Prescription charges

Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2020 4:43pm

5 replies149 views2 members subscribed

Posts: 17

4 helpful points

Location: Catral

Joined: 7 Feb 2020

We came to Spain in November for our usual winter break, both being pensioners we enjoy the warmth, due to the lockdown we are still here our ferry being cancelled three times. We have had to visit the private doctor a couple of times and I would think we have spent around 900 euros, as our medicines ran out we have had to purchase more and one medicine alone costing 90 euros and we have to take around 9 between us. The UK will only let you bring out 3 months supply. Add to this the cost of rental of the villa for extra time and life gets expensive. What i am asking is can we use our E111 card at the chemists for a reduction in cost. No-one semed to know where a community doctor could be found until a couple of weeks ago and someone told us, consequently I went there and was told that without a SIP I think they told us we wouldn't be seen, so I was stumped. We are not free loaders because we did use the private care but We don't want to pay yet another 60 euros each just to get a prescription, anyone any useful ideas please

Reply
View 5 replies

Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2020 5:44pm

shanksey

Original Poster

Posts: 17

4 helpful points

Location: Catral

Joined: 7 Feb 2020

Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2020 5:44pm

Thank you Ray that is very useful.

Reply

Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2020 6:29pm

sugarloaf

Posts: 51

37 helpful points

Location: Benferri

Joined: 19 May 2020

Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2020 6:29pm

shanksey wrote on Thu Jun 11, 2020 4:43pm:
We came to Spain in November for our usual winter break, both being pensioners we enjoy the warmth, due to the lockdown we are still here our ferry being cancelled three times. We have had to visit the private doctor a couple of times and I would think we have spent around 900 euros, as our...

Read more...

... medicines ran out we have had to purchase more and one medicine alone costing 90 euros and we have to take around 9 between us. The UK will only let you bring out 3 months supply. Add to this the cost of rental of the villa for extra time and life gets expensive. What i am asking is can we use our E111 card at the chemists for a reduction in cost. No-one semed to know where a community doctor could be found until a couple of weeks ago and someone told us, consequently I went there and was told that without a SIP I think they told us we wouldn't be seen, so I was stumped. We are not free loaders because we did use the private care but We don't want to pay yet another 60 euros each just to get a prescription, anyone any useful ideas please

Hello Shanksey

I know it seems harsh under your circumstances but I do not think any country in the world other than the UK will subsidise healthcare to non tax paying foreigners at the expense of their own tax paying citizens.

COVID 19 has caused unforeseen and unfortunate difficulties to many. Have you contacted your travel insurers over these expenses?

Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2020 7:02pm

Movingon

Super helpful member

Posts: 1857

1607 helpful points

Location: Albatera

Joined: 7 Feb 2018

Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2020 7:02pm

Since you mention ferry cancellations I'll take a punt that you are here by car and if that's the case then you can cut the expenses at a stroke by driving home to UK, as you've been able to do since the day the state of alarm was announced and can still do today.

Furthermore if you came in November then unless you were planning to apply for residence then you should have left after 90 days which would have been at the very latest the end of February and at least a fortnight before the lockdown was imposed. The ferries were running to schedule before that so when I wonder were you intending to leave?

Given the above then, and with apologies if I've missed something pertinent, it would seem that you are deliberate overstayers and the situation you find yourself in is of your own making but easily solved simply by going home tomorrow.

Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2020 10:38pm

shanksey

Original Poster

Posts: 17

4 helpful points

Location: Catral

Joined: 7 Feb 2020

Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2020 10:38pm

Movingon wrote on Thu Jun 11, 2020 7:02pm:
Since you mention ferry cancellations I'll take a punt that you are here by car and if that's the case then you can cut the expenses at a stroke by driving home to UK, as you've been able to do since the day the state of alarm was announced and can still do today.
Furthermore if you came in November then unless you were planning to apply for residence then you should have left after 90 days which would have been at the very latest the end of February and at least a fortnight before the lockdown was imposed. The ferries were running to schedule before that ...

Read more...

...so when I wonder were you intending to leave?
Given the above then, and with apologies if I've missed something pertinent, it would seem that you are deliberate overstayers and the situation you find yourself in is of your own making but easily solved simply by going home tomorrow.

What you say is true but perhaps when I explain to you that firstly I developed shingles and therefore our departure was altered to March, shingles is painful and I felt very under the weather, then the lockdown came and the rest you know apart from the fact that, you may not realize this, but elderly people do not want to take on such a huge trip as driving all the way from here to the channel tunnel. We hope to return and apply for residency.

Reply

Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2020 10:48pm

shanksey

Original Poster

Posts: 17

4 helpful points

Location: Catral

Joined: 7 Feb 2020

Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2020 10:48pm

sugarloaf wrote on Thu Jun 11, 2020 6:29pm:
Hello Shanksey

I know it seems harsh under your circumstances but I do not think any country in the world other than the UK will subsidise healthcare to non tax paying foreigners at the expense of their own tax paying citizens.

Read more...

COVID 19 has caused unforeseen and unfortunate difficulties to many. Have you contacted your travel insurers over these expenses?

I understand what you are saying but I was merely asking if I could use my E111 to get a prescription not understanding that we would still have to pay 100per cent for it. We are not freeloaders hence going to the private clinic, it is just that we find ourselves paying out so much due to the lockdown. Thank you for replying anyway.