Private and Public Healthcare

TheHendersons · #1 (**permalink**) 10th April 2011, 07:59 AM

Please forgive me as this is an area that is totally alien to me.

We move to Alhaurin de la Torre in 2 weeks.

It seems as to what I have read here before that most people have private healthcare. Does anybody know of any good providers? Are they bilingual? (our Spanish is getting a lot better but not good enough to speak in medical terms) are there any that serve the Alhaurin de la Torre area?

Also in the interim (if needed) we may need to register with a state GP (my son is 2 so important to have some sort of medical cover from the outset) would we be applicable for state health care? As we obviously have not paid into the system in Spain and we won't ever as my OH works in the UK.

Any help gratefully received! Thanks!

Stravinsky · #2 (**permalink**) 10th April 2011, 08:10 AM

You've not been too clear about your circumstances

In general you should be entitled to up to 2 years state health care here based on your NI contributions over the last years in the UK. You should have applied to the DWP in the UK, and the documentation they issue can be used to get a temporary card here in Spain.

However in general, after that period is ended and if you are not working here then you will not have cover here and will need private cover. If you are working and contributing into the system here, then you will be able to get cover

There are various private health comapnies ... We used Sanitas (Salud - Seguros - Seguros mdicos - residencias - mdicos - centros de salud - hospitales)

On another note, you say your husband works in the UK. Will he live in Spain? Does he expect to pay into the system in the UK?

Jojo may be able to give you more help if you can confirm these points

TheHendersons · #3 (**permalink**) 10th April 2011, 08:18 AM

We haven't left yet so there is still time to organise that documentation from the DWP for interim health care cover. Both of us have worked and paid NI all our lives so I think we will both be entitled to the 2 year cover.

My other half works in the oil and gas industry so he will be paying UK TAX.

Thanks for the recommendation for healthcare, I will go and look at this now.

Thanks again!

Stravinsky · #4 (**permalink**) 10th April 2011, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheHendersons

We haven't left yet so there is still time to organise that documentation from the DWP for interim health care cover. Both of us have worked and paid NI all our lives so I think we will both be entitled to the 2 year cover.

My other half works in the oil and gas industry so he will be paying UK TAX.

Thanks for the recommendation for healthcare, I will go and look at this now.

Thanks again!

OK, well I think that because of that you will be entitled to child benefit (or should I say, your husband will). I'm not, to be honest, 100% sure about health care because your husband is paying NI in the UK .... JoJo may know more

MacRov · #5 (**permalink**) 10th April 2011, 09:06 AM

We're in a similar situation. We're moving to Spain in July and I also work offshore in the UK and have private health care through my employer with AXA PPP which I can pay extra into to cover the whole family while living in the UK. They also have an international service (which costs a little more), which I imagine your OH probably can also get through his employer ??
I may look into the child benefit & 2 year state health care thing also as I'll probably still be paying into the UK system for a while at least.

jojo · #6 (**permalink**) 10th April 2011, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stravinsky

OK, well I think that because of that you will be entitled to child benefit (or should I say, your husband will). I'm not, to be honest, 100% sure about health care because your husband is paying NI in the UK .... JoJo may know more

Jojo thinks she does (but has a bit of a hangoiver and isnt thinking too straight this morning)????? lol! My understanding is that as long as your husband is paying into the UK system for tax/NI then you are covered by a reciprocal agreement between the two countries. So you will be covered as long as you have your EHCI cards - which will cover you on your previous payments for the first couple of years anyway.

Also you can put your child allowance in your husbands name and he is still entitled to claim it - you as a Spanish resident, who wont paying into the UK system are not!! Actually, its not necessary or good for your husband to register in Spain as a resident ???!!My husband, who works and pays into the UK is actually only ever a visitor to Spain and cant stay here for more than 183 days a year (

) so doesnt have a residencia

But I think to be able to do any of this he will need a UK address as a reference/contact point

Jo xxx

TheHendersons · #7 (**permalink**) 10th April 2011, 09:15 AM

We still have our home in the UK. He is self employed so we don't have any private health care and he is in Spain for only 11 days a month so I guess it's not worth his while registering.

How is the state health care?

jojo · #8 (**permalink**) 10th April 2011, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheHendersons

We still have our home in the UK. He is self employed so we don't have any private health care and he is in Spain for only 11 days a month so I guess it's not worth his while registering.

How is the state health care?

It sounds like you're in exactly the same situation as we are. My husband is self employed and we still have our UK house. My husband does have private health care for himself in the UK, but we're left to the mercy of the state healthcare.

The healthcare in Alhaurin de la Torre is good. Theres a modern health centre in the road opposite Opencor, passed the outside gym. They dont really speak English at the reception, but one of the doctors I've met did. Its not much different to how it is in the UK - maybe a bit more efficient and infinitely cleaner!! The local hospital for "big" problems is in Malaga and thats good too. Unfortunately we've had to use them, once for my son who tore his ligament and then for me when I broke my leg - I think we're accident prone cos my son broke his arm last week, atho cos he was at school when the accident happened, it is being dealt with privately through the schools insurance and we're down on the coast now

I soooooooo wish we'd met up when you were over here, I could have shown you where everything was, we could've compared notes etc.....!!!!!

Jo xxx

TheHendersons · #9 (**permalink**) 10th April 2011, 09:44 AM

Haha it does sound like we are in incredibly similar situations! We will be back on the 29th, so perhaps we could meet up then? Coffee or a wine?

You lot sound incredibly accident prone!! Haha!!

jojo · #10 (**permalink**) 10th April 2011, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheHendersons

Haha it does sound like we are in incredibly similar situations! We will be back on the 29th, so perhaps we could meet up then? Coffee or a wine?

..Or ice cream in the best Ice cream bar in Spain! Just passed the "Alhaurin tower". My favourite place! My OH will be here then and he's the brains.....!!!!

Jo xxx