Monday, 12 August 2013

Are you entitled to get your medical card?

 
 
On 24 April 2012 the Spanish government announced reforms to the state healthcare system which affect everyone living in Spain. Further details were released on the 4 August 2012. you can find here a brief summary of the health reform.

The status of insured person.
 
1. For the purposes of the new law, the following have the status of insured persons:

 
a)Persons included in the categories specified in Article 3.2 of Law 16/2003 on the Cohesion and Quality of the National Health System, namely:
i. Employed or self-employed persons enrolled in the Social Security system who are paying contributions or are in an equivalent situation.
ii. Social Security system pensioners.
iii. Persons receiving any other regular Social Security benefit, such as unemployment benefit and allowance or other similar benefits.
iv. Persons who have exhausted their unemployment benefit or allowance or other similar benefits and are unemployed and are not able to establish their status as insured persons in any other way. This category shall not apply to the persons referred to in Article 3 ter of Law 16/2003.

b)Persons not covered by subparagraph a) above or in Article 3 below whose annual income is not more than EUR 100,000.00 and who do not have compulsory health care coverage by some other means, and are in one of the following categories:
i. Spanish nationals resident in Spain.
ii. Nationals of a Member State of the European Union, the European Economic Area or Switzerland who are registered with the Central Register of Foreign Nationals.
iii. Nationals of a country other than those mentioned above, or stateless persons, who are holders of Spanish residence permits, while the permit remains valid under the relevant specific regulations.
 
2. Minors under the care of the authorities will always have the status of insured persons, except in the circumstances specified in Article 3 ter of Law 16/2003.
 
3. The income limit specified in subparagraph 1.b) above will be applied by taking into account the gross income obtained from paid employment, interest on capital, economic activities and capital gains. For this purpose, if a Spanish personal income tax return has been filed, the aggregate amount of the related net tax bases will be taken into account.
 
If you can't be an insured person check in the followig link if you can be recogniced as a beneficiary for the purpose of the health care in Spain.
 
 
"Convenio Especial” / "Special Scheme"
If you live in Spain and do not have the right to access the national healthcare system (whether paid for by the UK or Spain) you should take out private insurance or contact your regional health authority to sign up to a regional ‘Special Scheme’ (an option to pay for access to Spain’s national health system).
 
For further details don't hesitate in contact VP Advisers.


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