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As pledged in last year’s Healthcare Reform measures, the Spanish government recently announced guidelines for the new Convenio Especial (or Special Scheme). The Convenio Especial is a public health insurance scheme through which those who don‘t have access to state-provided healthcare can pay a monthly fee to get cover. This does not apply to state pensioners, workers, those who have exhausted unemployment benefits, those who registered as residents in Spain before 24.04.12, or their dependents as they should already have their own health cover. The scheme will be nation-wide, but managed by each autonomous region which will have the option of including different services over and above the basic package announced by the Government. Policy holders, including children, will pay on an individual basis and be able to receive access to public healthcare anywhere in Spain, regardless of pre-existing conditions. The announced basic monthly fee will be 60€ for the under 65s and 157€ for those aged 65 or over. However, prescription costs are not subsidised so it is likely you would pay the full cost. Further information will soon be available from your local health centre. The Healthcare Team (http://www.healthcareinspain.eu/)
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Do you know if this a service that has to be paid on a yearly basis? ie once you start paying must you pay at least 12 months or can you go on and come off the service as you wish?
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A donde el corazón se inclina, el pie camina.
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As far as I can see there is no minimum period stipulated in the law. Neither is there a notice period, so If you cancel it will take effect from the following day. The payments are monthly, and if you miss the first payment, or following that, two consectutive or three seperate payments, it will be cancelled.
If it is cancelled, either by you, or by them , you cannot rejoin for a year. This message was last edited by Kathyslad on 01/11/2013.
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The premium 157 for over 65's is exactly what pay to Sanitas, which includes full private cover, and up to 100,000 overseas.
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Does Sanitas include pre-exisiting conditions for that price?
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Poppyseed
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Do you have to be a resident of Spain to be able to pay this insurance ? I am a resident of UK and have access to health there but I do spend a lot of time here and am happy to contribute as I only use my medical card for emergency use
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Yes, you have to have been resident for a year to qualify
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Is this only valid to u.k citizens or could people. from outside the eu , ie the u.s apply who are resident?
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Its available to anyone who's properly registered as resident for a year, and meets the criteria..
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Sometimes I find it difficult to understand what is EU law & compulsory regulations opposed to what each EU country can choose to do.
For example if Sergio aged 50 years from Spain, unemployed without sixpence in his pocket, and his wife and 5 kids arrives in the UK to stay for the rest of their lives, they immediately qualify for full NHS benefits, completly free of charge, exactly the same as any Brit. As long as he and his family have EU passports, none of that foreign residents register crap apply.
However when the same circumstances apply to Billy Brit arriving in Spain it seems to be the opposite. No healthcare unless you are having a heart attack on the hospital steps.
What exactly are the EU rules if any?
This message was last edited by potblack on 06/11/2013.
_______________________ NARCISSISTIC PERSONALITY DISORDER: A mental disorder in which people have an inflated sense of their own importance, a deep need for admiration and a lack of empathy for others.
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We get the same as nationals of whichever EU country we live in. In Spain (and many others) which operate a contribution based system, if we haven't paid in then we don't qualify. In the UK we operate a residency based system, so if any EU national chooses to make the UK their home then they are entitled to everything a UK national would be. Pensioners are treated separately and can transfer their entitlement from the UK to Spain. Lots about it on this forum.
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Hi xetog if as you say pensioners can transfer from uk to spain how come its €157 for over 65s or am I missing something
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Hi extog
Well no wonder the UK NHS & benifits system is so popular througout the the EU, so Joe bloggs from anywhere in the EU including Spain who has never done a days work in his life and contributed nothing to anyone, gets the same in the UK as Billy Graffter who has worked his socks off in the shipyard for the last 40 years.
_______________________ NARCISSISTIC PERSONALITY DISORDER: A mental disorder in which people have an inflated sense of their own importance, a deep need for admiration and a lack of empathy for others.
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Unfortunately, Thats the way the system works. In addition, at this time, if Joe Gratfter ceases to be a resident in the Uk, he loses the right to health cover. Having said that, there are proposed changes which would remedy this situation, so that as long as Joe Grafter has paid a certain number of years NI, they will now be covered, even if they are not resident in the UK
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"Hi xetog if as you say pensioners can transfer from uk to spain how come its €157 for over 65s or am I missing something" The €157 is the cost when you have no healthcare. As we know a UK pensioner can qualify for free healthcare via an S1 form. However, the cost is not just for UK citizens, its for everyone, and there may not be the same reciprocity with other countries. In addition, don't forget the pension age ( and hence the age to qualify for an S1) is rising to 67 in the next few years, and after that who knows. This message was last edited by Kathyslad on 06/11/2013.
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Hi there, I am new here so be gentle with me. I have plans of living in Spain. I am interested in health cover for Aged pensioners.
Extog said Pensioners are treated separately and can transfer their entitlement from the UK to Spain.
Where can I get further info on this, please.
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When you are ready to move you apply for an S 1 form and use that to register for healthcare in Spain. Details here https://www.gov.uk/healthcare-in-spain
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It really depends upon your age and current health. €60 is a reasonable price for someone in their 50's but not their 40's or earlier. However, the key thing about this cover, is that it covers pre-existing conditions, which private healthcare does not. So, if you are in your 40's with cancer as a pre-existing condition, its well worth while IMHO
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Well I can see the sense in the Spain contribution rules. If you are able to pay in then you are entitled to get something out. Whereas in the UK if Mustafa or Pedro arrive at Gatwick absolutely skint with wife and 5 kids, never done a day’s work in their lives, it’s benefits paradise. No wonder the UK population is forecast to rise by a further 16 million. There must be a queue from every airport in Europe and any other desperate country in the world that can get an entry visa to the UK. Surely common sense says this system must break down or the country will end up bankrupt. Where will the current governing politicians be when that happens? Probably the same as those and the bankers who got us into the financial crisis in 2007, swilling gin & tonic on their yachts’ and having a good laugh between themselves at idiot working class Billy Brit.
_______________________ NARCISSISTIC PERSONALITY DISORDER: A mental disorder in which people have an inflated sense of their own importance, a deep need for admiration and a lack of empathy for others.
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