I thought others might find it helpful if I outlined our experiences of Health Care regulations in Spain.
The E111 is for those on holiday in Spain on a short term basis. It covers emergency health care, including minor ailments that can be dealt with in a Spanish Government funded Health Centre or hospital. You will need to take a photocopy of both your passport and the numbers side of your EHIC card along with you. It does not cover any repatriation costs or nursing costs that you might incur on your return flight home. Hence the need for additional travel insurance.
Those who are working in Spain will qualify for Spanish health care once they start paying conttributions into the Spanish health care system.
For those taking early retirement and moving to Spain on a permanent basis, an E106 can be applied for from the Department of Work and Pensions in Newcastle. This will be current for a maximum period of two years after early retirement depending on your contributions record. This will need to be taken along with your passport and NIE number, and in some areas your empadronamiento registration, to the Seguridad Social Office for the area. They will stamp your form so that you can then take it along to your local Health Centre to register. This registration will cover illnesses dealt with by the Health Centre or emergency treatment in a hospital. It will not cover referral to a Spanish consultant, for this you will need to apply to Work and Pensions for an E112 . During the period that your E106 is current you will still qualify for NHS health care back in England.
Once your E106 expires you will need to take out private health Insurance until such time as you or your spouse reaches state pension age in England. You can then apply for an E121 which you deal with in exactly the same way as you do for an E106, however you will also receive a tarjeta, the Spanish Health card. If your spouse is below pensionable age they will also qualify for free Spanish Health Care as your dependent. You should also insure that you apply for a Spanish version of the E111 at the same time so that you can use this in England should you rquire emergency healthcare when visiting. Remember that it would also be wise to take out Spanish travel insurance as well!
Some areas have schemes such as Helicopteros Sanitarios which operates across the western Costa del Sol. For an annual payment you can obtain medical assistance either at home, at work or at leisure, from an English speaking doctor via an English speaking telephone operator.The Doctor will visit you in situ and diagnose and prescribe and provide ambulance service to hospital if required. Once in hospital you will either have to rely on Spanish health care if you qualify ,or private health care if not.
I've found the Spanish Health System to be responsive and efficient. My one visit to the University Hospital in Malaga took one and a half hours from start to finish and during that time I had blood tests, X-rays and saw three doctors, after which I left with my blood test results, X-rays and a prescription in my hand. What's more the hospital had free car parking!
This message was last edited by jenken on 1/27/2009.