San Miguel de las Salinas

FACT SHEET 010
San Miguel Centre:
Calle Lope de Vega 45 Telephone: 966 723 733
E-mail helpvegabaja@terra.e s
Torrevieja Office:
Reg. as Help Ass of Vega Baja Rambla Juan Mateo Garcia 4 Telephone: 965 704 282
G03644010 (24 hr emergency line)
www.helpvegabaja.com
Obtaining a Health Card
British Citizens who come to live in the Valencian Autonomous Community are entitled to health
care under the Spanish System as it operates in the area covered by the Valencian Autonomous
Community. The process for applying for a health card varies according to the circumstances of
the individual but generally speaking, there are 6 main categories. This fact sheet does not
provide information on those who are self employed or in paid employment. (Group 6)
Group 1 - E121 form
Those who have reached the UK official retirement age and are therefore entitled to a retirement
pension from the Ministry of Works and Pension in Newcastle should apply for their Spanish
Health Card using an E121. If you were not sent one when you received your pension
documents you should telephone Newcastle on 0044 191 218 7777 and ask for one. They will
need to know your UK National Insurance Number and other relevant details.
Take your passport, padron certificate, residencia certificate or card and E.121 to the 'INSS'
social security office in Orihuela and register your application for a Spanish Medical Card (SIP
card). You will be issued with a paper card (Tarjeta de Afiliación).
Take your E121 form and Social Security number to your local Clinic/ Health Centre (salud)
where a temporary medical card ( called a SIP card ) will be issued. This card will give the name
of your doctor on the reverse and will be valid until a permanent plastic card arrives in the post.
Address of Social Security Offices
Calle San Agustin 20, ORIHUELA
Ave Alicante 2, ELCHE
Group 2 - E121 form
The E121 can also be issued to those who are in receipt of a state incapacity benefit. Once
again, if you did not ask for a E121 before you came here to live, telephone 0044 191 218 7777
DEPENDENTS
When you register your E121, you can request the inclusion of a dependant (it will be necessary
to provide proof of kinship - marriage/birth certificate, passport). The INSS should then issue
form E107 and send it to Newcastle upon Tyne, requesting separate forms E121 which, on the
front page, will bear the name of the pensioner and, on the back page, will bear the name of the
dependant. However, if the INSS refuse to issue form E107, the pensioner should contact the
DWP directly to request the additional E121 forms. It is essential to inform the Dept Works and
Pensions of the full details of any person you want covered by your E121. They will want to know
the national insurance number, name and age etc of the person concerned and their relationship
with you. This is to ascertain if they are entitled to health cover in their own right or not and also,
whether they have a right to be included on your E121. These "dependant" copies of form E121
should be registered at the INSS in the same way as the "pensioner's" copies.
Group 3 – E106
This is the European form that a British person, of working age and living in Spain, requires in
order to get state provided health care in Spain.
· In most cases, an E106 is issued to persons who are posted to Spain, to work for a period of
2 years or more, and who continues to pay National Insurance contributions in the UK. In this
instance the E106 is issued by:
HM Revenue and Customs. CAR – Residency
Room BP1301. Benton Park View
Newcastle upon Tyne NE98 1ZZ
Tel: 0845 915 4811 From outside the UK: +44 191 203 7010
· In some circumstances, persons under UK State Pension age who move to Spain to live
permanently (but not work) may be entitled to an E106 for a limited period. In this instance the
E106 is issued by:
DWP International Pension Centre
Room TC001. Tyneview Park. Whitley Road
Newcastle upon Tyne NE98 1BA
Tel: 0191 218 1999
In order to register your E106 you will firstly need to obtain the following:
i) Certificate of Residence (Certificado de Residencia) – available from the local Police
station.
ii) Certificate as a Local Resident (Certificado de Empadronamiento) – available from the
Local Town Hall (at the Padrón Office).
iii) Photocopies of the above documents.
Take these with both copies of your E106 to your local INSS office. They will retain one copy and
return the other copy signed and stamp. This copy can now be used in order to access the
healthcare system. You do not need to register with a local GP as is the case with the E121, but
simply go along to the doctor as and when you need. However, this may mean that you are not
seen by the same doctor every time.
The E106 is valid until the expiry date indicated on the document and a doctor can refuse to treat
you if the form has expired. If no end date is specified, the document is valid until the
International Pension Centre informs Spain that the service has to end. When visiting the UK you
still belong to the NHS and E106 holders should continue to use their UK-issued EHIC, but only
when visiting a third member state. One month before the expiry date of your E106, contact
the Department of Works and Pensions in the UK and ask for a letter stating that you are no
longer entitled to any of the E forms (this letter will be written in Spanish) Read information given
under Group 6 to find out what to do next.
Please note: If you have an E106 and require a European Health Card (EHIC) for travel
purposes, you will have to apply to Newcastle to obtain it.
If you have any queries phone (+44 191) 2181999.
Group 4 - E.107
If you are using an E106 form (see above) and have dependants that need to be included, you
should ask the INSS (Spanish Social Security Office) to include them. Be ready to produce your
marriage certificate or certificado de conviviencia to prove that you are a couple (the latter is
obtainable from the register of Padrons’ desk in your local Town Hall). The Spanish Social
security office will decide whether you are eligible. If the dependant can be included, they will
send form E.107 to the D.W.Pensions in the UK to inform them of the fact.
Group 5 - E112
Those who intend to reside in Spain permanently and who are receiving treatment or medication
from the UK for a pre-existing and on-going medical condition, should ask for an E.112 form.
This only entitles bearer to health care for the pre-existing condition. This is not issued
automatically because it requires authorisation from the Department of Health.
E112 holders can continue to use their EHIC, even if they are residents, for the period they are
covered by their E112.
To apply for an E112 send a letter providing full details and dates when treatment is due, as well
as supporting medical evidence from your GP to the following address:
International Pension Centre
Medical Benefits Section
Room TC001
Tyneview Park
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE98 1BA
Tel 0191 21 81 999
or +44 191 21 81999 (outside UK)
Group 6 – No E Form
Those who do not qualify for an E form from the UK but have a Spanish health card which lasts
for one year, and which was granted under the previous rules, will be unable to renew it when it
expires. (Read press release dated 5 June 2008 from The British Embassy, Madrid obtainable
from our website or our offices) They should, therefore, consider taking out private health
insurance.
To the best of our knowledge this information was correct on the date given below.
However, rules and regulations can and do change so it is advisable to check with our office
that this fact sheet has not been superseded. June 2008 SM/JBH
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