Healthcare cover advice please - Healthcare and medical advice in Vera Playa - Vera Playa forum - Costa de Almería forum in the Almeria province of Spain
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Healthcare cover advice please - Page 2

BobL

Posted: Sun Apr 8, 2018 2:00pm

BobL

Super helpful member

Posts: 2170

1225 helpful points

Location: Mojacar

Joined: 18 Aug 2016

Posted: Sun Apr 8, 2018 2:00pm

Just to mention that multiple medications that you need a prescription for in UK are simply OTC here. Many are remarkably inexpensive. Sometimes more cost effective to buy OTC than make appt with GP, etc.

Bob and Sandra

DarioMartin

Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2018 6:06pm

DarioMartin

Legendary helpful member

Posts: 5342

6309 helpful points

Location: Vera

Joined: 16 Aug 2017

Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2018 6:06pm

Hiya Kev, my understanding is that you will need to show an average balance in a Spanish Bank account of 9000,00€ each. I don’t recall the exact figure - I think it is actually 9.250,00€ each, so may be wise to move around 20.000,00€ to your Spanish account so the average for the year should reflect the required amount.

Saludos, Darío

DarioMartin

Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2018 6:41pm

DarioMartin

Legendary helpful member

Posts: 5342

6309 helpful points

Location: Vera

Joined: 16 Aug 2017

Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2018 6:41pm

Hehe - yes, have finished Residencia process.  Theoretically, you may reside in Spain for THREE months after which Residencia must be sought.  This may explain things a bit better : https://www.gov.uk/guidance/residency-requirements-in-spain#residency-requirements

Three months should be ample to sort out Residencia (unless in August at which point everything shuts down); a good Abogado / Asesora will be able to expedite the process.

Money. Nope. The fact that you have a pension coming will not sway them one bit (I speak from experience) ... you need either to show an income from job or currently paying pension, or have property or show an average balance of I think it is 9.250,00€ per person.

You will also need to demonstrate health cover in Spain, either private health insurance or registration in some way on Spanish health system.  EHIC won’t cut it, as that is only valid for a three month holiday stay in Spain. If you’ve taken up residency, and are listed on the Padrón then EHIC is no longer valid.

The whole process can be done in about 1 to 2 months; ensure you have TWO photocopies of everything and certified Spanish translations of marriage certificate.  It may be wise to get a Spanish translator here to do it - I can recommend Verasur in Vera and it costs 30,00€

I got mine translated in Gibraltar, by a registered and certified Spanish Judicial translator - and it wasn’t accepted in Almería because it wasn’t done in Spain.

I mentioned Padrón - when you actually get a place and take up residency, you will need to visit the Ayuntamiento and register on the Padrón.  You will need to demonstrate by the certificates issued by the Ayuntamiento that you are registered on the Padrón to obtain Residencia.

Hope this helps, and not hinders ...

BobL

Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2018 7:01pm

BobL

Super helpful member

Posts: 2170

1225 helpful points

Location: Mojacar

Joined: 18 Aug 2016

Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2018 7:01pm

Hi All,

Dario, I find this quite overwhelming. When I look back to this same process back in 2003-'now it's quite horrifying. 

You are being just so informative &'one can only hope it's appreciated. My wife, Sandra, actually complains about the time I spend on The Forum.

Just one thing, & this is just me, I would never leave 10K in.a Spanish Bank. Truly we used to, but now I have moved almost all payments to an offshore Euro account. Let's see them try to embargo that.

Best wishes & well done you.

Sincerely,

Dr./ Colonel Bob and Sandra

Mojacar Playa and Puerto Lumbreras

beauly

Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2018 7:05pm

beauly

Helpful member

Posts: 206

89 helpful points

Location: La Alfoquia

Joined: 2 Apr 2018

Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2018 7:05pm

Hi Dario 

We live in Torrevieja and selling our house at the moment. We have been residents for 4 years. Thereafter buying it Almeria. As mentioned we are on the Convenio Especiale. We went to our local social security office here in Torrevieja today.  In order to get the Autonomo as you have, one person in a couple MUST be employed and with a contract of employment, or be registered as self employed. My understanding of what you were saying was that you did not have to be employed to join the Autonomo. There are differences in Andalusia from Valencia, and it was explained to us today that Andalusia are more relaxed in the required criteria. We also cannot transfer our Convenio Especiale from Valencia (actually Alicante) to Andalusia. What has been suggested today is that we make contact with a gestor in Almeria to assist as they will know the legal aspects,of and assist in what you have to do. Certainly in Alicante, if you do not know what to do yourself, information is not readily made available to you. This is what happened to us, but at least we have been able to now help,others and put them in the right direction.

One of us have only 2 years to actually receive the State Pension - as you know it is not your 65th birthday, but when you start physically getting  it paid to you.

Do you know of a gestor who may be able to help now in your area  - would rather have this all sorted before we actually move, otherwise we are starting from day one again ......  There are 2 other messages in my email received today which I have not had a chance to look at yet !!!!

