Prescription advice for uk pensioner

We have a guest staying for five months over the winter from November and he has a query regarding a prescription he will need. He has a regular prescription in France where he is part of the health system. He has an EHIC card issued by the UK as he is on UK state pension. When he went to France and before becoming resident, he visited a doctor who wrote a new prescription based on the old UK one. When he is going to be in Spain, he will also need to get a repeat prescription based on the French one. It is understood they will be free with the EHIC Card, but he will need to visit a state GP to get the prescription, (unfortunately, he can only get one months supply France prior to travel).

Can he register at the local health centre? Will he be able to get his prescription without payment?

Sorry to be so vague but I have no knowledge whatsoever about the healthcare system, either for pensioners in the uk or here, or otherwise really and have no idea how the EHIC works, etc.

Any help/advice would be much appreciated.



This message was last edited by Pitby on 25/04/2011.

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 This is a link to the UK website

 

ukinspain.fco.gov.uk

 

Hope this helps

 

C

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Many thanks. Will check it out.

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I know where we have our property in Spain, in the Valencian community of the Costa Blanca rules are different to other places as they have SIP cards etc but it is my understanding that if you are resident in a country .. as your guest is resident in France  .. he must have an EHIC card issued in France not in the UK. The EHIC card doesn't allow you free prescriptions anyway just free care if you have an emergency & end up at A&E .The hospital will demand the EHIC card to claim against his country's health system as I understand it. Can't say about France.

I asked some time ago about getting my prescriptions when in Spain & was told I have to pay (I'm over 60 & have a UK pension but that means nothing seemingly in Spain for us non residents). My particular bp meds cost a lot too but I have ensured I've stockpiled enough for three months for each time we visit for two months but my Dr. gives two months each time I ask which makes it easier to stockpile three months supply.

We could do with Bobaol, he'd know.

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Thanks, More - will pass on the info.

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His EHIC should probably be from the UK according to the NHS website:

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Hi Jek & Pitby

Our friends, who reside as residents on our urb in Spain (within the Valencian community near Torrevieja), had to apply in Spain for EHIC cards for holidaying in the UK where they had been residents some years previously. They both receive UK state pensions. Getting confusing isn't it? 

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Hello everyone, I am the UK pensioner Jan refrred to in the initial post. Thanks Jan for asking for me.

Just for the record - I have now done some research and this is the situation (in case anyone else needs to know)

If you are a UK state pensioner living in another EEC country (as I am in France), then you now have to have the EHIC card issued by the UK and NOT the country you reside in. (which I have). This also needs to be used if you visit the UK.

The EHIC card covers you for ANY treatment occurring during your stay including treatment for long term illnesses/conditions. This includes prescriptions that you normally receive in your resident country on an ongoing basis.

If you are staying in Spain and not resident and you need more of an existing prescription, you can get this by visiting a STATE doctor and presenting your passport, EHIC card and the original prescription from your own GP. They will then write a prescription for you. The doctor's appointment is free of charge and the prescription is also free of charge (as long as the medicine is available in Spain on the state system).

There are a lot of misconceptions around this issue so I thought I would clarify. I am a retired NHS manager so I knew where to look!

Hope this helps others.

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