Health Care

The British Embassy in Madrid have now issued the following press release related to this issue:-

CHANGES TO FREE HEALTHCARE ENTITLEMENT IN THE REGION OF VALENCIA
People most affected by this measure are British Nationals who do not have access to the State Health System through an E121 or E106* or who do not pay Spanish Social Security contributions.

The Valencia Government has announced the replacement of the Circular 1/2002 scheme with a new law called “Ley de Aseguramiento Sanitario” which takes effect from 5th June 2008.

The Circular 1/2002 scheme or “extensión a demanda” allowed people with no entitlement to healthcare to access the system free of charge. The new law aims to regulate and control free access to the Health System in the autonomous region of Valencia. The Valencia Government has confirmed that the new law does have the scope for new conditions to be introduced that are still to be specified.

The people that will be most affected by this measure are British Nationals who do not have access to the State Health System through an E121 or E106* or who do not pay Spanish Social Security contributions. These are mainly early retirees who do not work in Spain and who accessed the system through the “legislation letter” issued by Newcastle.

Those in possession of a valid card will not have their entitlement taken away from them. However, when the card runs out they will not be able to renew their cover. No new applicants will be accepted onto the scheme.

Those residents who find themselves in this situation and do not have entitlement to healthcare through the E121, E106 or Spanish National Insurance contributions should consider taking out private health insurance.

The British Embassy is in close contact with the Valencia Government and will publish more information, as it becomes available.

For more information on entitlement to an E121 or E106, please contact the Department for Work and Pensions Medical Benefits unit on 0044 191 2181999 or www.dh.gov.uk.