There are various classes of people who are entitled to Spanish National Health Care:

Those people who are working or self employed and are making up to date Spanish national insurance contributions, plus their legal dependants.

Foreigners who were working legally in Spain and have now retired

EU citizens who have retired or who have retired early due to disabilty and are entitled to health cover from their own member state via an E121

Job seekers who have an E106

European nationals who are visiting tourists and are in possession of an in date European Health Card. Please note this cover is normally classed as EMERGENCYcare only.
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What happens if I stop working?

If you have paid contributions in Spain for 90 days during the previous 365 preceding days (ie you have worked legally or been self employed and paying Spanish national insurance contributions for at least 3 months in the preceding year), you are covered for the next 90 days after you stop work.

If you were being attended to before you ceased paying contributions then your cover is extended to 52 weeks for the worker and 39 weeks for the dependant and 39 or 26 weeks if the assistance commenced after you stopped paying contributions . source: http://www.seg-social.es

What about common law partners?

Common law partners can only be covered by the contributions of their partner if they have been registered as living together for a minimum of 1 year IN SPAIN and can prove this in writing with a certificate of convivencia from their local town hall.

Children

In Tenerife Children ARE NOT attended by the same GPs that deal with adults. There are often shortages of trained pediatricians, so you may be registered at a "sub" health center, but your children may have to travel to the central health center Or the pediatrician may have split surgery hours between several locations. Check with your local doctor's receptionist when you register as to what the procedure is in your area, and make sure you keep up with new developments and seasonal variations.

Social Security Offices * There are offices in various parts of the island and depending on where you live and what business you need to transact you may be required to go to Los Cristianos, Puerto de la Cruz, Granadilla, Santa Cruz etc.

What documents do I need to apply?
there is a chart attached below but this may be clearer to read here
http://www.diana-mcglone.com/health.htm#entitlement

Attached Images

docs.jpg (91.6 KB, 118 views)

Does anyone know if there is a Number for the form that is the "Application to include dependants on worker’s social security card" or exactly what to ask for in Spanish at the Social offices?
Thanks

You have to go to Granadilla (south) or Santa Cruz and the small form is filled out by a staff member while you're there - they also give you a little plastic case to keep it in - there is a photocopy on the internet but it doesn't come out too well.

The phrase is "anadir beneficiarios a la cartilla"

Take green certificates and passports of all concerned (or old style residencias if still in date) The social security card of the "provider" and family book if born in Spain or birth certificates and translations if children born elsewhere. Take certificate of empadronamiento if your address has changed and certificate of convivencia if the dependant is a common law spouse who has been registered as living with you in Spain for over 1 year

Or you can sign an authority form and pay someone like me to do it for you.

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Many thanks for that golden - very helpful, will pass the information on - Along with your details in case they don't want to go themselves!

I've heard that one can spend up to three hours just queueing there, which is why I'd pay GM to do it every time

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The Tenerife Experts
for anyone living in or moving to Tenerife
Visit our website www.janetanscombe.com

Ewww, not nice, I'll pass on that nugget Janet thanks.

BTW Goldenmaniac, what would you charge for this (can you PM me please)
Thanks

PM'd you price list
x
Goldie

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I have read all this before on the social security website. But as far as I am concerned once you have lived in Spain for five consequetive you are a permanent resident, so surely you are entitled to free health care regardless of whether you are working or not. When I first came here I got a residencia for six months but never got a health card from the doctor, the same thing happened when I got a residencia for one year. When I got a five year residencia I received a plastic health card which expired when my residencia ran out. My next card and current one does not expire. So to me that means I have health care here for life. Maybe I am wrong, but it seems logical to me. Logical am I kidding myself - I live in Tenerife!

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In Spanish
Seguridad Social: Trabajadores
In English
Seguridad Social: Workers
I'm sorry but why would you doubt the information supplied by this Spanish Government department? although you are in part correct see the bit about sin recursos below.

These days there are no dates on the cards because GP's and Specialist appointments are computerisd - if your entitlement has run out it is flagged up at that point. That is not to say you won't receive medical attention, but you have to apply for " Las personas sin recursos económicos suficientes" ie you have no means to pay a stamp or pay for your treatment - this is a bit like means testing - you have to prove that you can't pay for your treatment if you have no ordinary entitlement, and is a tiresome and complicated procedure if you are ill.

Just as an extra sideline the British Government, whilst somewhat more cavalier to entitlement issues, has also changed its policy on entitlement to health cover

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Quote:
These days there are no dates on the cards because GP's and Specialist appointments are computerisd - if your entitlement has run out it is flagged up at that point.

My friend that had been here over five years had a card without a date on, but mine had an expiry date.

I don't doubt the Spanish government, but I just thought maybe they are not quite telling you everything.

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