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Medication costs in Spain

Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2020 3:40pm
20 replies455 views5 members subscribed
Debra

Posts: 21

2 helpful points

Location: Albox

Joined: 31 Jan 2020

Hi

We own a house in Oria but do not live there, we live in england, during the lock down we were in Oria on holiday and got stuck there, I contacted my GP in England and he sent to me my prescription explaining I could get the medication there using the E111.   My E111 and my prescription were given to the pharmacy and I was stunned when I received my medication and the HUGE bill for over 120 euro, my E111 provides my date of birth, NHS said I should NOT have been charged, they explained had I been sent to a hospital THEY know I should not be charged as the E111 secures their payment till January 2021, they went on to ask if there are any English people living in Oria I said yes, then they said they will know you should not have been charged, they explained the pharmacy would not know my income but the most I could have been charged was 10% of what they charged me.   They charged me the equiv of a private prescription, I have been told I can submit the bill and they will reimburse me, BUT the pharmacy DID NOT provide an itemised bill and that is necessary, thus a lesson here for all.   This is sad because I have normally been treated well by the locals having  owned the house for 14 years! 

Alicia 11

Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2020 7:24pm

Alicia 11

Super helpful member

Posts: 2097

1773 helpful points

Location: Mojacar

Joined: 30 Sep 2019

Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2020 7:24pm

hard way to learn the lesson but usually if a prescription is from the UK then it will be treated as a private one and payment will be the full costs.  you could try asking the pharmacist if they could give you a itemised cost of the items on your prescription that you could try to make a claim with in the UK.

Debra

Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2020 9:00pm

Debra

Original Poster

Posts: 21

2 helpful points

Location: Albox

Joined: 31 Jan 2020

Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2020 9:00pm

Alicia 11 wrote on Mon Aug 31, 2020 7:24pm:

hard way to learn the lesson but usually if a prescription is from the UK then it will be treated as a private one and payment will be the full costs.  you could try asking the pharmacist if they could give you a itemised cost of the items on your prescription that you could try to make a cl...

...aim with in the UK.

My Doctor made it plain this was NOT PRIVATE, he speaks fluent SPanish and of course writes it too,  however I merely wanted to warn others, I will when I return to Oria ask for the itemised receipt but I am not holding my breath.   Thank you for your reply it is appreciated.

ednab

Posted: Tue Sep 1, 2020 1:46pm

ednab

Helpful member

Posts: 329

178 helpful points

Location: Oria

Joined: 27 Mar 2017

Posted: Tue Sep 1, 2020 1:46pm

I am on the medical system here and there are some medications that are not covered by the cheaper rate.  Although until you want them you do not know which.  My inhaler would be 75 euros and i pay 4.50

I would recommend you take your items back and ask for a bill.  The young man and the lady both speak english and i am sure they would be happy to help.  If you are unsure and would like me to come with you i would be happy to do so.

Edna

Debra

Posted: Wed Sep 2, 2020 3:46pm

Debra

Original Poster

Posts: 21

2 helpful points

Location: Albox

Joined: 31 Jan 2020

Posted: Wed Sep 2, 2020 3:46pm

ednab wrote on Tue Sep 1, 2020 1:46pm:

I am on the medical system here and there are some medications that are not covered by the cheaper rate.  Although until you want them you do not know which.  My inhaler would be 75 euros and i pay 4.50

I would recommend you take your items back and ask for a bill.  The young man and the lady both speak english and i am sure they would be happy to help.  If you are unsure and would like me to come with you i would be happy to do so....

...

Edna

Thank you so much, I do speak Spanish and I have the receipt albeit not itemised, the girl and the chap who normally work there were not there on the last two occasions I went in, they are both very helpful and know I speak Spanish, I have decided to use the chemist in Olula in future especially after I read   about the female doctor in the Oria Medical centre during the lock down, had she treated me that way I would have reported her to the GMC - equiv. we have never used the Oria medical centre, but I did go with an English lady a few years ago and was not impressed at the consultation, sadly the poor lady died 2 years later - cancer!   That lady WAS NOT SENT FOR ANY TESTS WHATSOEVER

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Jenni

Posted: Wed Sep 2, 2020 6:00pm

Jenni

Very helpful member

Posts: 1291

995 helpful points

Location: Oria

Joined: 14 Dec 2017

Posted: Wed Sep 2, 2020 6:00pm

HI, you have had bad experience. I was the person that was thrown out of the surgery during lockdown. and I did report the doctor concerned to the appropriate authorities, and I have to say without any question they changed doctors for us immediately. As for the chemist I have always found them to be very helpful, I am sure this is all just a misunderstanding on their part and hopefully you get a full refund on your return.

