We will soon be moving to Spain on a 6 month basis, returning to UK for 6 months and back again each year. My primary residence will remain in the UK so basically we will be deemed as being on a 6 month vacation. My GP is refusing to give me more than 3 months supply of medication, and only 28 days supply for controlled medication. Has anyone come up against this problem before, and how have you handled it? If I can get the medication I need over the counter in Spain and pay for it then I'm happy with that, I just find it unbelievable that the NHS would treat us this way.
As I understand the rules unless you have Spanish residency you can only stay 90 days in every 180 you cannot stay for 6 months in a row. Depending on your medications you can buy most over the counter in local chemist. But some are prescription only and you would need to see a private doctor to obtain.
sorry but you will not be able to move here for 6 months and then return to the UK for six months and retain your UK as main residence with NHS cover. Uk has left the EU now so you have to choose where you live. If you decide UK then you can come to Spain for 90 days in every 180 if you decide Spain then you take out private health insurance and if you can join the Spanish health system. Either way why should the NHS cover you for medical cover when you are not in the UK. Have you not been reading the forum to keep up to date with the situation now. On top of that you can't drive on a UK licence here after 3 months either as you have to exchange it for a Spanish one now by taking a driving test, life if not as easy as it was to just move around.
Even the camper van owners who travelled the areas from Spain to France and other European countries can only do it for 90 days and then must leave the Schegen area for 90 days.
Netty66 wrote on Wed Jul 14, 2021 8:25am:
As I understand the rules unless you have Spanish residency you can only stay 90 days in every 180 you cannot stay for 6 months in a row. Depending on your medications you can buy most over the counter in local chemist. But some are prescription only and you would need to see a private doctor to ...
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...obtain.
Thanks for your input, we will have a non lucrative visa enabling us to stay over the 90 day limit and will have appropriate medical insurance. I just wondered if there was anyone else in this position who managed to get more than 3 months medication, or if they rely on it being posted over to them in Spain
Alicia 11 wrote on Wed Jul 14, 2021 9:02am:
sorry but you will not be able to move here for 6 months and then return to the UK for six months and retain your UK as main residence with NHS cover. Uk has left the EU now so you have to choose where you live. If you decide UK then you can come to Spain for 90 days in every 18...
Read more...
...0 if you decide Spain then you take out private health insurance and if you can join the Spanish health system. Either way why should the NHS cover you for medical cover when you are not in the UK. Have you not been reading the forum to keep up to date with the situation now. On top of that you can't drive on a UK licence here after 3 months either as you have to exchange it for a Spanish one now by taking a driving test, life if not as easy as it was to just move around.
Even the camper van owners who travelled the areas from Spain to France and other European countries can only do it for 90 days and then must leave the Schegen area for 90 days.
Our solicitor in Spain has advised that the non lucrative visa enables us to stay for longer than 90 days in Spain, our residency will remain in the UK, I will remain a UK national, working for a UK based company paying taxes and NI to the British Government. I will have a permanent residence in the UK, on that basis I am entitled to continue e to receive NHS services
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Debra 123 wrote on Wed Jul 14, 2021 9:09am:
Thanks for your input, we will have a non lucrative visa enabling us to stay over the 90 day limit and will have appropriate medical insurance. I just wondered if there was anyone else in this position who managed to get more than 3 months medication, or if they rely on it being posted over to th...
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...em in Spain
I think you better reread the rules around a NLV.
Lmj18 wrote on Wed Jul 14, 2021 9:16am:
I think you better reread the rules around a NLV.
Thanks for this and I do appreciate you are trying to help us and for that I am very grateful. I've just reread the up to day guidelines for sorting the NLV and I am still content that it is this document, together with with NI Number (which we will acquire before buying our property) will suffice for us to spend 6 months in Spain, working remotely for my UK employer, and returning to the UK as we see fit (unless I've missed something, but I don't believe I have). If you are aware of something that I've missed I would be very grateful if you are able to point it out to me.
Thanks
Neil
Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2021 1:25pm
Helpful member
Hi Neil, not sure I know the answer but it may be worth speaking to : NHS Overseas Healthcare Services
Telephone: +44 (0)191 218 1999Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
Saturday, 9am to 3pm
Because NLV's are a pretty new concept problems like this are new and I also guess that there won't be many people in the same position. The government website doesn't appear to have an answer. Other places for help might be CAB Spain or even the embassy where your NLV was generated. Good luck. Regards Karen
LosPardoslady wrote on Wed Jul 14, 2021 1:25pm:
Hi Neil, not sure I know the answer but it may be worth speaking to : NHS Overseas Healthcare Services
Telephone: +44 (0)191 218 1999
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
Saturday, 9am to 3pm
Because NLV's are a pretty new concept problems like this are new and I also guess that there won't be many people in the same position. The government website doesn't appear to have an answer. ...Read more...
...;Other places for help might be CAB Spain or even the embassy where your NLV was generated. Good luck. Regards Karen
Thanks for that Karen, I really appreciate that info
Debra 123 wrote on Wed Jul 14, 2021 9:34am:
Thanks for this and I do appreciate you are trying to help us and for that I am very grateful. I've just reread the up to day guidelines for sorting the NLV and I am still content that it is this document, together with with NI Number (which we will acquire before buying our property) will suffic...
Read more...
...e for us to spend 6 months in Spain, working remotely for my UK employer, and returning to the UK as we see fit (unless I've missed something, but I don't believe I have). If you are aware of something that I've missed I would be very grateful if you are able to point it out to me.
Thanks
Neil
the first thing that comes up if you Google a NLV is that you have to have an income that does not involve working so how can you work remotely for a company in the UK under that rule?
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