Medical details - Page 2

Re Spanish Health Service : When you retire to Spain at official retirement age e.g. when the British Government lets you draw your State Pension, you will be eligible for "free" health service here.  Until then, be prepared to pay whatever it costs to keep healthy here privately.  Official British Pensioners are paid for by the British Government in an annual lump sum. Under retirement age you are here at your own expense.  If you are deemed to be still of working age you may be able to obtain a  special form to cover you and dependents from D.S.S. H.Q. in Newcastle upon Tyne until you qualify for free Health Service. If still obtainable it is called E.120 or E121. My husband and I did it when we arrived here in 2003.  We lived in the Port then , and were allocated a G.P. no bother, but forget any medical history being passed on, it just didn't happen. We just told the Doctor our history verbally.  Medical treatment is different here in any case. We found D.S.S. very helpful  re health status and pensions. Don't expect to live cheaply here any more the GBPound ratio to the Euro has spoilt all that.

Hi, thanks for your reply. I've read previously that once I've lived in Spain for 12 months I can apply for something called especial convenia ( I'm sure I've spelt it wrong) isn't this a government sponsored scheme. Taking into account your view on not been able to live cheaply in Spain I'm puzzled to know what you mean by cheaply. We are banking on being mortgage free and having 1400 euro per month for bills and socializing. Have we underestimated. I've done some research on health insurance and have been quoted 1450 euro for the first year for both of us. But I'm banking on only needing this for one year and then moving onto the government scheme. By the way I'm 60. Taking early retirement. No state pension til I'm 66 and 3 months. Paul.

1400 euro per month.......you can live like a king on that with plenty left over.

Or at least we could.

Thank you Roland for the speedy reply. I'd love to hear from you, or anyone, regarding the rest of my post. Am I wrong to believe we can get onto the health service after 12 months. Would I need to continue buying private health insurance until I reach state retirement age. Any insight or advise will be very gratefully received.

                                                                  Paul