Hello Tim, I use Sanitas in Spain for private health insurance.

But some question:

1) Do you or your wife have existing serious health conditions?
2) What visa do you plan to Spain on?

 

Thank you for your reply. We haven’t got any serious illness mainly blood pressure. My wife had two new knees about six years ago. There’s no problem with them. We are retiring to Spain. I believe it’s called a non-lucrative Visa or a non-working Visa.

 

Here's a recent discussion regarding pre-existing conditions & health insurance. I don't know if knee replacements count as such, but fingers crossed they don't!

https://www.expatforum.com/threads/merged-thread-medical-insurance-in-spain-for-pre-existing-condition.1533556/#replies

 

xabiaxica has replied regarding the health conditions issue.
Regardless visa you refer to, you have checked you meet the criteria? If not, there is lots of info on this forum about it.

 

Thank you for your help. Hopefully I’ll be over there with you soon. We’re coming over on the 23rd of September for two weeks to look for a property as well thank you again Tim

 

If you are UK citizens of retirement age and receiving UK pensions you can apply for healthcare insurance through the S1 healthcare scheme. If you are eligible, you would get all your uk healthcare entitlements transferred to the Spanish healthcare system and it would be paid for by the UK government. It covers all existing healthcare issues you may have.

Steve

 

Thank you for your reply. My wife is pension age, but I am not so I will have to find an insurance policy. Thank you again.

 

As your wife will be a UK state pensioner, she will be able to apply for an S1 form for herself and can also request one for you as her dependent (she has to do this, you can't apply yourself). That will enable both of you to receive treatment in the Spanish public healthcare system which is generally very good. When you reach state pension age you would then need to apply for a new S1 in your own right.

 

Thank you very much. That is really interesting. It looks very complicated to me so I will need some help to apply for it.

 

If you ring the Overseas healthcare team at Newcastle, explain the circumstances, and they will fill the S1 forms in for you over the phone. It's something they do all the time so not to worry. Have your NI Number ready.

Steve

 

Thank you I’ll give that a try nearer to when we’re gonna move. I think thanks again.

 

Okay, thank you. I’ve heard that I’m ready I think.