The leaving of England

Congratulations, and it's nice to see someone trying to do the job properly!

If you're not going to be officially resident here, then you must not apply for residencia.

All you need to do the things you've mentioned is an NIE. At the same time as applying for this, you could also apply for a certificate of non-residence. This latter isn't actually of much use in theory, but you'd find it invaluable if you were stopped by the police and asked why you're driving a UK car or why you're still using a UK driving license.

The form is EX-15; EX-14 was the old one.

Lots of information on the web, as I'm sure you're aware, e.g.:

http://extranjeros.empleo.gob.es/es/InformacionInteres/InformacionProcedimientos/Ciudadanosnocomunitarios/hoja093/index.html

Thanks for the kind comments and informative response Jim. Will certainly look at taking your advice re the EX15/NIE issue.

Do you have any advice/comment on the health insurance question I posed? I would rather be safe than sorry when it comes to health and I in no way to be reliant on whatever reciprocal arrangements the NHS may have with the Spanish state health system.

Thanks again in anticipation.

Steve

You're definitely planning your move correctly!

Whilst you're not resident here, you obviously couldn't be in the Spanish health system. Your EHIC will cover emergency treatment, and if you take regular medication, the vast majority can be bought in chemists here without a prescription, in many cases at less than the UK prescription charge. For example, the Metformina I take for diabetes is free to me, but if I bought it then it would cost a price controlled €1.94, which I'm sure must be cheaper than in the UK. Over the counter items, like aspirin, are however much more expensive than in the UK.

Once you are in receipt of UK retirement pension (or in receipt of long-term disability allowance), and resident here, then DWP at Newcastle will issue you with an S1 form, enabling you to go into the Spanish system. The younger of you could probably also get cover, but you'd need to talk to DWP as I'm not topical on the subject.

For the intervening period between becoming resident and getting your UK state pension, yes, you could take out private insurance, but this could be costly or limited in what it covers. If I were in your situation, I'd buy into the Spanish 'NHS' system (convenio especial) which costs €60 a month for those under 65. The following is still topical:

http://learn-aprender.com/groups/the-convenio-especial-buy-in-to-state-healthcare-in-spain/

I agree with Jim on the health insurance, buy into the Spanish Health Service, it is excellent.  Both my husband and I have received treatment which in my case was never even offered in the UK.  Initial appointment with hospital is done directly from your own doctors surgery and the longest we waited was 3 and a half weeks to see a consultant.  My husband now receives his UK state pension and although I do not, I am covered as his 'dependent.  Unless you already have a serious medical problem you will find that people here tend to be healthier due to the climate and being out of doors so much.  Having waited over 2 years in UK for a cataract op, my husband had both done with 4 months of his first referral to the hospital in Elche. As an asthma sufferer I have not had any antibiotics or steroids since moving here a year and a half ago, and was offered 6 monthly checks from the specialist in the hospital which I gratefully accepted but probably don't really need!  Hope you move goes smoothly and you are soon out here enjoying the sunshine.

And I agree with the above re the Spanish health service. I had a new knee last year, and didn't have to wait anywhere near as long as I'd have had to wait in the UK. I have two friends who had new joints done privately - they had the op, thank you and goodbye - that was it. I had the op in the state Vega Baja hospital. I was sent home with a few weeks supplies of of anti-clotting ampules to inject myself, given a month'[s physiotherapy, subsequently extended to two months, and three follow up appointments with the surgeon.

On my final appointment with the surgeon, I gave her an A4 photo of me on top of Orihuela mountain, with words superimposed saying thank you very much - I couldn't have done this without you. She liked it!

Thanks again for the wonderful advice Jim. I like the sound of the Spanish "NHS" option, fits nicely with my own peculiarly altruistic vision of how I'd like to integrate into my new host country. Cheers. Steve

PS. How do you feel about an alternative to the "ex-pat" tag for people like me (us?). For example could we be more reasonably called "social migrants"? Makes it sound more realistic as well as diluting the image of Union Jack shorts/pink sunburned torso/knotted hankie that possibly comes with the first name. Just a thought, sorry for allowing my thoughts to spill out.

Hi and thanks for the kind words and comment. Fingers crossed (and multiple forms filled and photocopied) we'll be out there on our new life adventure soonest. Best. Steve

I'm not so sure about social migrants, more like sensible migrants! The big plus is of course the weather, and a cheaper cost of living. You don't wince when you get your annual bill for council tax, and don't have to take out a mortgage to buy a bottle of wine. You can sit outside most times of the year and enjoy a coffee costing only €1.20.

There are a few things you need to do when you're resident, like not discarding trousers for shorts until it's safe to do so, and walking on the shaded side of the street instead of in the sun.

Incidentally, I noticed on Almoradi market last Saturday that boobs and legs are now coming back into fashion - ah, the joys of spring!

Note for Alex:

In the other forum I can hold the Alt Gr key and tap a vowel to get an acute accent on it, but I can't do that in this forum. Not important at all, but if it's an easy feature to enable, I at least would appreciate it.

What an evocative response Jim. Swap the coffee for a herbal tea and I'm almost there (shady side of the street, long trousers on, of course).

Steve