Living abroad tips and hints for money savers

Oldernotwiser

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

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!

That explains my mistake.

I'm sorry but I really think you're wrong about the EHIC; its use is much wider ranging than the old E111 and you can use it for routine healthcare as well as for emergencies, as long as you are officially a UK resident. What it doesn't cover you for is if you go abroad specifically for the the purpose of medical treatment. This would be the case whichever country's equivalent card you were using you were using. We've used it this way in France with no problems.

From the British Heart Foundation website


"The EHIC is normally valid for three to five years and covers any medical treatment that becomes necessary during your trip, because of either illness or an accident. The card gives access to state-provided medical treatment only. This might not cover all the things you'd expect to get free of charge from the NHS in the UK. You may have to make a contribution to the cost of your care.
The EHIC also covers any treatment you need for a chronic disease or pre-existing illness. You need to make arrangements in advance for kidney dialysis and oxygen therapy. To arrange for kidney dialysis while you're away, contact your NHS renal unit in the UK before you travel. For limited information on oxygen supply services in the EEA countries and Switzerland, call the Department of Health's Customer Service Centre on 020 7210 4850.
The EHIC won't cover you if getting medical treatment is the main purpose of your trip. You are advised to take out comprehensive private insurance for visits to all countries, regardless of whether you are covered by your EHIC"

Hope this helps.

seven-day-weekend

OK... I hope you're right ONW. although we are actually covered for Spanish Healthcare at the moment, we probably won't be when we do our half-and-half. Maybe it will come into it's own then!

I could try seeing a Dr in the UK on it I suppose...

Oldernotwiser

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

OK... I hope you're right ONW. although we are actually covered for Spanish Healthcare at the moment, we probably won't be when we do our half-and-half. Maybe it will come into it's own then!

I could try seeing a Dr in the UK on it I suppose...

It was partly your future plans that led me to look it up for you. Obviously you'll need to do it the right way round, either as a UK resident spending winters abroad complete with EHIC, or as a Spanish resident spending summers in the UK with the Spanish equivalent. It's only when someone who lives abroad uses an EHIC for their healthcare that there's any problem.

seven-day-weekend

Thanks ONW, that's very kind of you!

We'll probably be UK Resident spending winters in Spain.

However....the Spanish Government say you are resident after three months, so we could possibly be resident in both!

Obviously only have our healthcare in one though - UK I would think.

droopsnout

Having had experience of healthcare services in both the UK and France, and having few (if any, I hope!) illusions that it is paradise here, I wouldn't opt for healthcare in the UK for anything.

I realise that other people's experiences will inevitably lead them to other choices, but at the moment, the better way for me (for reasons of confidence and belief in those treating me) is eminently clear.

droopsnout

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

the Spanish Government say you are resident after three months

Odd ... I thought there was a general rule that you are resident in the country in which you spend most time - for most of us, the country in which we spend 183 days a year.

seven-day-weekend

Spain's NHS is really good, but if we are UK resident we will have no choice in the matter.

It may be good to be UK resident for other reasons.

And I must admit, it is good to be able tseak about health matters in other than pidgin. We're not all linguists like you drooopsnout!

seven-day-weekend

droopsnout wrote: »

Odd ... I thought there was a general rule that you are resident in the country in which you spend most time - for most of us, the country in which we spend 183 days a year.

But we're talking about Spain here! Since when did they obey any rules?

I think the three months is for ordinary residency, the 183 days is for tax residency purposes (the two are not necessarily the same).

droopsnout

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

Spain's NHS is really good, but if we are UK resident we will have no choice in the matter.

It may be good to be UK resident for other reasons.

And I must admit, it is good to be able tseak about health matters in other than pidgin. We're not all linguists like you drooopsnout!

Yes, all three points taken!

I'm accompanying a friend to hospital on Monday for a very unpleasant procedure, and he is more confused and anxious than he should be because of the language problem. Yet his wife is French-speaking, and so there should be no room for doubt.

Sometimes he shows me some of his medical documents, and even when I've translated them into English, I'm no wiser because of the medical-ese!

I don't think you have to be a foreigner to have problems in understanding some of these things. But yes, I can see it can make a huge difference to one's confidence, and I'm sure that Mrs DS wouldn't like a trip to our GP on her own.

droopsnout

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

I think the three months is for ordinary residency, the 183 days is for tax residency purposes (the two are not necessarily the same).

OMG, when will they cater for simple folk like me?!