Accessing Healthcare in Valencia: Making the system work for us

As a resident of Spain, if you have no entitlement to free healthcare from the UK through an E121 or E106 and don’t work in Spain, there may be other ways of accessing State-run health services. Below are some helpful guidelines on what you should bear in mind when applying for “sin recursos”, “la Ley de Menor” or “convenio de asistencia sanitaria a pacientes privados”

1. Sin Recursos & Ley de Menor
a) You can find all the information provided by the Generalitat on http://www.gva.es/portal/page/portal/inicio/procedimientos?id_site=368&id_proc=1354&id_page=3392623
b) In order to apply, you must not be in receipt of healthcare via any other means. This means that if you are already on the “convenio de asistencia sanitaria a pacientes privados” scheme, you will need to come off this to make the application.
c) You must make your application in person with a Social Worker at your local health centre. The Social Worker will process and sign your form. You cannot make an application without the form being signed by the Social Worker. If your local health centre does not have a Social Worker, you should go to Social Services at your Town Hall;
d) You should take all your documentation to your appointment with the Social Worker. All documents should be in Spanish and include:
i. Padrón Certificate
ii. Residence Certificate
iii. Legislation Letter from the Overseas Healthcare Team (0044 1912181999)
iv. SIP number (if you already have one – don’t worry if you don’t as you will be assigned one in your appointment)
v. Statement of UK benefit/pension amount (this can be obtained from the British consulate in Alicante)
vi. Evidence of financial situation: the last 12 months bank statements indicating where you have made mortgage/rental payments, details of property, tax returns from the UK and Spain.
All of the requested documents need to be originals and they will be returned to you.

e) You will be financially assessed according to your household income (unidad familiar); that means that you and your family’s income will be considered. The definition of family includes everyone in your immediate family up to two generations from yourself. Therefore, they will take into account the income of your Grandparents and Grandchildren as long as they live in the same house. Partners, even if you are not married, are also included. However, if you co-habit, but the person/persons are not dependants then they will not be considered;
f) Savings: The interest earned on savings will be taken into account. They will look at the yearly interest earned and divide it by 12 and will add this amount to your monthly income;
g) Property: They will only take into account property owned if you own more than one property;
h) IMPORTANT: If your application is refused and you access healthcare while the application is being considered, then you may be charged for this treatment.

2. Convenio de asistencia sanitaria a pacientes privados
a) This scheme is only available to people who have exhausted all other avenues and this includes the “sin recursos” route. Therefore, you should apply for “sin recursos” and be refused before considering this;
b) You can download the application forms from http://www.san.gva.es/cas/ciud/homeciud.html by clicking on “Tarjeta Sanitaria” and then on “Convenio de asistencia sanitaria a pacientes privados; There are two downloadable forms on this page: the ‘Modelo de solicitud convenio’ and the ‘Hoja de mantenimiento de terceros para domiciliación de pagos’. Both must be completed and returned.
c) You should send your application to the Dirección Territorial de la Conselleria by recorded delivery (either in Alicante, Valencia or Castellón – see contact details below)
d) You will need to send the following documents:
i. Padrón Certificate (at least 6 months in the Valencia Region)
ii. Residence Certificate/Card
iii. Legislation Letter from the Overseas Healthcare Team (0044 1912181999)
iv. Bank details
v. Passport

Please note that you will need to send the original Padrón certificate which will be returned to you. All other documents can be sent as photocopies. Also, if you have the older Resident’s card with your photograph, you will not need to send a photocopy of your passport. If you have the newer Residency Certificate, you will need to include a photocopy of your passport.
e) If you send the application by recorded delivery you will receive a ‘Justificante’ confirming receipt. If all your documents are in order this is for your information only and you do not need to take any action.

f) The Conselleria will then write to you. They will either: 1) ask for more documentation, 2) accept the application with instructions on how to collect your SIP card, or 3) refuse the application.
g) If the Dirección Territorial de la Conselleria needs more information, they will write to you and give you a 10 day window to reply (see ‘Annex A – Template – request for further documentation’);
h) If your application is accepted, you will be sent your acceptance letter by registered post (see ‘Annex B – Template – application accepted’), which will ask you to go to your local health centre to collect your SIP card from the 1st day of the following month. Your accreditation will not be activated on the system until you sign for your registered letter and this is received by the Conselleria.
i) Finally, your application may be refused (see ‘Annex C – Template – application refused’). The most common reason for your application being refused is that you have entitlement through some other means, i.e. that you have worked at some point in Spain.

Useful Contact Details:
Call Centre: 900 66 2000
Email: sip@gva.es
 

Dirección Territorial de la Conselleria de Sanidad – Alicante: C/ Girona, 26 (Alacant 03001)
 

Dirección Territorial de la Conselleria de Sanidad – Valencia: Gran Vía Ferrán el Catòlic, 74 (València 46008)
 

Dirección Territorial de la Conselleria de Sanidad – Castellón: Plz. Hort dels Corders, 12 (Castelló de la Plana 12001)

This information is not the property of the British Consulate. Full advice should be sought from the Consellería de Sanitat Valenciana.