Changes to EHIC regulations affect British pensioners in Spain
December 6th, 2009 - Chris MarshallThe UK will be responsible for issuing the cards to UK state pensioners resident in other EU countries from next May
Changes are being implemented to the current system of issuing the European Health Insurance Cards to British expatriates living in Spain who are in receipt of a UK state pension.
UK state pensioners are eligible for free public healthcare in Spain when it is their country of residence, and as such for those that have registered, just as with Spaniards travelling within Europe, they may currently apply for the Spanish equivalent of the EHIC for temporary trips to another member state of the European Union i.e. when taking a trip back to the UK for example.
The card is known as the Tarjeta Sanitaria Europea , and is currently available from Spain’s INSS Social Security Authority. But from 1st May next year the UK will become responsible for issuing the EHIC to UK pensioners who are resident in other EU countries. As you would expect from the UK authorities they haven’t worked out how yet!!!
The UK is still working on its processes for the implementation of the new regulations and, according to a statement on the British Embassy’s website in Madrid, everyone it affects in all EU member states will be contacted once the processes have been finalised.
The advice to anyone that may affect and who wishes to travel before the new system is in place is to contact the INSS for an extension to their EHIC.
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