Many thanks gin fario

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DarioMartin

Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2018 7:21pm

DarioMartin

Legendary helpful member

Posts: 5342

6309 helpful points

Location: Vera

Joined: 16 Aug 2017

Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2018 7:21pm

Hi Beauly - I can certainly recommend an absolutely superb Asesora, who has sorted all our stuff out and has advised us beautifully.  Her name is Paqui Ramos and she is the principal of Verasesores in Vera .... I will happily supply the number, but it comes with the caveat that she speaks NO English at all.  She works on WhatsApp and is very very quick to get back to you.  She’s happy if you need a translator, or if you go it alone, as we did, she’ll pitch her Spanish slower, shorter sentences and easier to understand phrasing.

I really can recommend her, her number is ‭647 645 666‬ or email 

DarioMartin

Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2018 8:43pm

DarioMartin

Legendary helpful member

Posts: 5342

6309 helpful points

Location: Vera

Joined: 16 Aug 2017

Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2018 8:43pm

BobL wrote on Tue Apr 10, 2018 7:01pm:

Hi All,

Dario, I find this quite overwhelming. When I look back to this same process back in 2003-'now it's quite horrifying. 

You are being just so informative &'one can only hope it's appreciated. My wife, Sandra, actually complains about the time I spend on The Forum.

Just one thing, & this is just me, I would never leave 10K in.a Spanish Bank. Truly we used to, but now I have moved almost all payments to an offshore Euro account. Let's see them try to embargo that.

Best wishes & well done you.

Sincerely,

Dr./ Colonel Bob and Sandra

Mojacar Playa and Puerto Lumbreras

I thank you for your kind words Bob, and I can only hope that the advice / opinions / experiences I offer here have value to those who come now.

Brexit will undoubtedly mean navigating uncharted waters for those wanting to make a life in Spain, and indeed some changes are already being felt as a result - most notably swapping licenses.  I fear that Guardia Civil May become less tolerant of Expats than formerly they were, but hopefully I’m wrong.

One thing that won’t change is the nightmarish bureaucracy that underpins any official dealings and it is hoped that the advice etc we all offer here will help calm those aforementioned uncharted waters a little for new arrivals, and let them so arrive with eyes open and understanding just what may be required.

Saludos, Darío

T and S

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2019 2:49pm

T and S

Original Poster

Posts: 6

1 helpful points

Location: Vera Playa

Joined: 7 Apr 2018

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2019 2:49pm

Hi, lots of interesting posts to read through here.

Can anyone recommend a private health insurer in the Vera Playa region?

Also, are there only certain doctors you can visit if signed up to a specific insurer? 
(would one have to travel some distance to a doctor if needed)

Thanks 

arabest

Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2019 4:20am

Posts: 6

Location: Arboleas

Joined: 22 Feb 2019

Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2019 4:20am

lots of misinformation contradictions here,how can you apply for residencia after 3 month  when proof of  a years health care is required  , 

is having private medical care in place for a years contract sufficient evidence after only 3 payments ?

why pay autonomo for 3 yrs when can pay private for 1 year then convieno ,you would need to be resident within that 1st year, 

and once  you have your ticket why continue to keep paying upto 325e mnth , when you can move onto convieno, 

am i missing something here ?

if someone is paying 600 e a month for health  , which equates to 7,200 a year ,then,  not been cheeky , you must be loaded or mad, 

if you have property and have 700e drip fed into spanish acc then thats all thats required , and no bank charges

this will increase to 26000 after brexit, 

you cannot apply for nie online to spanish  embassy in uk  , only in person , london or edinburgh 

this is all academic to this forum, as free health care is being implimented in andulucia only, to date. 

DarioMartin

Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2019 8:10am

DarioMartin

Legendary helpful member

Posts: 5342

6309 helpful points

Location: Vera

Joined: 16 Aug 2017

Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2019 8:10am

arabest wrote on Fri Feb 22, 2019 4:20am:

lots of misinformation contradictions here,how can you apply for residencia after 3 month  when proof of  a years health care is required  , 

is having private medical care in place for a years contract sufficient evidence after only 3 payments ?

why pay autonomo for 3 yrs when can pay private for 1 year then convieno ,you would need to be resident within that 1st year, 

and once  you have your ticket why continue to keep paying upto 325e mnth , when you can move onto convieno, 

am i missing something here ?

if someone is paying 600 e a month for health  , which equates to 7,200 a year ,then,  not been cheeky , you must be loaded or mad, 

if you have property and have 700e drip fed into spanish acc then thats all thats required , and no bank charges

this will increase to 26000 after brexit, 

you cannot apply for nie online to spanish  embassy in uk  , only in person , london or edinburgh 

this is all academic to this forum, as free health care is being implimented in andulucia only, to date. 

Firstly and to answer most of your points, Convenio Especial is not available in Andalucía. Period. And to my understanding, is being phased out in other provinces - here I stand to correction, but it certainly isn’t available in Andalucía.

The “free” health care being implemented does not apply to those people deeking Residencia, as the financial obligation / requirement for Residencia puts you way above the threshold for the “free” health care.

At this point in time, i.e. as at today, the health care requirement for Residencia can be met in three ways: 1) Autónomo / Contrato of employment (“Autónomo” is also a term for a sub-contractor or private contractor that pays their own Autónomo.  A contract of employment shows you are having Autónomo paid by employer); 2) Private Health Insurance.  No further explanation needed; 3) Pensioner using S1 form and current reciprocal agreements with NHS - This last method MAY / COULD / MIGHT ????? Change after 29/3

Hope that clears up some confusion

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