Medical Provision

[Lyric]

A little help and guidance please if possible.

My wife and I moved permanently to Spain last October having retired early. For medical purposes we obtained E106 from the DWP, both being fully paid up. This gave us two years cover in the Spanish system, for reasons various this expires at the end of February 2010. Up to that time we have a “Desplazado” which is stamped as valid until Feb 2010.

In terms of timing this is all correct and concurs with my understanding of how things work. My understanding is also that when my wife reaches her English pension age, in her case 60 years 10 months, then she will be eligible for an E121 entering the Spanish system under that and that I will become her dependant also able to enter the Spanish system.

However, our local medical centre is asking us to renew our EHICs, which don’t expire until 2011, and that they will then renew the “Desplazado” using them.
While I accept that this is desirable and We will stay in the Spanish system I don’t understand how it is possible, my understanding is that, on residency, then the UK issued EHIC is no longer valid and that if I want/need one then I have to get one issued in Spain.

It all is not how I thought things worked, I don’t see the relevance of the EHIC once I have entered the Spanish system via the E106 route.

Any advice/comments appreciated.

P.S. we are living in Frigiliana and administered by Nerja.

[El Cid]

Once your E106 runs out (usually after 2 years) you have no cover until one of you reaches UK pension age and gets issued an E121.

As you say, having left the UK you are no longer entitled to a UK EHIC and if you are on the Spanish system you would normally get one issued in Spain which is normally valid for 1 year.

That system is changing on March 1st 2010 and then you will get an EHIC issued by the UK DWP.

Sid

[Campo Steve]

"El Cid

That system is changing on May 1st 2010 (provisional date) and then you will get an EHIC issued by the UK DWP."

Cid. Can you tell me more about that. Our E106 runs out in January 2010. Am I right in understaning what you say as being we will get an EHIC again in March?

[El Cid]

If you were to apply in January to the local office they would still issue you a Spanish EHIC but it would expire at the end of February.

The new system starts on March 1st and you will have to apply to the DWP. The exact procedure has yet to be publicised but I will post it here as soon as I get more information from the DWP.

Sid

[El Cid]

Further to the EHIC question, there is some info on the Embassy site but,as yet, no further details about the process.

http://ukinspain.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for ... care/ehic/

Sid