- how to apply for your nie number
- how to apply for residency
- working in spain
- setting up a business
- promoting your business
- opening a bank account
- social security
- health and medical cover
- school information & enrolment
- international and private schools
- town hall registration
- births/weddings/funerals
- recipes
- general safety tips
Health and Medical Cover
Registering to pay Social Security contributions is most important in terms of health care cover. Spain’s public health scheme offers some free and mostly subsidised medical treatment, however it does not provide the same level of free care as the British NHS. What is provided, however, is excellent and by making Social Security contributions you will be entitled to the same level of cover as a Spanish National. Private hospitals only accept payment or private medical insurance. UK residents are entitled to emergency health treatment whilst on short-term visits to Spain, provided they can produce a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) each time they seek treatment from a Spanish National Health hospital or doctor. The EHIC replaced the E-111 form until the end on January 1, 2006.
The EHIC is sufficient for all emergency health situations in Spain. The biggest differences between the old E111 forms and the EHIC Cards is that the later are issued on an individual basis. Previously you could cover your whole family with the one form, now you need to apply for a card or form for every member of the family.
The EHIC can be obtained online at the website: www.dh.gov.uk/travellers or by calling (from outside the UK (+44) 191 203 5555. It is issued free of charge.
EHIC is only accepted by the national health, NOT private hospitals or doctors. In the case of repatriation due to illness, the patient must pay their own costs. Many people choose to have private policies offer reciprocal agreements and private insurance is strongly recommended to cover such costs or to provide a choice of clinics or doctors.
It must be noted that the emphasis in Spanish health cover is on cure, not prevention. General and specific medical care, hospitalisation, laboratory services, discounted prescriptions, basic dental care, maternity care, appliances and transfers are provided. Services such as general medical check-ups, vaccinations for children, outpatient, geriatric, psychiatric, post-operative and terminal care are of limited provision. Social Security contributions will only cover 75% of the cost of most treatments received under the public health scheme and you will therefore be required to either pay the remainder or take out supplementary insurance. (If you are of retirement age but not in receipt of a pension, you may be considered exempt from contributing to Social Security if you can prove you are unable to afford private health insurance.)
95% of the Spanish population is covered by the Instituto Nacional de la Salud (INSALUD -Spain’s public health scheme.) The alternative is private insurance, proof of which must be provided if you apply for a resident’s card. If you are a EU National and have contributed to your home Social Security scheme for two years prior to your arrival in Spain, you may receive public health cover in Spain, for a limited period, dating from your last payment at home. To qualify for this exemption, you need to present Form E-106 (available at your local Social Security branch) to the local provincial office of the Instituto Nacional de la Seguridad Social. Pensioners or those on invalidity benefits need to present Form E-121.
Once registered to pay Social Security, you will be a member of INSALUD. They will provide you with a social security card (tarjeta), a list of local doctors and hospitals, general information on services and will assign you a local doctor.
For more information on Social Security, contact the Instituto Nacional de la Seguridad Social
Tel: 901 502 050 to sign on & get information
Tel: 900 166 565 information about pensions
Website: www.seg-social.es (the page is available in English)
Local Social security administration offices
Álora
Plaza Médico Zamudio, 1
Tel: (+34) 952 496 121
Campillos
Calle Santa María del Reposo, 2
Tel: (+34) 952 722 096
Coín
Plaza General Aranda, 22
Tel: (+34) 952 450 191
Estepona
Avenida Andalucía, 46
Tel: (+34) 952 802 373
Fuengirola
Calle Doctor García Verdugo, s/n
Tel: (+34) 952 581 303
Marbella
Plaza Leganitos, 5
Tel: (+34) 952 771 599
Dentists
There are many English speaking dentists on the Costa del Sol and it is usually necessary to make an appointment before a visit. Note that only extractions and emergency treatment after an accident are available free under the Spanish public health service. Contact details for dentists can be found in the Yellow Classified Section.
Doctors
Health care is excellent throughout Spain, but English-speaking doctors may be more difficult to find the more rural you go. Many embassies and consulates keep a list of English speaking doctors in Spain, and tourist offices may do the same. Again, doctors are permitted to advertise and so contact details can be found in the Yellow Classified Section.
Hospitals
The main hospital in this area is the Hospital Costa del Sol, just east of Marbella and well sign-posted from the N-340/ A7 coastal road. The hospital has a good reputation for service and care, and there is English-speaking staff there.
Tel: (+34) 952 828 250
Website: www.hcs.es
Other, smaller, health clinics can be found in main towns along the coast.
The main hospital in Malaga for adults is the Hospital Clínico Universitario de Málaga which is located near the University on the Campillos Road.
