Living abroad tips and hints for money savers

Oldernotwiser

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

Because they may not be covered by the Spanish NHS - most expats under pensionable age are not - and blood pressure tablets are prescription only. They would have to pay to see a Dr.

Although we are below pensionable age, my husband is covered for the Spanish NHS because he is on long-term Incapacity Benefit from the UK (All above board!) and I am covered as his dependent.

Many drugs that are prescription only in the UK can be got without in Spain, including antibiotics and antidepressants,:eek: and you can buy HUGE packets of very strong Ibruprofen and Paracetomol - my English Dr friend had a fit when he saw them!:rotfl:

So, the answer to your question is, they may be stocking up because they are not covered under the Spanish NHS.

But they'd be covered by their EHIC card, even if they had to claim money back when they returned to the UK.

seven-day-weekend

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

You're lucky that you've hit retirement age only needing one regular prescription; I come away from the pharmacy with 2 carrier bags for my husband, every month!

I'm not retiremnet age yet, I was 59 yesterday!

And we do have a medical cupboard full of everyday pills and potions!

As to your other reply about the EHIC, I assumed two things: 1. that the person who was asking about his patients' having three months ' supply of tablets was talking about people going to LIVE in Spain (in which case the EHIC is innappropriate as it is for travelling) and 2: Even if they were only on holiday, it is not for routine medical such as blood pressure tablets, it is for emergencies.

donny-gal

This just brings us back round the people not being prepared to learn anything of a language when they live there, let alone visit there. I know of "residents" who after 7 years, can only just manage hello, goodbye, please and thank you, but usually manage to say them in English first. The point is fear, and can't be bothered to fill a form in.

DG

seven-day-weekend

One of the people who lives here in our village just speaks VERY LOUDLY in English to all her Spanish neighbours. As she intends to stay here for many years, it's really very insulting to the villagers.

Oldernotwiser

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

I'm not retiremnet age yet, I was 59 yesterday!

And we do have a medical cupboard full of everyday pills and potions!

As to your other reply about the EHIC, I assumed two things: 1. that the person who was asking about his patients' having three months ' supply of tablets was talking about people going to LIVE in Spain (in which case the EHIC is innappropriate as it is for travelling) and 2: Even if they were only on holiday, it is not for routine medical such as blood pressure tablets, it is for emergencies.

I'm so sorry, for some reason I thought you'd just had your 60th birthday!

You're right about the EHIC not being appropriate for someone moving abroad, but wrong about its only being used for emergencies. If, for example, you spend winters in Spain, it's perfectly appropriate to use your EHIC for all routine medical care.

droopsnout

Belated birthday greetings, s-d-w. Your birthday was on Tuesday or Wednesday? (Midnight is such a nuisance when it sneaks up on you!)

Using the EHIC here in France is such a pain. You have to report to the local health authority, I believe, and that's rather like turning up at your local DHSS office (as was). Hardly worth the effort and discomfort unless it's a fairly large bill. There are, of course, numerous Brits who attempt to live in the EU using only their EHIC card. Silly people!!

seven-day-weekend

droopsnout wrote: »

Belated birthday greetings, s-d-w. Your birthday was on Tuesday or Wednesday? (Midnight is such a nuisance when it sneaks up on you!)

Using the EHIC here in France is such a pain. You have to report to the local health authority, I believe, and that's rather like turning up at your local DHSS office (as was). Hardly worth the effort and discomfort unless it's a fairly large bill. There are, of course, numerous Brits who attempt to live in the EU using only their EHIC card. Silly people!!

Thanks droopsnout, it was on Tuesday 27th.

seven-day-weekend

[quote=Oldernotwiser;18195291]I'm so sorry, for some reason I thought you'd just had your 60th birthday!

You're right about the EHIC not being appropriate for someone moving abroad, but wrong about its only being used for emergencies. If, for example, you spend winters in Spain, it's perfectly appropriate to use your EHIC for all routine medical care.[/quote]

My husband was 60 on the 16th January. If I'd had my 60th, I'd be jumping for joy because it would have meant I got £100 a week of State Pension!

I don't think they accept the EHIC for routine medical matters here. It does say in all the literature (in English, but applying to the EU) that it is for emergencies only (or at least that is what I have interpreted it to mean). We have to have one (from Spain )to cover us when we go back to the UK and I was told it was for any accident or illness arising from when I was in the UK (i.e. emergencies, not long-term ongoing treatment that I already had).

However, if people can get away with using it, fine!

carrots

hermanmunster wrote: »

so why is it that my patients are always after 3 months worth of medication before they head back to live abroad ... mainly France or Spain. I always get an odd look when I suggest that if they are living abroad I am unable to monitor their condition and take responsibilty for the prescribing and why don't they see a doctor abroad for theie medication??????

In addition to the reasons given by other posters, some people are dismayed by the unfamiliar packaging, let alone the different name, of the product. They know they are getting "the right stuff" from you.

carrots

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

One of the people who lives here in our village just speaks VERY LOUDLY in English to all her Spanish neighbours. As she intends to stay here for many years, it's really very insulting to the villagers.

Belated happy birthday, SDW!

There is a woman here who arrived last year who does this. She makes absolutely no attempt to speak French and several people have mentioned this to me in scandalised tones. (I don't speak French very well, but I try and am improving all the time and people appreciate it when I ask them words, etc.)

When she first arrived, she had no car, so I helped her buy one. Then I helped her with the insurance. Then she needed translations of a couple of letters from utility companies. At this point, having established that all she had for reference was a tiny multi-language phrase book, I bought her an appropriate dictionary as a gift.

Finally, I had to put my foot down. She has a relative who's had a house in a nearby town for 15 years and had received a letter from the mairie because a neighbour was complaining about something. Would I just phone the mairie to say the relative was coming to France in a fortnight and would sort it out. OK. A couple of weeks later: would I just come with them to the mairie to get it sorted out? I said "no" and advised her to go to a notaire. Oh, but the husband of her relative was gravely ill, and her son is handicapped, and the French friend who speaks English and used to help has turned all nasty and won't help any more. I actually had to explain that this was a legal matter and I was not qualified and I categorically would not do it. I haven't been asked for any translation services since. :j

I live in rural France - very few people here can go beyond a carefully mispronounced greeting in English (and why should they?). Yet this woman indignantly contends that virtually all French people just pretend not to speak English when they actually can. Unbelievable.

PS And, in the end, they didn't go to the mairie at all.