Good luck Jenni

Debra

Posted: Wed Sep 2, 2020 8:42pm

Debra

Original Poster

Posts: 21

2 helpful points

Location: Albox

Joined: 31 Jan 2020

Posted: Wed Sep 2, 2020 8:42pm

Hi

I am so glad they found you an alternative doctor; you are absolutely accurate normally they are FANTASTIC in the Oria pharmacy, when I went there  in February with a severe cold, there was a new person who was very hostile and insisted on trying out her English, which I found rather insulting given my Spanish I am told is excellent, normally the staff in there are first rate.  Regarding our medication we were advised not to go into the pharmacy because there were so many in there and we have both recently undergone surgery, the medication was  collected on our behalf, we did query the cost but nothing was done about it, lesson learned on that one.   We have both reflected and have decided to go to the pharmacy with all the documentation they were provided and request an itemised receipt, that will be interesting!   This is so so sad because generally we have held all the locals in high esteem and have supported the Oria economy constantly and have sung their praises and recommended them to others, we would not dream of hiring non Spanish labour for any work necessary!  When we do return we will be selling our house, sad but this has had a bad effect on us both we feel robbed.

ednab

Posted: Wed Sep 2, 2020 9:36pm

ednab

Helpful member

Posts: 329

178 helpful points

Location: Oria

Joined: 27 Mar 2017

Posted: Wed Sep 2, 2020 9:36pm

Jenni wrote on Wed Sep 2, 2020 6:00pm:

HI, you have had bad experience. I was the person that was thrown out of the surgery during lockdown. and I did report the doctor concerned to the appropriate authorities, and I have to say without any question they changed doctors for us immediately. As for the chemist I have always found them t...

...o be very helpful, I am sure this is all just a misunderstanding on their part and hopefully you get a full refund on your return.

Good luck Jenni

I agree with you Jenni, the 24 hour medical centre is brillant.  I have gone there not being able to breath and they put me on oxygen right away.  Unfortunately the lady that Jenni saw is unusual but there are some doctors not happy if you do my speak English.  The chemist staff are great and helpful, they do not mind if you cannot speak Spanish, but it is difficult for them to understand year times.

The quick response to Jenny's complaint was dealt with efficency.  I hope your problem has not put you against Oria.

juanida

Posted: Thu Sep 3, 2020 12:14am

juanida

Very helpful member

Posts: 729

537 helpful points

Location: Sorbas

Joined: 25 Feb 2017

Posted: Thu Sep 3, 2020 12:14am

Debra wrote on Wed Sep 2, 2020 8:42pm:

Hi

I am so glad they found you an alternative doctor; you are absolutely accurate normally they are FANTASTIC in the Oria pharmacy, when I went there  in February with a severe cold, there was a new person who was very hostile and insisted on trying out her English, which I found rather insulti...

...ng given my Spanish I am told is excellent, normally the staff in there are first rate.  Regarding our medication we were advised not to go into the pharmacy because there were so many in there and we have both recently undergone surgery, the medication was  collected on our behalf, we did query the cost but nothing was done about it, lesson learned on that one.   We have both reflected and have decided to go to the pharmacy with all the documentation they were provided and request an itemised receipt, that will be interesting!   This is so so sad because generally we have held all the locals in high esteem and have supported the Oria economy constantly and have sung their praises and recommended them to others, we would not dream of hiring non Spanish labour for any work necessary!  When we do return we will be selling our house, sad but this has had a bad effect on us both we feel robbed.

Don't you find that it is often the case that even though you speak good or fluent Spanish, there are certain people who look at your 'foreign' face rather than listen to what you are asking and pre-decide they don't understand a word of what you are saying?  It is irritating but it happens constantly!  Just because he is with me, my Spanish husband when asking for something in a shop gets a reply in English which he can't make head nor tail of! 

Debra

Posted: Thu Sep 3, 2020 7:13am

Debra

Original Poster

Posts: 21

2 helpful points

Location: Albox

Joined: 31 Jan 2020

Posted: Thu Sep 3, 2020 7:13am

Alicia 11 wrote on Mon Aug 31, 2020 7:24pm:

hard way to learn the lesson but usually if a prescription is from the UK then it will be treated as a private one and payment will be the full costs.  you could try asking the pharmacist if they could give you a itemised cost of the items on your prescription that you could try to make a cl...

...aim with in the UK.

Thank you so much for your reply, I have been in touch with NHS and they are going to refund on receipt of the itemised bill, BUT the pharmacy had a letter in SPANISH from my GP and also confirmation we are pensioners, sorry no error, but thank you again for taking the trouble to write, this has left a really nasty taste  

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