Villa Joyosa Social Security hospital

Yesterday I watched an interesting documentary on BBC1 about "Health Tourism". It is a subject that has been widely debated in recent months both in the UK and here in Spain. The term health tourism refers to those that seek free hospital treatment knowing that they are not entitled to it.

The rules in Spain changed on 1st September and more than 60,000 people in the Alicante province lost their right to free healthcare. This figure is made up of various groups of people, but within that group are British expats who are either below the pension age and not working, therefore not paying any contributions into the Social Security system or pensioners that live here in Spain but for some reason have not registered.

The rule change that came into force on 1st September meant that everyone has to be a tax resident here, and it is this cross check that ascertained whether you would be entitled to healthcare under the Spanish system. Many had SIP cards (Sistema Nacional de Salud) issued by their local Centro de Salud simply by producing a padron from the Town Hall stating that they lived in the town. But many of those cards have now become invalid if they do not comply to the new regulations, as was discovered by many ex-pats as they tried to book an appointment with a doctor after 1st September.

Obviously in an emergency situation you will be treated but it is those that need medical assistance for ongoing medical conditions that will be stuck. They have 3 options: Register as a tax resident, pay contributions to give you entitlement or go private! Yesterday the Ministry of Health announced the amount to be paid by those people who are excluded from the system. For those under the age of 65 it is 710.40 euros per year and those over the age of 65 1864.80 euros per year - however, this does NOT cover any drugs.

If you have private healthcare it is a similar situation regarding prescriptions. Anything that a private doctor prescribes has to be paid for in full at the farmacia. All pensioners now have to pay 10% of any prescription charges, whether they are Spanish nationals or British expats. However, it is capped dependent on income.

The UK Government pays the Spanish Government 3500 GBP per year for every legally registered pensioner to cover their healthcare.  Obviously in some cases it more than covers the cost of medication and care but in others the balance of any treatment received is covered by Spain. Its swings and roundabouts.

I know many people which use their EHIC, blue European Health Insurance cards instead, but this will ONLY cover you for emergencies. If you require the services of a doctor for a non-emergency you WILL be charged around 40 euros for a consultation at the Centro de Salud (health centre). So make your choice - register here and get the same entitlements as Spanish nationals, pay the contributions, go private or go back to the UK! I find those that moan about "bloody foreigners" coming to the UK to get free healthcare are often those same ones that expect it here!