Anyone who falls into these categories now has to present a Spanish European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to receive free public treatment in the UK. If the card is not presented, you could be regarded as a private patient and have to pay for any treatment costs. Here, the EHIC is called a Tarjeta Sanitaria Europea and is available from a Social Security office (INSS). WHile the UK health card only needs to be renewed every five years, the Spanish one is only valid for a year.
The EHIC was introduced across the EU in July 2004 to replace paper forms like the E111 and E128, which until then had been necessary to get essential medical care in another EU member state while on a temporary trip such as a holiday or business visit. With the EHIC (which is free to obtain), you will have access throughout the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland to state-provided healthcare either free or at a reduced charge.
If you’re living here without working or have been posted here by a UK-based company and are still paying National Insurance, you should get an E106 form. With this, you are eligible for NHS treatment for up to 2½ years after your move here; however, you will need to prove that you have worked in the UK and paid National Insurance for up to three years before your departure. In this case, if you have a UK-issued EHIC, you can continue to use it for NHS treatment.
The European Health Insurance Card gives access to the following public health services in member states and the EEA without incurring any charge: any necessary medical treatment needed because of either illness or accident: maternity care, renal dialysis and managing the symptoms of pre-existing or chronic conditions that occur while away.
But it doesn’t cover you for any planned or long-term medical treatment or the cost of services such as mountain rescue in ski resorts or repatriation. As such, it is important to take out private insurance for these items. In addition, it’s important to note that EHI cards are individual, which means that each member of the family needs to have one.
For more information visit; www.dh.gov.uk/travellers or call +44 191 218 1999 or from Spain, www.seg-social.es
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