How to get Prescription Drugs in Spain?

Hello Chris, you will have to take out private medical insurance for at least the first year to get residency, then you either need to look to continue this until you reach UK retirement age or read up on "Convenio Especial". Many medicines which are only available on prescription in UK are sold over the counter here but you will have to pay the going rate for them. An earlier poster said they pay €1600 per year for two for PMI with no pre-existing conditions. If you qualify for the SIP card, you will pay 10% of the cost of medicines. Your EHIC card does not cover you if you live here.

Thank you for that. Not good really then.

We get free prescriptions here so I suppose we will pay 10%.

Regards

Chris

Hello Chris, I´m not sure if getting free prescriptions in UK automatically qualifies you for a SIP card. A SIP card is available for those over retirement age or who have an exportable benefit. Contact the Overseas Healthcare Team at the DWP if you are in any doubt whether you would qualify. If you qualify, you don´t need the private medical insurance to get residency (at the moment....the "B" word). Dentists are all private.
If you use the Spanish health service, even in an area with a high ex-pat population, you may well need an interpreter for  appointments as English is not widely spoken and this will be at your own expense. Some ex-pat communities do have English speaking GPs though and hopefully you will get some feedback on this from others.
Spanish healthcare is very good but better if you can communicate and most of the caring elements of a hospital stay are expected to be performed by family members.

Always get your medical records from your UK doctor before you leave otherwise there can be a delay getting them from PCSE and bring your prescription list with you.

You will still have to qualify financially to become resident and this MAY become more difficult after Brexit.

What does qualifying financially mean?

Kind regards 

Chris

As part of the application for Residencia you have to show you will not be a burden to the Spain, normally proof of 700€ being credited to your Spanish Bank each month.

We will be taking a lump some with us when we move. Does that qualify for us to be resident?

Kind regards

Chris

Hiya. Thank you for help.

We have two houses to sell. One to buy a property and one to keep us till we draw our state pension.

Are you able to buy a house not knowing whether you are able to stay?

Seems quite complicated.

Will a lump sum suffice?

Kind regards

Chris

Hiya

We want to move and live there permanently. We need to sell both properties to do this as we don’t want to rent property out in UK.

We are not married. Will this be an issue?

We don’t want to sell both properties and then they won’t let us stay. Have you bought a property? Whereabouts do you live?

I thought it was going to be so simple. Sell up and move. I don’t want to give up?

Kind regards

Chris

Hiya.

You have been so helpful. If we want to do it in a year we would have to sell both properties otherwise we couldn't finance it.

We don't have any children or any other dependants.

We are only selling one property first and by the time that happens we will know what's happening with Brexit.

We saw a property in Callosa de Segura that we liked. It will probably be sold by the time we ready.

What taxes are you having to pay and are you both working?

Could I have your email address as you are being so helpful and we know so little.

Kind regards

Chris.