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Health Insurance and cost of living

Posted: Thu Feb 2, 2023 11:22am
21 replies802 views8 members subscribed
Kay62

Posts: 32

5 helpful points

Location: Vera Playa

Joined: 11 Nov 2022

Good Morning, a little bit of advice please. My husband and I are here renting for 3 months, to look at properties, and different areas, with a view to applying for a NLV. We have found the cost of living to be quite expensive and not much cheaper than the UK so far. Do you agree this is the case?
Also could someone give me an idea of the monthly cost of private medical I am 60 and my husband 62 and he takes medication for high blood pressure.

Many thanks 

DarioMartin

Posted: Thu Feb 2, 2023 8:46pm

DarioMartin

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Joined: 16 Aug 2017

Posted: Thu Feb 2, 2023 8:46pm

I’m not certain what you are comparing to make that finding - the cost of living here is much much cheaper than UK - electricity is about the biggest cost, but even that’s a good deal cheaper than the UK.

As for consumables, it depends where you shop - if you shop at say Icelands, because you want brands you recognize, then your food bill will be expensive - they are grossly overpriced.  If however you shop at Mercadona / Lidl / MaxiDia, then your food bill should be significantly cheaper than UK.

The markets are the best place to get your fresh fruit and veg and will be cheaper than the supermarkets.

LosPardoslady

Posted: Thu Feb 2, 2023 11:12pm

LosPardoslady

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Location: Vera

Joined: 22 Jun 2019

Posted: Thu Feb 2, 2023 11:12pm

Agree with Dario.  You also need to be aware that seasonal produce is the norm and should you want fruit and veg out of season you will either pay a premium or more likely not be able to find the item.

If you like eating out you will be pleasantly surprised at the variety and value for money.  Saying that if you opt for places that cater to the tourist market it will be more expensive.

Not sure about the cost of blood pressure meds but my husband can buy cholesterol lowering medicine over the counter for less than the cost of a UK prescription.  Sorry I am unable to advise you about the cost of medical insurance, I am sure that there will be other forum members who are able to.  Good luck with your plans.

shane19759

Posted: Fri Feb 3, 2023 7:02am

shane19759

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Location: Arboleas

Joined: 29 Apr 2022

Posted: Fri Feb 3, 2023 7:02am

Kay62 wrote on Thu Feb 2, 2023 11:22am:

Good Morning, a little bit of advice please. My husband and I are here renting for 3 months, to look at properties, and different areas, with a view to applying for a NLV. We have found the cost of living to be quite expensive and not much cheaper than the UK so far. Do you agree this is the case...

...?
Also could someone give me an idea of the monthly cost of private medical I am 60 and my husband 62 and he takes medication for high blood pressure.

Many thanks 

Medical insurance is around 1000E per annum 

DarioMartin

Posted: Fri Feb 3, 2023 7:24am

DarioMartin

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Location: Vera

Joined: 16 Aug 2017

Posted: Fri Feb 3, 2023 7:24am

With regards Medical Insurance, after a year of legal residency (and so at least a year of medical insurance) you should be able to go on Convenio Especial which gives you access to Spanish Health system and so access to the heavily subsidized prescription meds.

I’m not certain though if Convenio Especial gives you full and unfettered access or not - would love to hear from someone on Convenio Especial.

After 5 years, you do of course go on to Spanish Health system as a permanent resident.

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Kay62

Posted: Fri Feb 3, 2023 8:13am

Kay62

Original Poster

Posts: 32

5 helpful points

Location: Vera Playa

Joined: 11 Nov 2022

Posted: Fri Feb 3, 2023 8:13am

LosPardoslady wrote on Thu Feb 2, 2023 11:12pm:

Agree with Dario.  You also need to be aware that seasonal produce is the norm and should you want fruit and veg out of season you will either pay a premium or more likely not be able to find the item.

If you like eating out you will be pleasantly surprised at the variety and value for money.  Saying that if you opt for places that cater to the tourist market it will be more expensive....

...

Not sure about the cost of blood pressure meds but my husband can buy cholesterol lowering medicine over the counter for less than the cost of a UK prescription.  Sorry I am unable to advise you about the cost of medical insurance, I am sure that there will be other forum members who are able to.  Good luck with your plans.

Thank you. 

MaggieB

Posted: Fri Feb 3, 2023 12:17pm

MaggieB

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Posts: 308

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Joined: 10 May 2020

Posted: Fri Feb 3, 2023 12:17pm

Health insurance approx 1500 for your ages but depends on provider.  You get a good rate of exchange so your money goes further.  Drinks and eating out can be more expensive in tourist areas, just depends where you like to go. Better weather so much lower bills.

Jeanne58

Posted: Fri Feb 3, 2023 6:17pm

Jeanne58

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Joined: 4 Aug 2017

Posted: Fri Feb 3, 2023 6:17pm

DarioMartin wrote on Fri Feb 3, 2023 7:24am:

With regards Medical Insurance, after a year of legal residency (and so at least a year of medical insurance) you should be able to go on Convenio Especial which gives you access to Spanish Health system and so access to the heavily subsidized prescription meds.

I’m not certain though if Convenio Especial gives you full and unfettered access or not - would love to hear from someone on Convenio Especial....

...

After 5 years, you do of course go on to Spanish Health system as a permanent resident.

So, you can go on the Spanish Health system as a permanent after 5 years as a resident, even if you under retirement age? Just querying as I come under this category, though I continue to pay private health insurance

Jeanne58

Posted: Fri Feb 3, 2023 6:25pm

Jeanne58

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Posts: 129

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Joined: 4 Aug 2017

Posted: Fri Feb 3, 2023 6:25pm

Spain is definitely cheaper than the Uk, which was one of the main reasons we moved here in order to retire earlier. 

As for health insurance, I am of simulate age and pay approximately 1100€ per year with Mapfre, which is a Spanish company. You can get cheaper, and banks like Sabadell offer competitive deals also.

Hope this helps

DarioMartin

Posted: Fri Feb 3, 2023 7:05pm

DarioMartin

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Posts: 5342

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Location: Vera

Joined: 16 Aug 2017

Posted: Fri Feb 3, 2023 7:05pm

Jeanne58 wrote on Fri Feb 3, 2023 6:17pm:

So, you can go on the Spanish Health system as a permanent after 5 years as a resident, even if you under retirement age? Just querying as I come under this category, though I continue to pay private health insurance

As far as I am aware, yes, once you gain permanent residency you become eligible to go on health system.

The retirement / S1 only comes into play for your first five years here - after that, as a permanent resident, you qualify for Spanish Health 

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