|
Home / Recreation and Leisure / Travel
Healthcare in Spain
By:Justin Aldridge
Becoming ill in a foreign country is a concern for everyone, especially if you cannot understand the health system or speak the language. Although, we generally take good health for granted, we need to be prepared for any unexpected health related eventuality.
Anyone who has had the misfortune of falling seriously ill in Spain will agree that medical facilities in Spain are of a very high standard. Clinics and hospitals are very clean and Spanish doctors tend to be very thorough.
Of course, the availability of services does vary from locality to locality and you may need to travel to a neighbouring town or city for treatment.
In an emergency look for the urgencias (emergency) section of the nearest hospital. Before you have established yourself, for less urgent problems, it would be advisable to go to a private clinic to avoid a long wait.
For tourists and non-residents, form EHIC (European Health Insurance Cover) has replaced the old E111. The form E111 is no longer valid. You can apply online at www.dh.gov.uk/travellers. Have a photocopy of your EHIC ready to show the doctor the original and hand in the copy. You will find lots of information on health for travellers on the site mentioned above.
Farmacias (Chemists) in Spain are also excellent as a first port of call as they are very informative and you can usually buy a lot more over the counter than you can in the UK Many people relocating to Spain are on a budget until they establish themselves. For them, the big question on their mind is:
Am I Entitled to Free Health Care?
Spain’s public health service is known as the Instituto Nacional de la Salud (INSALUD). If you make Spanish social security contributions via your employment or your business you and your family are entitled to the same free health care as a Spanish National. Once you register to pay Social Security, you will become a member of INSALUD. You will be provided with a social security card (tarjeta) and be assigned a doctor.
For more information on Social Security contact the Instituto Nacional de la Seguridad Social www.seg-social.es (there is a page available in English).
If you are an EU National and have made contributions to your home Social Security scheme for two years prior to your arrival in Spain, you may be entitled to public health cover in Spain for a limited period dating from your last payment at home. In order to qualify for this, you need to take Form E-106 (pick this up at your local Social Security branch) to the local provincial office of the Instituto Nacional de la Seguridad Social.
Pensioners and those on incapacity benefit should do as above but with form E-121.
The Flying Doctors - Helicopteros Sanitarios
Helicopteros Sanitarios is an invaluable service for those with a home on the Costa del Sol. It is a 24 hour call out service available to members only. Seniors and parents of young children really appreciate the service, with its team of fully trained doctors that efficiently perform house calls after your quick phone call to their Puerto Banus centre.
Helicopteros Sanitarios is excellent value for money and there are different schemes available. Cover for an entire family of four is around 250 Euros per annum with an unlimited number of callouts. For membership details call (+34) 952 897 347. I should point out that despite their name; they generally turn up in an ambulance as opposed to an aircraft!
Private Health Care
Bupa’s Spanish division Sanitas offers the highest quality of health care options. They even have a unique health plan for expatriates living in Spain.
From as little as 27 Euros per month for the classic plan and 48 Euros for the complete plan you can have the peace of mind that should you need medical assistance, you will receive the best of care.
Those of you who have visited the Costa del Sol recently will have noticed the impressive new hospital building ‘Hospiten’ whilst driving along the N-340 in Estepona. All members of Sanitas can receive medical treatment in this spanking new, modern hospital.
Digg
del.icio.us
Blink
Stumble
Spurl
Reddit
Netscape
Furl
Article keywords: healthcare spain spanish health care system hospital medical
Article Source: http://www.articles2k.com
Susan Pedalino is Masters Degree qualified in Intercultural Communication and teaching English as a foreign language. Susan regularly writes for www.eyeonspain.com, the Spanish off plan property forums website and www.eyeonworldwide, the overseas property forums website.
View their website at: www.eyeonspain.com
|
|
| Top Travel Articles |
- 1). Halloween In Siberia – Sort Of By : Nomad Rick
Live in another country and you’ll start to experience serious cultural differences. This is particularly true as I discovered with Halloween in Siberia.
Russian Holidays
I loved living in Russia and the primary reason was people. Russians love to celebrate and they are big into holidays. In Chita, Siberia, practically everyday was a holiday. During communism, Russia celebrated the worker with holidays such as bus driver day, teacher day and so on.
|
- 2). Oktoberfest - A Celebration Of German Culture By : Rick Hendershot
Oktoberfest is one of the world's great seasonal festivals. It is held every fall in Munich, Bavaria, and in other locations around the world.
The first Oktoberfest started as a series of horse races in honour of the wedding of the Crown Prince of Bavaria in 1810. The horse races became an annual event and were combined with the state agricultural fair the following year.
|
- 3). Consolidators=Cheap Flights! By : Victor Pryles
Our Pauper loves to save money using an airfare consolidator. These consolidators contract with airlines to get tickets at cheaper rates than the general public. Because they buy large blocks of tickets the airlines love them.
Though you can get really good deals by knowing how to use consolidators, remember they are not structured for great service.
|
- 4). A Nice Savanna Vacation By : Jenny Riley
Almost everyone have their own ideal vacation spot. This usually considered as the perfect place where the worries and toils of survival can be forgotten momentarily. And two natural elements that often characterize this ideal vacation spot are the sun and the ocean.
There must be something about the sea that makes people flock to it. But humans we know are very unique.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- 8). The town of Chambéry By : Jakob Jelling
Chambéry is located within the Alps, in France, and is one of the most famous and attractive towns of the region. From this town, visitors could have
|
- 9). Bizarre travel guide By : Mansi gupta
Carrying a travel bag and looking around the places of historical and sculptural importance. Is that what you conceive as a holiday? If yes you haven’t seen or heard enough. The traveling experience can be more than rewarding if the choice of the places to visit is bizarre. And more so going to those untouched places can be one hell-of an experience.
|
- 10). Rental Car Insurance: Types, Coverage, and Recommendations By : Dave Carter
When looking at the different options for car rental insurance in the United States, you will generally run into five options. These are Loss Damage Waivers (LDW) which are also commonly referred to as Collision Damage Waivers (CDW). There is also Liability Insurance Supplement (LIS), Personal Accident Insurance (PAI), and UMP, which is Un- and Underinsured Motorist Protection.
|
| New Travel Articles |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- 5). Our First Golf Trip to Scotland By : Rick Hendershot
As a focus for our trip we decided to visit Royal Dornoch three or so hours north of Edinburgh, and Machrihanish over on the Mull of Kintyre about as close to Ireland as you can get on mainland Scotland.
|
- 6). Travel Light By : Kadence Buchanan
How many times have you returned from a trip only to discover that at least some of the clothes you packed in your suitcase were left folded without ever seeing the light of the day?
|
|
|
- 8). How To Find The Best Hotel By : Kurt Naulaerts
These days you no longer have to fret about motel hells and seedy lodgings that over-charge you for a flea-infested closet of a room. This is all thanks to hotel search engines.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
