Convenio Especial for Health Care, anybody done it!

We've been officially 'here' for more than a year now, and have our 'Residency' cards dated last January, on the padron since then and have the 'Legislation letter' from the UK, so all set to look at applying for the Convenio Especial to get into the Health System with payment. Anybody already done it? Where did you go to start the 'ball rolling', Health Centre / INSS / Somewhere else? And what did you find was the timescale for the process and your opinion please?

Thanks in anticipation!

All we know is that when we asked in Huescar social services they had no idea what it was, which is a bit of a concern, please advise how you get on. Thanks

Hi Lurchio, Try this link, hope it helps.

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Cavernícola wrote:Hi Lurchio,  Try this link, hope it helps.

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This is the paper work we used but they still had no idea maybe you have to sort in Granada, it's something we will be trying to find out about.

did ours with Ana, no problem.

Do you mean the 3 month card, I have that, That's no problem the convenio especial is different €60 per month each to join the system completely after you become resident, if Ana managed that I will get in touch with her. Look forward to hearing what system you are referring to.

Okay, the paperwork side is done and submitted to the HEALTH CENTRE in BAZA. The Lady in the 'Social Services' office on the ground floor is now up on the system (we were the first in the area to apply), and forwarded all our paperwork to Seville, with copies going to the Health Authority offices in Baza.

We were told it will take at least a month to hear anything. The usual period in Andalucía looks like its more than 2 months from start to finish. Next step, they send us a bill to pay for the first month and set up payment. Keep you posted .

No, its not the 3 month thing. No good for Residency either! Got the forms sent from Andalucía, by the way.

That's fantastic, well done, we will look at starting the residency process soon and then the health care, look forward to an update if possible.

Yes, will do. Trouble is, the process is now out of our hands and in Andalucias! I have an e mail address for the relevant office, so will wake 'em up a bit if we hear nothing. Don't hold your breath!

Yes, residency is a good idea before the Britex vote! ( Little talk of that on here, dunno why ?!?!)

it was easy for us as we are pensioners. don't have to pay anything. think they have changed all the rules now. good luck.

Mandi, Thank you, in that case you did everything through the INSS office in Baza, as you had S1's from the UK. That's a different system and one which early retirees (lucky us I suppose!) cannot access until we are of Pensionable age. You can still get access to the Spanish NHS as a person of retirement age in the UK, as they will issue you with an S1, which is the key to entering the system here for Pensioners. That's not been changed as regards UK Pensioners at all.

Good luck in that case!

Some early retirees have been lucky enough to get health cover and sip cards without having to apply for convenio especial...our original s1 cover from the uk has now lapsed and we have been to Baza inss office and submitted our forms to apply to join the Spanish system through a different process will let you know how we get on.

Clarky wrote:Some early retirees have been lucky enough to get health cover and sip cards without having to apply for convenio especial...our original s1 cover from the uk has now lapsed and we have been to Baza inss office and submitted our forms to apply to join the Spanish system through a different process will let you know how we get on.

Yes please let us know as it appears to be s grey area and we want to join too

All the best of luck to you if you get it without the Convenio, but it would be a problem to go in 'cold' without establishing previous NHS Spain cover with an S1, as you did, Clarky. Him and Her, theres no grey area under current Spanish rules, just a bit of luck swinging Clarkys' way is whats needed! If you were an early retiree and had residency before April 2012, having an income of less than 100,000 euros a year, you WILL get into the system for free and perhaps that's where you have seen 'early retirees' getting SIP cards etc.. Please let us all know how you get on!

Hi, All. All done and finished and we have our Health Cards, Social Security numbers, assigned Doctor (in Cullar) etc.

There were some 'admin' pitfalls along the way, but we got there. As long as you satisfy the criteria, i.e. Residencia for at least one year, Padron for at least one year and the letter from the UK stating you are no longer covered there (with respect, once you do that, you need to know that you are FINISHED with the NHS in the UK, so your UK EHIC is rendered useless as well), then its just the paperwork and Spanish admin to beat. Remember also that the Convenio will NOT generate a European EHIC card, so travelling outside Spain (even to the UK) you will have to have Travel Insurance.

60 euros per month, bargain and we can go to Baza Hospital A and E, rather than bleed to death on the way to Granada or something!!! Also covers existing conditions which Private Insurance NEVER does. This may or may not be important to YOU.

Reading about it, it seems there has been a bit of a rush of British ex pats applying, wonder why? Could it be the Britex vote? Hell, Yes.

Want to say a big thank you to Lurchio for his advice regarding our application which is well underway now.
It is far better to speak to someone who is going through the process
and knows where to go what forms etc etc than rely on the usual suspects we have all met who think they know. Thanks again.

You are welcome, I don't mind being a 'Guinea Pig' at all. Still like a challenge, me!
If I can ever help, I will, but I will NEVER make up an answer!
Two minutes trying to impress sometimes takes a lifetime to live down............. !!!!
Happy days!