[Andyroo]

Hi folks

Just started looking at the health insurance for me and 2 kids. I've no idea what would be considered a reasonable price. I do want pretty comprehensive. I'm sure it's been asked a million times... sorry!

 

[xabiaxica]

Hi folks

Just started looking at the health insurance for me and 2 kids. I've no idea what would be considered a reasonable price. I do want pretty comprehensive. I'm sure it's been asked a million times... sorry!

private health insurance here is much less expensive than in the UK


here are a couple of threads with some recommendations

http://www.expatforum.com/expats/spain-expat-forum-expats-living-spain/86291-us-citizen-retiree-visa-health-insurance-question.html

http://www.expatforum.com/expats/spain-expat-forum-expats-living-spain/83330-help-health-insurance-question.html

are you moving here from the UK?

if so, & have been paying NI in the UK you might be able to access the state system by applying for an S1 in the UK before you leave

if you're going to be working here then you'll be paying NI here & then of course you can use the state system

 

[xicoalc]

I have mentioned these people MANY times but check out ASSSA

Health, dental, accident and funeral insurance | Medical care policies | ASSSA Alicante.

They are not the cheapest BUT they are amazing - THEY PAY UP! Very fair company, very honest, very caring, actually want the best healthcare for their clients, AND they speak English (so do MANY of their docs), and most importantly they don't argue over paying for things - can't praise them highly enough. If you search ASSSA on this forum you will find a few thigns I have previously and recently written about them!

 

[Andyroo]

I've actually has a few quotes and I was shocked at the prices. :/ I don't want something for nothing but has to e affordable.

The S1 sounds interesting. Will research more thank you

 

[xicoalc]

I've actually has a few quotes and I was shocked at the prices. :/ I don't want something for nothing but has to e affordable.

The S1 sounds interesting. Will research more thank you

Teh S1 will usually be limited for a period of time (max 2 yrs I think) but depends on your previous NI contributions.

I pay 70 a month for my seguro but thats their top policy, I think they start form about 40 but IMO worth every cent when you get the best of everything, with no waiting, choice of doctors, choice of hospitals etc…good value for money! :clap2:

 

[Andyroo]

That's cheap the quotes I've had are knocking on for £200 a month :/

 

[xicoalc]

well mine is just for me - but they do family packages, give them a call….

if you want send me a Private message and i will give you the contact phone number for the girl i deal with, she is amazing!

 

[xabiaxica]

I have mentioned these people MANY times but check out ASSSA

Health, dental, accident and funeral insurance | Medical care policies | ASSSA Alicante.

They are not the cheapest BUT they are amazing - THEY PAY UP! Very fair company, very honest, very caring, actually want the best healthcare for their clients, AND they speak English (so do MANY of their docs), and most importantly they don't argue over paying for things - can't praise them highly enough. If you search ASSSA on this forum you will find a few thigns I have previously and recently written about them!

we have ASSSA - have to say I'm pretty impressed - they've never quibbled over anything

 

[xicoalc]

we have ASSSA - have to say I'm pretty impressed - they've never quibbled over anything

Exactly! I had one before that was a nightmare (expatriate healthcare)… when it comes to health, if you are paying insurance then you need peace of mind - its not worth saving a few euros to find later that you are sick and not covered!

 

[Stravinsky]

That's cheap the quotes I've had are knocking on for £200 a month :/

You are applying to British based companies arent you! BUPA for instance offer insurance for Expats but their quotes are horrendous.

When the wife and I in mid fifties came here we insured with Sanitas. We paid €1100 ish a year for both of us.

 

[Andyroo]

I have had a quote off the ASSSA website at 4000E a year for the 3 of us and others range from £160-£293 per month. I do need a policy that will cover maternity & dental.

I'm not sure how to PM

 

[xabiaxica]

I have had a quote off the ASSSA website at 4000E a year for the 3 of us and others range from £160-£293 per month. I do need a policy that will cover maternity & dental.

I'm not sure how to PM

click on the name of the person you want to PM & a drop-down will appear

 

[lynn]

I've actually has a few quotes and I was shocked at the prices. :/ I don't want something for nothing but has to e affordable.

The S1 sounds interesting. Will research more thank you

If you have paid enough NI contributions in the UK for the preceding years before your move, you can get up to two and a half years reciprocal health cover in Spain. If you phone the Department of Work and Pensions in Newcastle, they are able to tell you immediately if you are eligible, and if so, will send out an S1 form. Ask them for separate S1 forms for all dependents too - wife/children. Once you have received these, take to the INSS office with residencia, passports, padron, birth certificates for children (A4 size not A5 ones), marriage certificate and photocopies of all of the above. They will take all this from you and probably say you'll receive something back in a few weeks. In practice, you may have to return in a few weeks and hassle them a bit, but with some tenacity, you will get the form back stamped to allow access to state healthcare.
We have had three years worth of cover so far (my OH still works in UK and pays NI), saving us approximately 6000 euros in private cover for the family. Luckily, we are fit and healthy, so have had little need to use it, but it is there for peace of mind.

