Health Care in Spain

[Ian]

Being self-employed and entitled to health care in Spain is the norm, but this came as a shock to me. Even the Spanish are NOT entitled to FREE health care if they are not paying into the social security system. Below is and article from one of my favourite Spanish news websites ( http://www.typicallyspanish.com/news/ ):

http://www.typicallyspanish.com/news/pu ... 6542.shtml

I confess to being taken by surprise by an article in El País which highlights the cases when health care in Spain is not free at the point of use, even for Spaniards.

The El País article notes that only 27% of Spaniards know they may not be covered, even if they pay all their taxes.

In theory all children and those who have no resources are always attended to, but there are four groups of people where people will be asked to put their hand in their pocket
- The unemployed who have exhausted their right to benefit, and who have some sort of income or savings
- Spaniards who have lived in countries which have no reciprocal health deal with Spain, and who have some sort of income or savings
- People who have never worked, and who have some sort of income or savings
- And independent workers who are members of professional colleges who are not integrated into the Spanish system for autonomos or the self-employed

The Ministry for Health estimates that between 90,000 and 180,000 residents are in this situation, while other estimates put it as high as 300,000. Secretary General for Health, José Martínez Olmos, has confirmed that currently health cover in Spain is currently linked to employment. He explained that the Government is reported to be considering a reform to bring real universality, extending coverage to all Spaniards who live in Spain. Unless the government moves quickly on this, the number of people who are unemployed and who have used up their benefit rights could soar and the problem become far more common, even though the right to health care is part of the Spanish constitution. A target date of November is reported.

In these times of tightening budgets, and recent moves in Valencia to ensure non-working foreigners countries of origin pay for the health care they receive in Spain, it is of great interest.

As the article explains, the Ley de Extranjería in Spain, all foreigners are covered for emergency treatment and assistance with giving birth, but the rest of the provisions are decided upon by each of the Spanish autonomous regions. Some give free health cover to all residents, but this means that people from countries such as Norway or the United States, where there is no reciprocal health agreement in force, can benefit.

As all public spending comes under closer scrutiny, I feel sure it will not be long before central government clears up these anomalies in health care, and that can only be good news for everyone, resident and tourist alike. Spain has already seen one victory regarding the funding the care for other EU residents. (See here)

You can read the original El País article here - http://www.elpais.com/articulo/sociedad ... isoc_3/Tes