GIHC card - the myth!

SydSnott

I am not sure if this is the correct forum for the topic of “GHIC card and what to expect” and I’m also very surprised that a search of the forums has returned no hits!
I am currently in Mallorca until 17th June, and immediately upon arrival, I contracted a respiratory infection.
Armed with my passport and the GIHC card, I sallied forth to the medical centre and after copious forms and photocopies, I was examined by a doctor who gave me 4 prescriptions.
the main one was the AntiBiotics to treat the infection, the others were to treat the side effects of the AB’s!
So far so good, I was in for a nasty shock when attempting to get the prescriptions filled at the pharmacy, they charged me not the few shekels I would normally expect, but €105.38
Totally stunned by this, I payed up but asked why I was not receiving the agreed charges as per the reciprocal agreement negotiated between our governments.
this received just a shrug from the pharmacist.
Thoroughly hacked off by both my state of health, and the dismissive response from him, I wanged off an email to the Ministry of Health in Madrid, who just advised me to claim back the charge from my country’s health authority.

This, I felt was also not helpful or even correct.
This copied from the “DotGov” web site:-

What EHIC and GHIC covers

An EHIC or GHIC covers state healthcare, not private treatment.

With an EHIC or GHIC you can get medically necessary treatment in Spain on the same basis as a Spanish citizen. This means that you’ll get healthcare services for free or at a reduced cost.

An EHIC or GHIC is not a replacement for travel insurance – it does not cover everything, such as mountain rescue or being flown back to the UK (medical repatriation). Make sure you have both before you travel to Spain.

You may need to pay in full for treatment if you do not have an EHIC, GHIC or provisional replacement certificate (PRC).

Can anyone please help me to get this charge corrected?

The above statement from HMG clearly states that I should be treated to the same conditions as a Spanish resident i.e. if of working age, then the charge should be reduced by 50% and if of pensionable age the reduction should be 90% 

I am 76 years of age and clearly should enjoy the higher discount, but no discount what so ever is offered by the pharmacist, and the Spanish Health Authority are of no help what so ever.

Advice gratefully received, soonest possible as I fear that once I leave Mallorca it will be too late to get anything done.

Westin

Did you go to a state hospital or a private clinic/centre in Mallorca?

SydSnott

I went to the “Centre de Salut Palmanova” the Public Medical Centre, where I have been seen on one previous occasion, before Covid.
They now said things had changed, they only deal with “locals”, I should go to “Juaneda Urgencias Medicas, (the local medical centre close to my apartment) I said that this was private, they said no, new rules, the medical centre was able to deal with GIHC related visits, and I would not be charged.
True enough, I wasn’t charged, but the pharmacist was a relative of Mr Richard Turpin me thinks!(forum didn’t like the short form!)
How do I convince someone to give me the discount I’m entitled to as a card carrying citizen of the UK?
The real problem here is with the pharmacist not the Med centre, they did as was required, “treated” me for free.
Mr Turpin on the other hand, refuses to act in accordance with the GIHC rules.

Westin

Perhaps the doctor at the (private) Juaneda Urgencia Medicas clinic issued a private prescription and that is why you were charged.

Can you not just make a claim via your travel insurance?

NoodleDoodleMan

Westin said:

Did you go to a state hospital or a private clinic/centre in Mallorca?

Would a private clinic treat a GHIC card holder - I thought it only covered the Spanish state run medical facilities ?

Westin

NoodleDoodleMan said:

Westin said:

Did you go to a state hospital or a private clinic/centre in Mallorca?

Would a private clinic treat a GHIC card holder - I thought it only covered the Spanish state run medical facilities ?

Just going off what the OP mentioned -

SydSnott said:

I went to the “Centre de Salut Palmanova” the Public Medical Centre, where I have been seen on one previous occasion, before Covid.
They now said things had changed, they only deal with “locals”, I should go to “Juaneda Urgencias Medicas, (the local medical centre close to my apartment) I said that this was private, they said no, new rules, the medical centre was able to deal with GIHC related visits, and I would not be charged.
True enough, I wasn’t charged, but the pharmacist was a relative of Mr Richard Turpin me thinks!(forum didn’t like the short form!)
How do I convince someone to give me the discount I’m entitled to as a card carrying citizen of the UK?
The real problem here is with the pharmacist not the Med centre, they did as was required, “treated” me for free.
Mr Turpin on the other hand, refuses to act in accordance with the GIHC rules.

sheramber

Did you show proof you are a UK state pensioner?

SydSnott

Before I left the national facility, I assured myself that the “private facility”they were sending me to were authorised to offer service under the National Medical scheme.
this was assured and the doctor made no charge and issued standard Prescription forms.

I have since posting here been in contact with Sir Graham Brady, my local MP who has both phoned and emailed me details of the requirements to claim back these charges which should not have been made.

I have both email addresses and telephone numbers to ascertain just what I need to present as evidence in order to instigate a claim for refund of these excessive costs along with assurances that Sir Graham will assist in the event that I encounter problems.

eDicky

Perhaps you could mention from whom you are to claim back the charges, this may help others.

photome

SydSnott said:

Before I left the national facility, I assured myself that the “private facility”they were sending me to were authorised to offer service under the National Medical scheme.
this was assured and the doctor made no charge and issued standard Prescription forms.

I have since posting here been in contact with Sir Graham Brady, my local MP who has both phoned and emailed me details of the requirements to claim back these charges which should not have been made.

I have both email addresses and telephone numbers to ascertain just what I need to present as evidence in order to instigate a claim for refund of these excessive costs along with assurances that Sir Graham will assist in the event that I encounter problems.

good result from your MP, wish mine was as quick to reply

thriftytracey

I claimed GP charges when I was in France a couple of years back - it took six months to get the money back from UK authorities, probably longer delay now.  Good luck!