Healthcare in Almeria - New Decalaration by Spanish Government

H, 

Failing a definitive answer you could try, 

www.citizensadvice.org.es or

Contact CAT SERVICES of la Alfoquia. 

They are on Google Search. 

Best wishes, 

Bob and Sandra, 

Mojácar Playa and Puerto Lumbreras 

Hi - we live at VdE as well - love it here.  That aside, when was the new decree?  We both have Residencia and are covered by the Spanish health system - but that is because we are both working and therefore paying Autónomo.  That qualifies you for a Tarjeta Sanitaria, roughly the equivalent of an NHS card I’d guess.

You do need an income / pension / average annual bank balance of 9.750,00€ to obtain Residencia in the first place; but as far as I was aware, you needed to be paying Autónomo to get health cover - I’d be keen to know if that’s changed, because another of the prerequisites of Residencia has always been either private health cover, transfer of UK health cover on pension or eligibility for the Spanish health service through paying Autónomo .... be difficult to imagine free health cover for Residencia if the prerequisite to obtain Residencia is to first have such cover .... but things change here very very quickly so would be very keen to know.

Saludos, Darío

Hola Dario

We love VDE too. Can't wait to move over and start our new life.

I have copied the link for you have a look at   https://www.efe.com/efe/english/life/spain-approves-law-that-returns-to-free-universal-health-care-model/50000263-3704096

Kind Regards

Gwendoline

Many thanks Bob and Sandra.

I have copied the article link below for Dario.

https://www.efe.com/efe/english/life/spain-approves-law-that-returns-to-free-universal-health-care-model/50000263-3704096

“Now, immigrants in an irregular situation will have the right to health care under the same conditions as Spaniards without having to justify their residence in Spain if social services confirm that their country of origin cannot pay toward the cover.”

Right - ok, having read that, there is no change as far as those of us who are residents are concerned.  You will still need to have private health cover / pension etc / pay Autónomo to actually get Residencia in the first place.  My undertstanding is that this applies to those who emigrate to Spain, not those who are part of EU (at the moment) and are resident here

Saludos, Darío

Thanks Dario for the explanation. The paragraph you highlight is key.

Do we need Private Health Cover or can we pay into the Spanish Healthcare System. I believe it is called Convenio Especial ?

Regards

Gwendoline

I am not certain of the rules regarding Convenio Especial in Andalucía - it seems to differ región to region.  Were you going to Murcia, I’d say “yes” - because someone else on the forum had the same query and was on Convenio Rspecial in Murcia.  I’m can’t recall whether it wasn’t available in Andalucía or whether it was difficult ... “not available” seems to trigger some bells, but again I stand to correction.

If you have your own business and pay Autónomo, then you and partner are covered. My wife is a Naturopath and Certified Yoga teacher ... she started a business so she could practice and be covered.  Paying Autónomo immediately put me on Andalucía healthcare system as her partner (now I have a job, that’s taken care of)

Other than that, if you are not a pensioner, you will need private health cover to obtain Residencia

That's excellent thank you for the advice Dario. My partner is a management consultant, self employed, and will be operating his business from Spain, although a lot of his work will be in the UK and will involve travelling. As I understand it, if he registers his business in Spain and pays Autonomo we will both be covered, is that correct?

Kind Regards

Gwendoline

Yes - correct - if business instantiated / registered in Spain and Autónomo paid here, you immediately qualify for health cover (plus unemployment benefits after 6 months, plus a basic state pension after 15 years)

Autónomo is 77,00€ per month for the first 12 months if you are over age 48 (59,09€ if under), rising every 6 months has thereafter until you are paying the full amount of about 375,00€ per month after 3 years