 

[Andyroo]

If you have paid enough NI contributions in the UK for the preceding years before your move, you can get up to two and a half years reciprocal health cover in Spain. If you phone the Department of Work and Pensions in Newcastle, they are able to tell you immediately if you are eligible, and if so, will send out an S1 form. Ask them for separate S1 forms for all dependents too - wife/children. Once you have received these, take to the INSS office with residencia, passports, padron, birth certificates for children (A4 size not A5 ones), marriage certificate and photocopies of all of the above. They will take all this from you and probably say you'll receive something back in a few weeks. In practice, you may have to return in a few weeks and hassle them a bit, but with some tenacity, you will get the form back stamped to allow access to state healthcare.
We have had three years worth of cover so far (my OH still works in UK and pays NI), saving us approximately 6000 euros in private cover for the family. Luckily, we are fit and healthy, so have had little need to use it, but it is there for peace of mind.

Thank you thank you thank you!! Now that all sound much better to me!! I will be living there with my 2 children and still working for a UK based company and continue paying into the PAYE scheme (as I have for the past 18 years) I don't know how long I'm going for I will start off a year and then reassess, might be forever. Where do I stand then if I continue with PAYE in the UK?

 

[xabiaxica]

Thank you thank you thank you!! Now that all sound much better to me!! I will be living there with my 2 children and still working for a UK based company and continue paying into the PAYE scheme (as I have for the past 18 years) I don't know how long I'm going for I will start off a year and then reassess, might be forever. Where do I stand then if I continue with PAYE in the UK?

you can get the S1 in that case afaik

you need to sort out tax though - if you are living here you might (will?) have to pay tax & NI here instead so of course then you'd be covered on the state healthcare anyway

 

[lynn]

Thank you thank you thank you!! Now that all sound much better to me!! I will be living there with my 2 children and still working for a UK based company and continue paying into the PAYE scheme (as I have for the past 18 years) I don't know how long I'm going for I will start off a year and then reassess, might be forever. Where do I stand then if I continue with PAYE in the UK?

Ok, then a slightly different situation... instead of going to the DWP in Newcastle, you need to contact HMRC Working abroad

You'll have to fill in a form this time, but again, they should issue you with an S1 form based on your NI contributions. Again, ask for a form for dependents, although they aren't as forthcoming as DWP. This might not be a problem - depends on how enlightened your INSS office is in Spain (we had to work on this somewhat with the Fuengirola office ). You'll have to go through the same performance as I said above, and we've had to do this every year so far. I believe you'll be able to get up to five years cover. As I said, we've had three so far and will try again next year.

Give yourself PLENTY of time to get this done... the S1 form takes weeks to process in the UK, then the INSS office takes more time to process.

I'd be delighted to have another person who has managed to do this as at the mo I haven't met anyone else who has!

 

[lynn]

you can get the S1 in that case afaik

you need to sort out tax though - if you are living here you might (will?) have to pay tax & NI here instead so of course then you'd be covered on the state healthcare anyway

Not strictly true Xabiachica... PAYE in UK means NI is paid in UK not Spain

 

[jojo]

Ok, then a slightly different situation... instead of going to the DWP in Newcastle, you need to contact HMRC Working abroad

You'll have to fill in a form this time, but again, they should issue you with an S1 form based on your NI contributions. Again, ask for a form for dependents, although they aren't as forthcoming as DWP. This might not be a problem - depends on how enlightened your INSS office is in Spain (we had to work on this somewhat with the Fuengirola office ). You'll have to go through the same performance as I said above, and we've had to do this every year so far. I believe you'll be able to get up to five years cover. As I said, we've had three so far and will try again next year.

Give yourself PLENTY of time to get this done... the S1 form takes weeks to process in the UK, then the INSS office takes more time to process.

I'd be delighted to have another person who has managed to do this as at the mo I haven't met anyone else who has!

Lynn, I remember you pulling your hair out over all this lol!!! I never had to - I dont know why, my husband was working and paying into the UK and I was resident of Spain so we should have filled in something, but we were never required to and we only once had a problem and then it wasnt anything to do with whether we'd filled forms in or not!

Actually, is that going to be an issue for the OP, being a Spanish resident. but paying her taxes etc in the UK?? I thought the 182 days came in...???????????

Jo xxx

 

[xabiaxica]

Lynn, I remember you pulling your hair out over all this lol!!! I never had to - I dont know why, my husband was working and paying into the UK and I was resident of Spain so we should have filled in something, but we were never required to and we only once had a problem and then it wasnt anything to do with whether we'd filled forms in or not!

Actually, is that going to be an issue for the OP, being a Spanish resident. but paying her taxes etc in the UK?? I thought the 182 days came in...???????????

Jo xxx

yes, that could be a complication - not sure how that works............

 

[lynn]

yes, that could be a complication - not sure how that works............

Tax paid in UK on salary should be declared on Spanish tax return... It isn't paid twice