Health Insurance

[eastcoast]

Does anyone have any suggestions or know of any resources for health insurance? I've found a lot of websites and information regarding \"travel insurance\", but haven't found anything regarding \"expatriate\" insurance.

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[sticky]

Hey East Coast,

You can get private health very cheaply from Sanitas. Check out their English-language Web site HERE.

But then again, you get free health care in Spain; just \"empadronar\" yourself at the town hall. I believe you can be covered for a certain amount of months even as an illegal immigrant. Will check into it and get back to you (I gave a friend who did it). As for me, I'm a Sanitas man.

Later gator,

Phil

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[tonytorero]

Hi there eastcoast! Welcome to the café!  B)

Don't forget to
SEARCH AROUND as this is a popular topic that's been covered before. For example, THIS THREAD HERE is a good starting point to inform yourself on this topic.

Best of luck! Be sure to let us know how it goes!!

   

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[Tory]

Absolutely not, Sticky. I am quite well versed in Spanish law (I study it)...and can tell you that you almost have it right...except that in the case of an illegal, only emergency medical treatment is covered (empadronado or not). However, a common myth is that the \"empadronamiento\" automatically gives you access to the NHS...National Health Service. Well, it doesn't...it's not an Int. Health Service yet. Also, being a Spaniard is not enough either...you must be \"cotizando\" (eg: paying taxes)...and if not, you have to get approval from the health social work councillor for that...generally though they do dish out health cards for those peoples. But no, as much as they like to make us believe otherwise, nothing is free.

 

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[sticky]

Hey Tory,

That's weird because I know an American who told me directly from her mouth to my ears that she went down to the town hall, did the \"empadronar\" process, and got a health card. I just shot her an email right to get the exact lowdown and will  post it here soon.

Later gators,

Phil

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[Tory]

Hello,

   Yes there are some cases where they will give you the health card...but generally, they don't (it also depends what year this person applied...new recent rules changed it...and also depends on the city and who governs...)

   There are some people who have gotten the health card...illegally, but those are a minority. So, your friend was lucky.  

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[sticky]

Well, here's what she says:

I don't remember exactly but I know I filed stuff at my local junta municipal. Look in the front of the phone book and find the one for your neighborhood. There were a few forms I needed to fill out ,and I had to have some sort of proof of where I lived, I can't remember exactly what though. And be sure to ask about at what time you can go file this stuff, its usually only a couple of hours a day, perhaps not even every day of the week.

 

Some memory...geesh. Anyway, she got health coverage.

Later gators,

Phil
 

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[Expat_teacher]

Hiya everyone!

Well, not to be a wet blanket or anything, but I think the more responsible thing to do, instead of cheating the local health system, is to get private insurance. It is really cheap here (some policies as low as 35€ per month paid every two months). The two largest private health insurance companies are Sanitas and Adeslas. You don't have to \"be legal\" to contract their services and you will be doing yourself a favor anyway.

Personally, I like the private healthcare because being an English teacher, time is money and I can control my time better with the private system. When you go through the public system you will always have to wait. Even if you schedule your appointment for a certain time, it is guaranteed that your minimum wait will be an hour. Then there are waiting lists for any kind of, God forbid, hospital procedure.  And who are you going to complain to about that? A couple of years ago I had a surgical procedure done through the public health system ... but I was on the waiting list for almost 1 year and when they called me with my surgery date, I had to drop everything and accept it (the surgery date was for the next day) or continue waiting another xxx months until another possiblity came up.

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[Tory]

Hiya everyone!

Well, not to be a wet blanket or anything, but I think the more responsible thing to do, instead of cheating the local health system, is to get private insurance. It is really cheap here (some policies as low as 35€ per month paid every two months). The two largest private health insurance companies are Sanitas and Adeslas. You don't have to "be legal" to contract their services and you will be doing yourself a favor anyway.

Personally, I like the private healthcare because being an English teacher, time is money and I can control my time better with the private system. When you go through the public system you will always have to wait. Even if you schedule your appointment for a certain time, it is guaranteed that your minimum wait will be an hour. Then there are waiting lists for any kind of, God forbid, hospital procedure.  And who are you going to complain to about that? A couple of years ago I had a surgical procedure done through the public health system ... but I was on the waiting list for almost 1 year and when they called me with my surgery date, I had to drop everything and accept it (the surgery date was for the next day) or continue waiting another xxx months until another possiblity came up.

It would be so nice if more of the foreigners living in Spain (illegally) were as honest as you are. I do agree with you though...though from my knowledge of the law, a residence permit is required to get a health service card...because the National Health Service is just that...national, not an Intern. Health Service. But...I am aware some places and cities do dish them out anyway...illegally, but incompetence is a trademark of public functionaries.  

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