Accessing Health services living in Spain

[whiteroseredrose]

Hi. Wondering if anyone can help me.

My PIL have been living between 2 homes in the UK and Spain for decades now. They have been locked down in Spain since February and prefer it so they would like to downsize in the UK and effectively live in Spain.

I'm not sure what they'd do about healthcare though. They don't have residency (previously did 3 months in each home) and I'm not sure if they could get it now. They're in their 80s and FIL has very little Spanish.

Annual travel insurance seems to have a maximum number of days away so won't work.

Does anyone have any experience of this? Is there any way of eg paying a monthly fee to be part of the system?

Many thanks

Hi,
Sounds like they would be better off paying for private health care. It's very common in Spain and much cheaper than in the UK. In addition they would be more likely to find an English speaking medic, if the language is a problem.

Hi Bebespain. That might be the way forward for them. I'll suggest it.

This post might be overkill but here goes. This is something I have posted (often) before in other forums. It is quite long and has quite a few web links. It will certainly not answer your exact question but will give you a heads up on the present situation and the big changes coming soon. Good luck as there are only a few months left. The golden age of Britain being a member of the EU has come to an end. As you may know Britain left the EU at the end of January 2020. Perhaps you and members of your family voted in the 2016 referendum. Britain and the EU are in the transition period and that will end on December 31st 2020. Assuming you are a British passport holder do remember that Freedom of Movement ends for a British immigrant to an EU27 country at the end of the transition period. If you become resident (with some documentary proof) in the EU27 by the end off the transition period the EU will respect your rights to stay under most circumstances as you will have exercised your free movement rights. You will PROTECTED by the Withdrawal Agreement which is now enshrined in international law and can not be changed unilaterally by either side. AFTER Brexit to apply for residence as a Third Country National (TCN as all Brits will become) will be much more complex than it is now during this transition period. The residency conditions for TCN’s have been in place for many years and it is unlikely but not impossible that they will be any less difficult for British citizens. It will probably be similar as for Americans today. TCN’s are normally required to have PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE a POLICE CHECK and most important a self sufficiency minimum income test, every country in the world have different figures. I believe the figures for Spain in 2019 is an annual INCOME of €25,819 for one person and for a married couple €32,273. The following figures I have gathered over time but need to be verified as I do not have direct links to Governments sites. Single person, France €14628, Italy €31000, To put the above figures into perspective in BRITAIN it is presently £30,000. However a points based system with an income of £26,000 in the UK is going to be introduced on January 1st 2021. It is already going through Parliament. IMPORTANT- visitors/holiday makers can come for three months but must not work. Don’t forget to fill out form P85 for HMRC when you leave the UK. This tells HMRC you have left and may enable you to claim overpaid tax. For additional information google ESTA and Schengen Visa, watch out for third party sites that will charge additional fees. Good Luck.

Britain’s new points based immigration system. I believe the British Government have dropped the phrase “HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT towards immigrants” Exact details published on 13th July 2020. Awaiting parliamentary approval. To come into effect 1st January 2021. We should all be aware this might effect various EU Governments attitude to British immigration.
www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-points-based-immigration-system-further-details-statement
Extra details published 4th August 2020
www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-points-based-immigration-system-further-details-statement?utm_source=66ab0129-7ba0-4308-8c37-801e59b52bec&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediate
—————
EES (entry-exit system)
frontex.europa.eu/media-centre/news-release/entry-exit-system-pilot-project-at-land-borders-CAby43
——————
ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System)
Various sites, including the two below, explain why and when although it looks like it will be introduced (as at July 2020) late in 2022 or even 2023.
etias.com/etias-confirmed-for-2021
Or
www.etiaseurope.eu
Applications will be made online with a fee to pay for a 3 year ETIAS There will be just the same issues that people have had with America, ie you may be denied if you have a criminal record (see the new UK points based system that specifically mentions criminal records) or overstaying your Schengen/long stay Visa may result in being refused re-entry.
Just we aware that there will be sites that will offer to ease the way for a fee. Just like all the types of application sites it is important to make sure you apply on the official site and only pay the correct fee without any additional “process fees”

