chrisandvee

Hi Guys'
Wondering if anyone can advise?
My parents have lived out in spain (torrevieja) for the last 7 years, they have never made themselves residents as they do go back to uk regularly.
My dad is 70 and my mum 62 and upto yet they havnt had any major medical dramas. My mum is now worried if anything major happens to them they will have to pay thousands out in medical costs that they simply dont have and are worried they would ultimatley lose their house.
My dad on the other hand says that spain has a reciprical agreement with uk and isnt worried and thinks that all there medical expenditures would be covered.
At the moment because my dad is over 65 he dosnt pay for perscriptions but my mum does.
Can anyone shed anylight on what they may or not be entitled too.

mikelincs

They are Both entitled to free treatment, as your mum is over 60, she will be entitled to an E121 from the UK which can get her full registration on the Spanish system, in fact she was eligible for that as soon as your dad reached 65.
Did they get an E121 when he became 65, they should have, and would both have been eligible for free health care since then by registering with Spanish Social security. You mum should NOT be paying for anything, nor have been for the last 5 years. Once one member of a couple reaches UK retirement age, then BOTH can be covered by getting an E121 from the UK, and uincluding both name son it. I got free Spanish health care as soo n as we got there because my wife was over UK retirement age for females, even though I was under 60 at the time.

Mitzyboy

Have to show your padron in this area ... not sure about the residenca (registration) cert
But if your parents live here then they are legally bound to register as residents (the register of foreigners)

jdr

They need to get in touch with the DWP in the UK and get their E121 forms, go to the police station and get their Residencia certificates, then take these forms and their passports to the local Social Security office.
They will give them forms to take to and sign on at the local clinic, where they will get health cover the same as Spanish pensioners.

How does he get free prescriptions now then ?

When he claimed his pension, on the form it says you must inform them of any changes, surely moving to Spain to live is a change, if he had they would of given him the appropriate forms for health cover here.

HBG

The previous advice is correct, but if it seems daunting to them to go through the procedure themselves, i.e. Residencia, Padron, Social security, Health Clinic for the all important SIP card, then in the Torrevieja area there are many people, as well as Gestors, who specialise in doing it all for them. They’re not expensive either, because there isn’t that much work involved.

There’s no chance of them losing their house.

Hillybilly

Isn't Torrevieja under the Valencian healthcare rules? So wouldn't they have always been entitled to free healthcare, regardless of age?

jdr

Probably, if they had residencia and signed on at a clinic and they still would be now.

HBG

No, the Valencian rules have changed, only those over retirement age, residents who have registered are entitled to free healthcare.

jdr

Hillybilly is right though, if they had registered then they would of been covered already.

chrisandvee

They have a padron and are registered with clinic.
They also have there cards for health, I forget what they are called.
I know the cards dont have a permanent date on them though

Mitzyboy

So .... I'm a bit confused as to what the worry is then.
They have access to the Spanish health system which is free to those of pensionable age. They must have got forms from Newcastle some time ago then if they have health cards They aren't using their EHIC emergency cards are they?

missile

If they have a SIP card that is all they need to show to access free medical treatment.

chrisandvee

They have sip cards but I dont think they are permanent sip cards they replace them every few months.
They have cardboard sip cards that arnt permanent.
They are not residents so I am trying to determine what they may be entitled to as non residents but dad over 70 and mum 62

jdr

Non resident then emergency only.
Get them to claim residency and get the forms from DWP then it`s sorted.

Mitzyboy

Why arent they residents???
Get them sorted out
They get cheap train fare and might even get a free holiday on the Spanish Goverment every year
Get the E121 documents from Newcastle upon Tyne. Take them to the local Dept de Seguridad. They issue a form. Take to the local health centre and they will issue permanent SIP cards ... and then register at the local doctors.