A new web site to help hospitals and expats in Spain sort out medical cover is just what the doctor ordered.
In some cases, Spanish hospitals have refused EHICs and demanded expats and tourists claim for treatment under their travel insurance or settle bills immediately by credit card.
Now, Britain’s Department of Health is working alongside Spanish health authorities to clarify how expats can source and pay for medical care.
Most expats need to join the S1/E121 scheme for medical care, rather than the European Health Insurance Cards (EHIC) route, which is generally for short-term cover.
To help expats confused by the forms and regulations, a new web site is online – www.healthcareinspain.eu.
EHIC confusion
“Many British citizens living in Spain are confused about how to access state healthcare and many use their EHIC cards when they should be accessing healthcare in another way. This campaign explains who can use a UK issued EHIC and what it’s for. It also tells people about other ways to access state healthcare in Spain, depending on their circumstances,” said David Pennington, head of the department of health’s international healthcare team.
Valencia is the first focus campaign as most British expats in Spain live in the region.
The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office reckons 300,000 British expats live in Valencia, which is about 40% of all British expats who have moved to Spain.
The campaign also covers other regions of Spain, where many local hospitals are suspected of failing to understand the system as they deal with fewer expats.
Expats in Spain should not throw away their EHICs – they need the card to cover medical treatment while visiting the UK or other European countries.
Private medical care
For example, a pensioner expat living in Spain visiting family in the UK will need to register under the S1/E121 for medical in Spain, but an EHIC if they need to see a doctor or go to hospital while in the UK.
For expats unsure which healthcare route to follow, the new web site has a step-by-step online questionnaire to help.
Just like the UK, Spain has private healthcare running alongside the state service.
Comprehensive cover starts from around 23 euros a month, but the cost depends on personal medical issues, age and location in the country.
Policies offer different levels of health cover plus dental care.
Many have English-speaking customer service telephone help lines to ease language difficulties between doctors, health care staff and expats.
Need Health Insurance
If you are an expat or international worker concerned about the Health Cover for you and your family, contact us to find out what the best providers are and how to get fully covered.
