Changing to Spanish health system.

Check out Jim Taylor's Guide.

https://www.costablancaforum.com/area/almorad%C3%AD-spain-11/healthcare-medical-advice-in-almorad%C3%AD-16/jims-guide-convenio-especial-buy-into-state-health-care-36444/

Hi Kath,

Just something to bear in mind, before you cancel your private health insurance, is your age. 

The cost of PHI is banded by age; for example, my husband and I are with ASSSA, and when we took out our cover, we were 58 and 55 respectively.  At age 60, you go into the next band - this doesn't affect us, as our premiums are protected at the rate when we first took out cover.  However, my husband is now 61, so if he was buying PHI for the first time, his entry level cover would be more expensive.  This isn't a problem, so long as you change to the Convenio Especial and stick with it, but if you should decide to revert back to PHI, it will be much more expensive to re-join.

Kind regards,

Kim

Thanks for the useful advice.My husband is 64 I am 63 do you know if both have to join Spanish health system or does it just needs one of us to join.

Thank you.

Hi Kath,

No, it doesn't work like the S1 system for UK State pensioners, you'd both have to join the Convenio Especial to get Spanish state healthcare.

Kind regards,

Kim

I believe that if you pay your NH contributions in the UK, up to what would be your normal retirement age, then you can obtain a pension and your husband would be your dependent and you would both benefit from the Spanish system.  Give it a try, I am not an expert!

Yes, Richard, that's how the S1 system works, but neither Kath, nor her husband are UK State retirement age yet.

I expect that's why Kath is asking about the Convenio Especial, a Spanish contributory system, as an alternative to PHI, until such time as her husband qualifies for free reciprocal healthcare under the S1 system, and she will then qualify as his dependant - unless Brexit scuppers that.

Kind regards, 

Kim

Thanks for all your help .😄