We all need to be aware when travelling across borders after the end, or just before the end, of the transition period of the distinct possibility that untrained (in the post Brexit relationship between Britain and the EU27) civil servants, customs staff (mobile as well as stationary) airline check-in staff and border force could make life unpleasant as they are unsure of the rules, just like us. To be turned away at the border is a very unpleasant experience and if you could then find yourself not protected by the Withdrawal Agreement. That can be life changing as can being refused re-entry to the Schengen area.
No official has been fired for being over cautious.

SCHENGEN VISA These are a few links to sites explaining the Schengen visa for BRITS who will become third country nationals on 1st January 2021. Just like all the types of application sites it is important to make sure you apply on the official site and only pay the correct fee without any additional “process fees” ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/what-we-do/policies/borders-and-visas/visa-policy/schengen_visa_en Calculate your stays if you have a Schengen Visa. This handy tool will help you. schengen-calculator.com Or this one adambard.github.io/ What are the consequences of overstaying? www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/consequences-of-overstaying-in-schengen-area/ and this for background en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_policy_of_the_Schengen_Area All the EU visas www.etiaseurope.eu/schengen-visa/

Spanish Visa www.exteriores.gob.es/Consulados/LONDRES/en/Consulado/Pages/BookAppointment.
French Visa uk.ambafrance.org/Applying-for-a-French-visa-in-the-United-Kingdom

Wow Gfplux. Thanks.

I think we need a virtual sit down with PIL.

We are in the process of applying for Spanish residency at the moment. As I understand it, after Brexit your PIL will need residency in order to spend more than 90 days in Spain at a time. While we are still in the transition period, they can apply for residency on the same basis as other EU citizens - this is MUCH less stringent than the rules for non-EU citizens which will apply after 31 Dec 2020. For example, the minimum income requirement if not working is only 5,500 euros per year instead of over 20k! (Or equivalent in the bank) They will need private healthcare as well.

There are dozens of companies which can help with putting together documents and making the applications online, even going to appointments with them if their Spanish isn't up to scratch. The link below is one I found which explains the requirements quite simply (I am not endorsing them, we haven't used them): https://lifestylegroup.es/?portfolio=eu-citizen-spanish-residency-certificate

And https://lifestylegroup.es/?portfolio=tie-for-uk-nationals&relatedpostshit=1&relatedpostssorigin=5393&relatedpostsposition=0

I'm sure google will find you lots more. Just beware of being ripped off - we had a law firm quote us 850 euros EACH for residency application, that's a joke. A few hundred euros for the whole thing is more reasonable if you don't want to do it yourself.

Bottom line is - apply for residency now while it's much simpler!

Hi @lifesnotaspectatorsport. Thank you.

They are now applying for residency and using someone that FIL's cousin used last year. I've told them about the Dec deadline so hopefully they'll keep on top of things.

Excellent. It sounds like they should have a pretty straightforward case for residency.

Thank you for such an interesting post and useful information.
Safegambling

I can never understand how people can live in another country for decades and not bother to learn the language.

You should be able to speak fluently in a year just buy buying things in local shops etc. It's so arrogant and disrespectful

And then have the gall to apply for residency. It's just baffling

Apologies not sure why I felt so strongly at that moment as it's not really my business what anyone chooses to do

@Divineswirls

I can never understand how people can live in another country for decades and not bother to learn the language.

You should be able to speak fluently in a year just buy buying things in local shops etc. It's so arrogant and disrespectful

It’s that easy is it?! I’ve lived in Spain for nearly 3 years and not fluent! Learning more and more everyday, but it’s not easy!! My children, yes, the way their brains work is phenomenal - but it’s not that way for everyone!

Especially when you try your hardest to speak to someone in Spanish and they answer you in English because they want to learn English!