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Looking for some idea of What / Who is the best Health insurance and cost for Husband (70 yrs) and wife (66 yrs) seeking residency in Spain. Seriously now thinking of moving from the UK to our home here in Spain. Would like a comprehensive insurance which covers all our needs. Any help or advice is very much appreciated.
You wouldn't need private health insurance as, at your ages, you will be entitled to an S1 form from UK which transfers all your healthcare to the excellent Spanish NHS for free. It covers absolutely everything and even gives you reduced cost prescription medication.
However, some people like a backup system (just in case) and take out further insurance. We have been here in total almost 20 years (non res to star then residency) and have never required a backup system in all that time.
But there are many threads on here discussing private health insurance which will give you some idea of the costs which will vary depending on age and medical history. Just look under the Healthcare and \medical advice headings above or put healthcare in the search box
I agree that you can apply for the S1 healthcare cover from the overseas healthcare team in Newcastle. In my opinion the Spanish healthcare system is far superior to the UK NHS.
If you want to live here in Spain permanently you can use the S1 forms for the healthcare requirement as part of your visa (NVL) application.
Steve
marcliff wrote on Sun Feb 4, 2024 9:14am:
You wouldn't need private health insurance as, at your ages, you will be entitled to an S1 form from UK which transfers all your healthcare to the excellent Spanish NHS for free. It covers absolutely everything and even gives you reduced cost prescription medication.
However, some people like a backup system (just in case) and take out further insurance. We have been here in total almost 20 years (non res to star then residency) and have never required a backup system in all that time....
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But there are many threads on here discussing private health insurance which will give you some idea of the costs which will vary depending on age and medical history. Just look under the Healthcare and \medical advice headings above or put healthcare in the search box
Thank you for the detailed advice. Just thought we may need something extra at our ages. I thought that the health care here wasn't as good as it used to be looking at all the problems at Torrevieja hospital
tebo53 wrote on Sun Feb 4, 2024 9:29am:
I agree that you can apply for the S1 healthcare cover from the overseas healthcare team in Newcastle. In my opinion the Spanish healthcare system is far superior to the UK NHS.
If you want to live here in Spain permanently you can use the S1 forms for the healthcare requirement as part of your visa (NVL) application. ...
Read more...
...
Steve
Cheers, looks like ive got the wrong information thinking that the Spain NHS wasnt that good. How wrong could i be? Thank you for your advice.
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Posted: Sun Feb 4, 2024 3:22pm
Legendary helpful member
DOUGT50 wrote on Sun Feb 4, 2024 9:32am:
Thank you for the detailed advice. Just thought we may need something extra at our ages. I thought that the health care here wasn't as good as it used to be looking at all the problems at Torrevieja hospital
Hi Doug,
You're correct about Torrevieja hospital - it used to be superb, but since the private contract ended and it was taken back under the control of C.Valenciana's health department, they have had a lot of problems, primarily staff retention. Whilst they claim to have increased staff numbers somewhat, there continues to be issues with the quality of service. There have been a number of organised marches on both the Town Hall at Torrevieja and C.Valenciana health department - these were not an "expat thing", they were organised and led by Spanish nationals. Since then, my perception is that things are slowly improving, but service quality is still patchy.
Kind regards,
Kim
Kimmy11 wrote on Sun Feb 4, 2024 3:22pm:
Hi Doug,
You're correct about Torrevieja hospital - it used to be superb, but since the private contract ended and it was taken back under the control of C.Valenciana's health department, they have had a lot of problems, primarily staff retention. Whilst they claim to have increased staff numbers so...
Read more...
...mewhat, there continues to be issues with the quality of service. There have been a number of organised marches on both the Town Hall at Torrevieja and C.Valenciana health department - these were not an "expat thing", they were organised and led by Spanish nationals. Since then, my perception is that things are slowly improving, but service quality is still patchy.
Kind regards,
Kim
The main problem was the previous head of the Valencia Region, Puig, insisting on all medical staff being able to speak Valenciana, a type of Catalan. Doctors. teachers, university professors etc all being required to speak it. Hence those qualifying from other areas in Spain apply elsewhere. The hospitals and universities have been the most hit with this requirement hence the shortage.
