SPANISH HEALTHCARE

The quality of Spanish healthcare is as good as in any other European Country, maybe even better. A new mandate was introduced in 1998 outlining the details of the healthcare that tourists and visitors are entitled to in Spain. You will find copies of this mandate in many health clinics and hospitals all over Spain.

The Spanish hospitals are a victim of their own success and have noticed a significant rise in tourists turning up at hospitals for operations and special care. This is because of long waiting lists in other European Countries such as the UK. Patients are arriving on holiday with their European Health Card and hoping to be treated. The Spanish government is finding it difficult to claim back the costs from the persons Country causing financial problems for a previously smooth running health system. This has resulted in a clampdown and now no patient is treated without showing their NIE number.

Most tourists are covered for basic treatment by their own travel insurance in cases of injury or illness during their stay.

For people who are staying in Spain for longer periods or have become resident the healthcare process is quite simple though there are simple procedures to complete.

In the past you may have brought with you an E111 card that you received from the UK Post Office. This is now invalid and has now been replaced by a 'European Health Insurance Card'. You can get these for free in the UK from the main web site at www.dh.gov.uk

Carrying this car with you entitles you to reduced-cost and sometimes free medical treatment in the European Union.

For people staying in Spain for longer periods or are residents then you should take your European Health Insurance Card, Passport, NIE number, copy of a utility bill and your property deeds to you local health center. Your nearest health center will be in the same town as on your address of your utility bill.

At the health center you should ask for a SIP health card. These are issued on the spot and will provide you with 3-6 months health cover in Spain. After the cover has expired you can renew the SIP card.

Many of the staff and Doctors at the clinics do not speak English and you may have to bring an interpreter with you. You will find many listed inside the clinic on the notice board offering their services. If you did not want to use an interpreter and you speak no Spanish I would consider using the free online translators. On these web sites you can type in your question or problem in English and press a button to translate to Spanish. You can then print off the text and present it to the Doctor. WWW.FREETRANSLATION.COM

If you are a pensioner or on benefits then you will need to bring with you the E121 form and your Certificate of Residencia so that you can still get your prescriptions for free.

Residents who are working in employment and are paying National Insurance and Pension contributions are completely covered for health along with their children.