How do I get an EHIC, I live and work in Spain?

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whonotme8181

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Policyandguidance/Healthadvicefortravellers/DH_4135688 if your from uk

if ur irish www.ehic.ie
i got one today!!! not really sure wat it does though!!

Penfold

If you live and work in Spain, I'm not sure that you need one as it is aimed at those travelling within Europe. The UK issued EHIC would only be issued to EU/EEA citizens ordinarily resident in the UK. You may want to speak to the Spanish equivalent of the Department of Health. As EU citizen resident in Spain (and therfore paying Spanish taxes), I would assume, you are automatically entitled to Spanish healthcare. Again, speak to the Spanish Department of Health.

Juna

The card you mention is for travellers in Spain.

Just because you live here, you will not automatically be entitled to state health cover.

If you are legally employed by someone here, your employer should be automatically paying your contributions, and s/he should be able to inform you about this.

If you're legally self-employed, you should be making contributions yourself.

If neither (and you're not retired), you can probably make contributions anyway - ask a gestor.

All these contributions do not just cover health, but also go towards your state pension. So, if you plan to stay and work here a long time, it is best to get it sorted out.

If for any reason you don't go through the State health/pension system, then you can always opt for private cover.

Peter C

"trouble" is partly correct. If you live and work in Spain you must pay your social security, either as self-employed (234â‚¬ per month) or if you have a poper work contract it will be paid by your employer. Other than that, unless you are a UK pensioner and have registered with a E121, you have absolutely no entitlement to any free treatment by the Spanish Health Service - even emergency. You are liable to be billed (as was one of my neighbours) for a large amount for your treatment, and as you are not a holidaymaker on a short visit, a EHIC is not valid for you. Your only option is private health cover.
There are many people who happily accept that the cost of living in Spain, along with the weather and the people are all wonderful, but do not realise that the social and health cover, even for Spaniards, must be apid for. It is worth remembering that you will not be qualifying for a UK old age pension either, and you must pay in to the Spanish system for 15 years to get anything on retirement. It is worth getting some books and rading up exactly what you get, don't get, and must do as a foreigner in Spain, even if you are a EU citizen. And by the way, don't even think about taking a British car out there if you go to live - it is liable to be impounded if you do not register it as Spanish, and this can cost a lot on duty etc. Buy a Spanish car!

Snot Me

the things you need to live and work in Spain are an nei number and a social security number. you now dont need to go for residencia either as it's part of the eu. Hospitals will treat you but clinics wont until you are registered then you are entitled to a certain amount of health care,

paul r

the E stands for european, so i'd guess you can get one here and it's valid anywhere in europe...
on the back of mine it says;
www.nhs.uk
health information - www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
and
health related travel advice - www.dh.gov.uk/travellers

silent1

Ocaso got there first lol I got mine today too!

trouble_906

As I understand it the EHIC replaces the old E111, which is no longer valid. This is not for people residing in another EU country but for visitors and travellers.

If you live and work in Spain officially, (No offense intended) and you do not have medical insurance and want to use the Spanish Health Service, then you need to take appropriate steps. You have to sign away your rights to treatment in the UK, NHS, and there is a procedure to do this. (Check it out yourself, or consult professional help.) You can then register with the Spanish Health Service and get full service as a Spaniard.

The EHIC will cover you if and when you travel to any other country within the EU for holiday etc. The British Govt., advised you take private health insurance if living abroad even though you have the EHIC. Or of course, deregistering in the UK and registering in Spain with the NHS.

Hope that helps

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