Changes To Healthcare System For Retired Expats

As from May 2010 The UK will be responsible for issuing European Health Insurance Cards (EHIC) to UK state pensioners resident in Spain (aswell as other EU Countries).

UK state pensioners are currently eligible for free National Healthcare in Spain as their country of residence, as are Spaniards travelling within Europe who can also apply for the Spanish equivalent of the EHIC for temporary trips to another Country within the EU. The Spanish equivalent - The Tarjeta Sanitaria Europea - is available from the INSS Social Security Authority.

The current system will change on 1st May 2010 when the UK will become responsible for issuing the EHIC to UK pensioners who are resident in other EU countries which will be part of a new system to coordinate EU social security schemes which are to be introduced across member states next May.

The UK is still refining the implementation process of these new regulations and, the British Embassy Website in Madrid states how these changes will effect everybody in the EU once they have been fully implemented. They also state that the INSS has issued some EHICs to British residents in Spain which are due to expire on 28th February 2010 – dates that were based on a previous planned date for the new regulations to come into effect. Anyone that has a card bearing such a date needing to travel before the new system is in place should contact the INSS for an extension to their current card.