Health
Non-Resident – Short Stays
When staying in Spain for one or more shorter periods without becoming resident then you will require a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which replaced the E111 form. It is issued by the Department of Health and an application form for the card can be obtained from the Post Office. When in Spain you should carry it together with your passport, ready for any emergencies.
If you require medical assistance you will have to use the medics, health stations or hospitals of the Spanish national health services, called INSS (Instituto Nacional de Salud). If you go to a private doctor or hospital, they will ask you to pay. In almost all tourist municipalities you will find a "Centro de Salud". That is the place to approach.
If you need to go straight into hospital, you must ask to be taken to one of the hospitals of the INSS, or if you have been taken to a private hospital you should communicate this to the INSS within 24 hours. The personnel at the hospital will assist you.
The European Health Insurance Card is to be used only in emergencies, not for treatment of chronic illnesses or for taking an operation in Spain that you would have to wait a long time for in your home country.
But if you run out of your normal medicine while staying in Spain, the card can be used.
If your EHIC is valid and you are using it for emergency treatment, you will not have to pay for the intervention of the medic, the stay in the hospital or for the medicines.
Permanent Residents - Longer Stays
You can also be covered if you stay for longer periods in Spain, or become a permanent resident. In this case you need to bring with you form E121, which is available from the Department of Works & Pensions, in two copies with you to Spain, and register it with the Spanish health authorities, even if you have an EHIC.
The registration is with the local Centro de Salud. They will keep one of the copies of the form, and fill in and stamp the other one, to be kept by you.
After a while you will receive in the post a card identifying you as a person with certain rights to use the Spanish national health services. On it will be given the name of the medic you are to visit in case of illness, as well as the address of the nearest INSS health centre.
Prescription Charges
If you retired at the state retirement age then you will receive the same benefits as you would in the UK. For everyone else, prescriptions are charged at 40% of the retail price of the produce.
National Insurance Charges
If you retired early or intend to work in Spain, then you’ll be required to make national insurance contributions (approximately 6% of your earnings) until you reach state retirement age if you wish to qualify for state provided healthcare.
Private Health Insurance
Many residents decide on taking out private medical insurance while in Spain. There are many insurance companies in Spain who offer health insurance for expatriate residents. A good idea is to find a doctor with whom you feel comfortable and ask him or her which insurance companies they are associated with. That way you can be sure to get the doctor of your choice.
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