Hi from not so bonny Scotland!

hi, am new to the site and hoping to get some valuable information from folk who have already moved to Spain. I am a 59 year old lady with a 56 year old husband and we are seriously considering retiring to Spain for my health, I have Fibromyalgia and Hypothyroidism amongst other minor problems. Wow, am sounding like a wreck lol. We would be looking to retire to one of these residential park homes as we thought it would be easier moving to a ready made community who speak the same language as us. I am also considering doing a TEFL course to teach English as a foreign language. Would there be much need for this in areas like Antiquera and Mollina, the areas we are considering looking at. I thought it could be a way of earning a bit of extra cash as we would only have my hubby's RAF pension to live on until we became bona fide pensioners.What is the health care like? I realise because we are under pensionable age we would have to take out private insurance, but what sort of costs are involved and is the treatment good value for money. Would not want my health to go downhill because healthcare was not up to much. Well, there's a few questions to be going on with. Thank you in advance xx

With the medical problems you have I would stay in bony Scotland as you will find out as you get more replies to you post that you will not qualify for long term care due to you and you're husband being under pensionable age so you would have to opt for private health care and as for teaching English to Spanish people l think you would have to be fully conversant in The Spanish language .

The health care, once in the system is excellent, but you already know that you will have to have private insurance.   The teaching of English to Spanish people remains the one viable option for people looking to move over and work.  Go ahead and do the TEFL - even a basic level will get you into a private language school on a part time basis.   It is much more difficult to get into state schools, or to get a full time post, but you can start looking for local language schools once you decide where you want to be.  You don't need Spanish, but the language school next to me offers Spanish classes to its part time teachers from England, France and Germany.   

 Magicwriter - after one year of being resident, with private health over , you can pay into the Spanish health system and receive free care as any Spanish national, for 60 euros per person per month

Although existing conditions are often not covered by Spanish health insurance, or at a higher premium, the conditions you mention are common and not too serious, so you might find cover won't be a problem

The medication for hypothyroidism is cheap over the counter

For fibromyalgia I assume you take anti inflammatories, also cheap

You will have to pay a '% of the prescription costs whether under private cover, or Spanish NHS.

No need to worry about the quality of healthcare as it's excellent , but if you are hospitalised and can't care for yourself, your relative will be expected to do all the personal care, which can be a strain if there is only the partner to help, unlike the Spanish who have all their extended family to call on.

Do other research on tax implications of moving to Spain, especially inheritance tax

Also research criteria for becoming a resident.

Make sure you have a financial cushion to fall back on, eg enough money to last for a year.

Thanks for your information, will keep on researching, but not quite so worried now Campisol.