S1 and access to healthcare.

Hi Adrian, 

I've never heard of that before and would suggest that the health centre staff are mistaken. 

Steve 

I agree with Steve, there appears to have been a mistake or mistranslation.

When I and my partner went to the Centro de Salud to get ours, we took the INSS certificate, a current padron, our passport and our TIE card.

I didn't think I was mistaken. It's quite clear on the INSS document about what is required. I also told them in Spanish that the ehic isn't necessary. To make matters worse my wife got her tarjeta sanitaria last year without any problems. I'll go with the flow and humour them or I'll never get it. 

We had to produce ours at Albatera.

Typical mixed  response by the Spanish authorities. I ought to be accustomed to it by now. 

I have emailed the local INSS officer who sent the document to me, to see what he says. If he responds I'll either go back to the health centre if his advice concurs with my thinking, or wait for the ehic card to arrive. Its been a real palaver and not all of Spain's doing. The issuing authority in the UK got my details wrong twice and had a 4 month backlog of cases due to covid!!! This simple process has gone on for months. Patience is a virtue. 

As a resident you cannot use an EHIC in Spain therefore there can be no possible reason for demanding one  when applying for a SIP card, where do people get these daft ideas from?

I really don't know. She had my Tie in front of her. I'll just humour them and see what occurs. 

I am on the understanding that S1 holders whether State Pensioners or persons entitled to UK Benefits living in Spain receiving  health coverage under the reciprocal agreement between the UK and Spain should/need to obtain a new UK issued EHIC/GHIC to travel around Europe, but totally agree one should have not been necessary to register at your local health centre, but saying that there are posters around my local health centre stating they accept/require the UK EHIC card.