Tel: (+34) 951 032 000
Children up to the age of 14 children must go to the Maternal Hospital, "Materno Infantil" in the Carlos Haya complex. There is also an adult hospital at Carlos Haya.
Arroyo de los Angeles s/n
Tel: (+34) 951 290 000
Website: www.carloshaya.net
Helicopteros Sanitarios is a Doctors call out service available to members living in the areas from Sotogrande/ San Roque to Torremolinos, including Benahavís, Istán, Monda, Ojén and Casares. With a fleet of vehicles including ambulances and helicopters, the fully trained doctors perform house calls twenty-four hours a day. They are on hand to assist you in the event of a minor accident or illnesses that are more serious. This is a great service for seniors and parents of young children. The medical assistance is generally bi-lingual, English/ Spanish.
Tel: (+34) 952 816 767 membership details
Tel: (+34) 952 811 818 emergency medical attention
Email: info@helicopterossanitarios.com
Website: www.helicopterossanitarios.com
In the Case of a Medical Emergency
If for any reason you need to use your own vehicle to get to a hospital in an emergency, hang a WHITE towel, shirt or other article out of the window of your vehicle. Switch on your head lights. The police recognise the white item as an emergency situation and will give you assistance.
Private Medical Insurance
A La Carte Health Care
Website: www.alchealth.com
Email: sue.wilson@alchealth.com
Tel: (+34) 952 931 609
Also Annual Multi-Trip Travel Insurance
BUPA International
(Policies designed for foreign residents)
Website: www.bupaspain.com
Tel: (+34) 952 491 115
Expatriate Insurance Services
Website: www.expatriate-insurance.com
Email: info@expatriate-insurance.com
FIATC Seguros
Website: www.fiatc.es
Tel: (+34) 952 227 595 Open weekdays 9:00 – 14:00 English speaking agent available
Tel: (+34) 902 182 182 (24 hour service for clients)
Mapfre
Website: www.mapfre.com
Tel: (+34) 902 204 060, option 2
Fax: (+34) 915 814 681
Pha Ex Pat Health Insurance
Website: www.phaexpat.com
Email: Lennie@phauk.com
Tel: (+44) (0) 8707 700 946
Mon-Thu 09:00-19:00, Fri 09:00-17:00
Sanitas
(Part of the BUPA group; policies are designed for Spanish nationals & foreign residents)
Website: www.sanitas.es
Tel: (+34) 901 100 210 (have English speaking operators)
Winterthur
(They only insure family units of more the three).
Website: www.winterthur.es
Email: winterthur@winterthur.es
Tel: (+34) 902 303 012 for information choose option 2, then option 3.
Fax: (+34) 933 637 240
Senior Citizens
There are many social programs available to the elderly in Andalusia. The Regional Ministry for Equality and Social Welfare of the Andalusian Regional Government (Junta de Andalucía) has a web page in English:
www.juntadeandalucia.es/fundaciondeserviciossociales on which it details a multitude of programs available to seniors (in Spanish listed under Personas Mayores.)
Services include: home care, free pharmacy home delivery, free telephone medical care, reduced rates on electricity and other municipal bills as well as discounted glasses and hearing aids, reduced travel costs Enjoy multiple discounts in: hotels, cinemas, sporting events, monuments, theme parks...
Get information in the Andalusian Regional Government Day Centre closest to your home. To take advantage of these services and discounts you must apply for an Andalucía Junta sesentaycinco card. If you are over the age of 65 and live in any municipality of Andalusia you can apply for the sesentaycinco card. It’s free, renewable and valid for 5 years. There are two types of the "65 card" the regular card for those over 65 and a gold card for seniors with a personal income that does not exceed 75% of the minimum wage. (4,800 € approximately.) The gold has higher benefits.
If you have questions call the Andalusian Social Services Foundation Tel: 900 200 165
Disabled Social Services
The Andalusian System of Social Services provides numerous services to the disabled and can be contacted at Tel: (+34) 902 506 565
Real Patronato Sobre Discapacidad
Tel: (+34) 915 619 037, (+34) 915 616 240
Assistance for the Blind
The Spanish National Organisation for the Blind (ONCE, Organización Nacional de Ciegos Españoles) helps to provide specialised services that allow the blind and visually impaired to have personal autonomy and to achieve personal and social integration.
All across Spain, there are visually impaired individuals that sell ONCE lottery tickets as a means to earn a living. ONCE is an inspirational organization that has helped many individuals to lead fuller lives. The web page has links to many major sites that deal with many different types of disability.
Tel: (+34) 915 773 756
Website: www.once.es