Age Pensioner (Australian) Medications

What you pay for medicines will depend on how you get your health care.

British pensioners will normally qualify for an S1 from UK and consequently pay nothing or 10% depending on individual income.

If applying for an NLV you will be required to show private health care paid up for the first year, the insurer will tell you which doctor or doctors you can go to.

With private health cover you will be responsible for the entire cost of medicines and that can add up to hundreds of euros per month!

After the first year you may become eligible to join the Convenio Especial scheme which gives you free health care the same as any Spanish citizen however medicines will still be down to you.

What meds are you on ?  I get blood pressure & thyroid meds. We have private insurance here so pay out for the meds but I find it cheaper than what I pay in Sydney with good ole Medicare ! 

Gosh, that’s quite a shopping list !  

Private medical insurance does not include the cost of medication. You will have to meet the full cost. Most private medical insurance policies do not cover pre existing conditions  Once you have been resident in Spain for 12 months you can apply to join the Convenio Especial, this would give you full access to the Spanish Health Service (including pre existing conditions) but again, you must pay for all prescriptions. The Convenio Especial costs €157 per month if you are aged 65 and over or €60 per month if you are under 65 (see link below).

If you Google the brand name of the medication you currently take you may find an estimate of the costs and if the medication can be bought over the counter without prescription.

https://www.gva.es/es/inicio/procedimientos?id_proc=17044

1 month supply of Amlodepine 10mg, Ramipiril 10mg and Bisoprolol 10mg, all for blood pressure costs €15