Moving to Spain? Think about Healthcare!

Plan your healthcare before moving to Spain

Moving to Spain, even if for just a few years, is a major decision, one of the most important elements which needs to be considered being planning your healthcare cover.
The Spanish healthcare service is excellent and is well regarded by the expats who use it, but not everyone is entitled automatically to free healthcare when moving to Spain.
The Department of Health have produced a video which urges all those moving to Spain to consider their healthcare needs when moving to Spain, and avoid unnecessary heartache, as well as costing you time, worry and money.
The video reminds expats moving to Spain about the importance of not only notifying the UK authorities that you are moving to Spain, but also registering properly with the Spanish authorities when you get here.
Even Brits who start the process often don´t finish it: in 2013 7,888 Brits asked for healthcare forms from the UK but didn’t then register with the authorities in Spain.  A lady from Gandia in Valencia now faces a large bill after being treated for cancer. It is estimated there could be up-to 20,000 UK state pensioners who have not registered correctly for healthcare in Spain.
The video has been produced by the Healthcare Team of the British Consulates in Madrid and Alicante.