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A new website is about to be launched on March 1st 2009
www.puma22.org - Platform Users Medical Area 22
To provide support to all residents and visitors of
Medical Area 22
Orihuela Costa, Playa Flamenca, Dehese de Campoamor, Cabo Roig, La Zenia,
San Miguel de las Salinas, Pilar de Horadada, Torre de la Horadada, Bigastro,
Los Montesinos, Torrevieja and district.
You will be able to make an appointment online or by your mobile phone
direct to the Health Centre or Hospitals in Medical Area 22
www.puma22.org is a website with a difference - watch this space!.
SIP Card
WITHDRAWAL OF VALENCIA HEALTH CARE CONCESSION
The withdrawal of the Valencia Health Care concession enabling certain British and other European Union citizens to benefit from health care in Valencia under the Spanish Social Security system will have serious consequences for many whose decision to live in Spain was partly based on the existence of this concession.
The advice of the British Embassy in Madrid that those affected should consider taking out private health insurance does not satisfy the situation of those who cannot afford private insurance and in some cases, an existing medical condition would exclude them from the scope of private insurance.
The British Embassy in Madrid states that it is in close contact with the Valencia government regarding the issue. C.L.A.R.O. hopes that solutions are being sought to avoid hardship for those who will be affected.
The decision of the Valencia regional government is no doubt based on financial considerations and it is appreciated that the withdrawal will be phased out so that those with SIP health cards will continue to benefit from access to health care until the expiry of their present cards. The withdrawal of the concession does not affect either pensioners or those employed in but essentially early retirees. The number will not therefore be great. In the case of British citizens, most early retirees would still be eligible for health care under the National Health Service if they were living in the United Kingdom
It should surely be possible for the United Kingdom and Valencia government authorities to find solutions for the relatively small number of British citizens living in Valencia who could otherwise face real hardship.
C.L.A.R.O. suggests all those who will be affected should contact the British Embassy in Madrid informing them of their situation and urging the Embassy to take a lead in defending their interests and finding a solution to the problem.
British Embassy, Madrid.
Telephone 91 700 82 00. E-mail: enquiries.madrid@fco.gov.uk
Axe Falls on Health Cover in Valencia Region.
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Thousands of expats resident in Valencia will lose access to the state national health system in regional government cutbacks. An announcement detailing changes in the social security laws from the community’s health minister Manuel Cervera was made yesterday afternoon. And the most affected are British residents who do not make contributions to the health system in Spain – often people who have taken early retirement. It is understood the changes will NOT affect pensioners – men aged 65 and women aged 60 – who are covered by an E121, or people migrating to Spain and covered by an E106, who have been working in the UK and have two year’s ‘grace’. However, there could be changes to the EHIC system, the European Union system of guaranteeing health cover for tourists...
Consulate staff in Alicante and Madrid confirmed the changes were officially announced on Thursday afternoon. An insider told Round Town News: “This is no rumour. We are aware that the changes to free healthcare cover will be published in the region’s official bulletin. “The people that will be most affected by this measure are those who do not have access to the state health system through an E121 or an E106, or who do not pay Spanish Social Security contributions.”
Currently, diplomats are busy gathering information on the changes to enable them to give “accurate advice” to British citizens living in the Generalitat Valenciana. Until now, expats taking early retirement have been issued with a ‘SIP’ card by the health service on production of what has become known as the ‘Newcastle Letter’.
BENEFITS
This involved getting a legislative letter, in Spanish, from the Overseas Benefits Office at the Department of Works and Pension, Newcastle. It allowed people not entitled to either of the ‘E’ forms to get free healthcare. However, the SIP card needed to be renewed annually with a fresh letter from the UK. The letter underlined how the bearer was not entitled to health cover in Britain under the NHS and enabled them to get the full cover. However, it is believed people holding these cards will still be covered until the expiry date of the individual SIP. Contacts close to the health service say this announcement will come as a “shock” to many expats and had come “out of the blue.” It is understood Valencia’s health budget is severely over-stretched at present – especially with EU citizens, including a majority of Brits – flooding to start a new life in the sun. RTN was told that it appeared the British Government was being slow in settling health bills run up by citizens in a Europe-wide reciprocal agreement.
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