also received a card which I understood I could then also receive healthcare in the UK. Now I am not so sure as I was quizzed about being a "health tourist" on my return last week. I am sure I read that as long as you are a pensioner and have paid NI for 10 years in the UK you will get healthcare also in the UK. Presumably because the British Government will be paying for you to have it in Spain so if you have it in the UK instead there is no difference in costs. But am I wrong?

lynnxa

the EHIC card is for emergency treatment on holiday, so if that's what you were using it for they had no right to question you

Fred James

You are not entitled to full healthcare under the NHS unless you have returned permanently.

Your only cover will be the cover offered under an EHIC card issued by the DWP.

They may have been confused as normally a EHIC card issued by the UK is not valid in the UK, however those cards issued to UK pensioners living in Spain are valid for emergency treatment.

agoreira

If the UK is paying Spain £3.5k a year, or whatever it is, to look after you, and you then decide you wanted something done in UK for free, surely the UK would be paying twice?

Rosemary

You are wrong, sorry. The UK gov pay the set amount whether you are actually having treatment or not so if you then go to the UK for anything other than emergency treatment they are paying twice. Which of course means that the tax payers are paying twice.

Rosemary

Domino

I spoke to NHS Choices last week and the very nice young man there told me that my Medical requirements should be covered by the Spanish System, albeit with some funding from the UK.
However, if I find I can get treatment in another EU country with good reason i.e. quicker than in Spain, then I have to apply to Spain to issue an S2 authorising that treatment elsewhere.

As he put it, its all part of the EU policy for cross border movement, including healthcare.

hth

Chiclanagir

Which I am!

lynnxa

so was it emergency treatment you wanted then?

gardner8

Whilst visiting family in the UK recently I had to have a large cyst removed which had become infected. At both the hospital where the operation took place and at the clinic I attended for dressing change daily for 10 days I initially offered my EHIC explaining I lived in Spain, no one wanted to see it or take any details other than my daughter's address where we were staying and her GP's details who referred me to A & E.
Also fist class service.

Chiclanagir

No, because I thought I was covered as a pensioner. I remembered receiving a letter three years ago and I must have read it wrongly as I was sure it said that I would be covered when visiting the UK. I am sure it didn´t say only for emergency treatment or I would have remembered that.

So to clarify if I say was taken ill - not an emergency but poorly enough to need to see a doctor what would be the situation?

lynnxa

yes if you were taken ill while on holiday there you would be covered - what it isn't for is planned treatment

Chiclanagir

Fair enough. What I was concerned about was having to go and see a doctor and being refused. Rather than something like an heart attack!