16 Sep 2011 6:28 PM:

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.

Thread: Prescription advice for uk pensioner

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