GPs, though, provide an excellent service in the main. Most are really on top of things and it is still much quicker to be seen and referred than many other places.
The new head of the Regional government is overturning the language requirements and hospitals should be able to fill the vacancies caused by this.
I have, touch wood, not had to use the medical services here but my wife has from cataracts and a liver problem to ear problems and the removal of gall bladder due to kidney stones. Service, treatment and speed have been exemplary in all cases. Even a few weeks ago having chest pains an went to the med centre and was told to sit and wait and she saw a GP within 40 minutes. Thankfully nothing serious and the problem was cleared up straight away with advice and medication.
The new Valencia government have a bit of job to do to overcome the previous political interference with the medical system but appear to be getting on top of it.
marcliff wrote on Sun Feb 4, 2024 3:45pm:
The main problem was the previous head of the Valencia Region, Puig, insisting on all medical staff being able to speak Valenciana, a type of Catalan. Doctors. teachers, university professors etc all being required to speak it. Hence those qualifying from other areas in Spain apply elsewhere. The...
Read more...
... hospitals and universities have been the most hit with this requirement hence the shortage.
GPs, though, provide an excellent service in the main. Most are really on top of things and it is still much quicker to be seen and referred than many other places.
The new head of the Regional government is overturning the language requirements and hospitals should be able to fill the vacancies caused by this.
I have, touch wood, not had to use the medical services here but my wife has from cataracts and a liver problem to ear problems and the removal of gall bladder due to kidney stones. Service, treatment and speed have been exemplary in all cases. Even a few weeks ago having chest pains an went to the med centre and was told to sit and wait and she saw a GP within 40 minutes. Thankfully nothing serious and the problem was cleared up straight away with advice and medication.
The new Valencia government have a bit of job to do to overcome the previous political interference with the medical system but appear to be getting on top of it.
I went to the doctors recently and got organised a chest x-ray, ECG, and blood tests, along with results, all within 3 days!
It would have been weeks to have all that done with the UK NHS.....
Steve
marcliff wrote on Sun Feb 4, 2024 3:45pm:
The main problem was the previous head of the Valencia Region, Puig, insisting on all medical staff being able to speak Valenciana, a type of Catalan. Doctors. teachers, university professors etc all being required to speak it. Hence those qualifying from other areas in Spain apply elsewhere. The...
Read more...
... hospitals and universities have been the most hit with this requirement hence the shortage.
GPs, though, provide an excellent service in the main. Most are really on top of things and it is still much quicker to be seen and referred than many other places.
The new head of the Regional government is overturning the language requirements and hospitals should be able to fill the vacancies caused by this.
I have, touch wood, not had to use the medical services here but my wife has from cataracts and a liver problem to ear problems and the removal of gall bladder due to kidney stones. Service, treatment and speed have been exemplary in all cases. Even a few weeks ago having chest pains an went to the med centre and was told to sit and wait and she saw a GP within 40 minutes. Thankfully nothing serious and the problem was cleared up straight away with advice and medication.
The new Valencia government have a bit of job to do to overcome the previous political interference with the medical system but appear to be getting on top of it.
Hi Thanks for that. All this was done on the Spain NHS??
DOUGT50 wrote on Sun Feb 4, 2024 3:58pm:
Hi Thanks for that. All this was done on the Spain NHS??
Everything on the Spanish NHS. Torrevieja hospital has private rooms. The first bit was stones in the bile duct stopping the liver working properly. Straight to the observation ward then a private room next day. In hospital for a week on liquids only. Then an endoscopy to remove the stones. Rapidly followed by a day operation without admission to remove the gall bladder. Excellent service and an appointment with the nurse a our local medical centre to clean, sterilise and change dressing every other day.
Couldn't fault the service.
The cataracts were, unfortunately, during the pandemic period but both were done within 10 months of initial referral by the optician. No need to see our local doctor, just handed in the note from the optician to the receptionist and it was all completed with an appointment with the anaesthetist at Torrevieja pretty quickly. One done in the day clinic and then a compulsory wait to have the second one done. To clear up the backlog, the second one was done at a special clinic at 8 in the evening. Full details and what to do and expect provided in English as well.
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