Spanish Property For Sale

At its best, the health and medical care provided in Spain equals any available in Europe and in many cases is better. However standards vary across the country with public medicine being scant in many of the inland areas of low population. This is a point to consider when looking for somewhere to live if you or your children or elderly relatives have ongoing medical conditions that might need emergency treatment.

Another point to consider is that Spain takes a different view to rehabilitation, convalescence and terminal illness, leaving care in these cases usually to the relatives. There are very few public nursing and retirement homes, very few hospices and convalescence homes. However, the Spanish are among the world's healthiest people and have an average life expectancy of 80 for women and 74 for men, the highest in the EU. The incidence of heart disease in Spain is among the lowest in the world, a fact attributed to the Spanish Mediterranean diet.

As with the UK, Spain has a public (national) health system which provides free or low cost health care for those contributing to Spanish social security systems and their dependants. The system also caters for pensioners and includes those from other EU countries. The country has an excellent system of private medicine and this exists easily alongside the State system with both operated so as to compliment each other. There are many English-speaking health practitioners in the more densely populated and tourist areas.

Health factors associated with Spain

The Eastern Mediterranean areas of Spain are amongst the healthiest places in the world to live, a fact endorsed by the World Health Organisation. Spain has a number of different climates with the damp and misty north and the hot arid south being the most extreme.

Rheumatism and arthritis sufferers frequently note a huge improvement in their conditions after moving to Spain and an increase in mobility.

People who suffer from stress often note a marked improvement as the pace of life is slower than in many European countries and the change in lifestyle in a warm and sunny climate generally makes people happier, less prone to colds and with boosted immune systems.

Hay fever or asthma sufferers may find the high levels of airborne pollen during spring difficult to cope with although this is likely to be less of a problem if you live within a mile or two of the sea.

Guardamar del Segura Surgery

which covers the La Marina area offers an out of hours emergency care centre and has 14 doctors, 11 Nurses, 1 Midwife, 2 Physiotherapists, 3 Auxiliary Nurses and 6 administration staff.

Rojales

which covers the San Fulgencio, Formentera, Benijofar and Ciudad Quesada offers an out of hours emergency care centre and has 14 doctors, 11 Nurses, 1 Midwife, 2 Physiotherapists, 3 Auxiliary Nurses, 5 extra staff and 6 administration staff.

Sun damage

- the incidence of skin cancer is higher in Spain than that experienced in the United Kingdom or other Northern European countries and people from these latitudes suffer a greater risk of contracting the disease. If detected earlier enough it can be treated and many seaside towns now have visiting melanoma detection units that will screen you for no cost and refer you to a health practitioner where necessary. There are tremendous medical benefits to the Spanish sunshine that more than outweigh the slight risks associated with it.

European Health Insurance Card (formerly E111)

Those planning to stay in Spain for no longer than three months should bring a European Health Insurance Card  (EHIC) from the UK.

The E111 will no longer be used from the 1st January 2006. The EHIC is about the size of a credit card and is valid from 3-5 years.

The EHIC is available to nationals of the European Economic Area (EEA) + Switzerland. The EHIC demonstrates that the holder is entitled to free or reduced cost emergency medical treatment in member states of the EEA + Switzerland. You will receive treatment on the same terms as nationals of the country you are visiting when you produce a valid EHIC. 

Renal Dialysis (and Oxygen Therapy) is defined as an emergency treatment and so is covered by the EHIC. This allows EEA nationals to receive free dialysis treatment in member states.

The EHIC only covers emergency treatment, so you must take additional insurance before you travel. 

Not all EEA dialysis centres accept the EHIC as payment, so please check with the centre before your travel.

Non-Emergency Treatment in Spain: Form E112

Form E111 will not cover you for free or reduced-cost treatment if you are going to Spain specifically for medical care, or if you require ongoing treatment for a pre-existing condition. For this, you will need Form E112 which is not issued automatically but requires authorisation from the Department of Health. Unless you have an E112, you will have to pay for the treatment you receive and you will not be able to obtain a refund of the costs.

For pre-existing conditions that will require treatment during your time abroad - eg, blood tests, medication or injections, etc. apply by letter enclosing details, including dates of treatment, supporting medical evidence from your GP and a copy of your E111 to the following address:

Department of Health - International Branch
Room 542A
Richmond House
79 Whitehall
London
SW1A 2NS
Tel: 020 7210 4850

Form E112 is only available where a clear need for on-going treatment is established. The form is not available on a ‘just in case’ basis.

If you need maternity care write to the above address explaining why you want care outside the UK and enclose a copy of your E111 and evidence from your GP or midwife of your expected date of confinement.