Health insurance

[Flica]

A few observations.

Medical insurance is now very expensive, I was quoted over £1000 a year excluding most of my pre-existing conditions and on the basis I would use my EHIC card. On that basis expect prices to rise if EHIC for UK citizens disappears in a puff of brexit smoke.

EHIC is a reciprocal scheme so if UK EHIC cards no longer work in the EU clearly EU cards will not work in the UK. Mind you I do expect EHIC to survive even a no deal brexit eventually.

I heard that for those under 70 there was a reasonably priced insurance system for expats in Portugal but for me even if it is still available this boat has sailed

Before the UK joined the EU, I was involved, as a pedestrian, in an RTA. My EHIC was all I needed to be seen to in a Sanlucar hospital, including a X-ray, and subsequent OP visits.
OP visits to an hospital were unusual in Spain - you were supposed to go to your GP for follow-up.
Whilst our current government has shown outstanding incompetence in negotiations to date, I doubt even they could return to a pre-2nd World War reciprocal health situation.

 

[Pasarell]

Whilst our current government has shown outstanding incompetence in negotiations to date, I doubt even they could return to a pre-2nd World War reciprocal health situation.

I admire your faith in them. Afraid I don't have such high expectations of this lot

 

[Graham376]

In reply to all the questions, yes i appear to be in a good place at the moment with a portuguese issued ehic. i'll need to see what happens with brexit to determine my next move. S1 or not S1, who knows?

I went down to local Loja do Cidadao this morning and after taking a number and waiting 1/2 hr, was dealt with in 5 mins and given a paper EHIC valid for 2 months with card to follow in post.

Her main interest was checking computer to see if I am in the health care system as I don't have a social security number - she advised to get one. The GP Centro de Saude patient number sufficed. Only glanced at residence card.

 

[pandos]

Does the EHIC operate in the country of issue? Or only when visiting other eu countries on holiday... ? Just a question... I though it was only used when outside your country of residence...?

 

[Graham376]

Does the EHIC operate in the country of issue? Or only when visiting other eu countries on holiday... ? Just a question... I though it was only used when outside your country of residence...?

It covers EU States except the one where it's issued. There's no need for EHIC cover in State of residence.

 

[Heckler]

There is no suggestion that the EHIC will no longer be available - in fact the opposite as the government has made it quite clear right from the start of this saga that it will continue even if the form changes whatever the "deal" is.

What you are looking for does not exist - at least the "reasonable cost" bit. You will find that even the specialist yachtsmen travel type insurance will require you to use the EHIC service first. Over 70s and pre existing conditions is not the sort of thing insurance companies want to cover!

You will find much discussion and information on this subject in the thread below.

Not arguing just stating my own experience. I pay Barclays £12 ish a month for the current account and Travel Pack Insurance. I also get breakdown insurance for that.
I have declared prostate cancer, atrial fibrilation, acid reflux, and anything else I could think of.
I have checked many times about yotting, we are covered up to 12 miles offshore and up to a month at a time with multi trips. It does work, I have used it once. No quibble.
Its a deal as far as I am concerned.

 

[Graham376]

..........we are covered up to 12 miles offshore and up to a month at a time with multi trips. It does work, I have used it once. No quibble.
Its a deal as far as I am concerned.

But like the Nationwide cover, no use whatsoever for those of us who are away for several months at a time.

 

[nortada]

Not arguing just stating my own experience. I pay Barclays £12 ish a month for the current account and Travel Pack Insurance. I also get breakdown insurance for that.
I have declared prostate cancer, atrial fibrilation, acid reflux, and anything else I could think of.
I have checked many times about yotting, we are covered up to 12 miles offshore and up to a month at a time with multi trips. It does work, I have used it once. No quibble.
Its a deal as far as I am concerned.

But like the Nationwide cover, no use whatsoever for those of us who are away for several months at a time.

Except when you are in transit or for the first 30 days away from your countries of residence (UK and Portugal) if you have EHICs issued by both countries.

Probably not legal and why bother?

As may have been anticipated, this discussion is being paralleled in The Health Insurance Thread (http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthrea...h-March-2019-amp-Beyond&p=6657803#post6657803).

Possibly the mods should be asked to merge this thread into the larger one?

Rjcoles, your thread, your call. :encouragement:

 

[Graham376]

Except when you are in transit or for the first 30 days away from your countries of residence (UK and Portugal) if you have EHICs issued by both countries.

Probably not legal and why bother?

As may have been anticipated, this discussion is being paralleled in The Health Insurance Thread (http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthrea...h-March-2019-amp-Beyond&p=6657803#post6657803).

Possibly the mods should be asked to merge this thread into the larger one?

Rjcoles, your thread, your call. :encouragement:

What's not legal? This is a Health Insurance thread, whereas the other thread is more about residence so why merge?

 

[nortada]

Except when you are in transit or for the first 30 days away from your countries of residence (UK and Portugal) if you have EHICs issued by both countries.

Probably not legal and why bother?

As may have been anticipated, this discussion is being paralleled in The Health Insurance Thread (http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthrea...h-March-2019-amp-Beyond&p=6657803#post6657803).

Possibly the mods should be asked to merge this thread into the larger one?

Rjcoles, your thread, your call. :encouragement:

What's not legal? This is a Health Insurance thread, whereas the other thread is more about residence so why merge?

Not legal to have more than one EHIC?

Believe I read it in the blurb accompanying the UK EHIC. But as I observed in my original post, what would be the purpose in having multiple EHICs?

Reason to merge?

There is good information on this and the other thread, which both relate to life post Brexit (not just residency). Gems of information in one place may not appear in the other so to make it more straight forward, why not put it all in the same place?

That said, I should admit either way it it leaves me alakefic.

 

[Graham376]

Not legal to have more than one EHIC?

Believe I read it in the blurb accompanying the UK EHIC. But as I observed in my original post, what would be the purpose in having multiple EHICs?

At the moment, we're all EU citizens and as such we get certain benefits, including the EHIC. IF we leave the community without a deal the UK may not be in the EHIC scheme and we will no longer be EU citizens, able to access some of the benefits we enjoy now via UK membership.

EHIC is issued by the country of residence and I have permanent residence here in Portugal (as well as being UK resident) so entitled to EHIC issued by Portugal and if the UK drops out I'm still covered. Obviously, both wouldn't be used at the same time but, it would be interesting to have a link to the text which says it's illegal.

 

[jordanbasset]

What's not legal? This is a Health Insurance thread, whereas the other thread is more about residence so why merge?

Agree, much easier to search smaller threads on specific subjects rather than a very long general one. Indeed in the general one I am aware that subjects have been repeated because it is so long.

 

[nortada]

At the moment, we're all EU citizens and as such we get certain benefits, including the EHIC. IF we leave the community without a deal the UK may not be in the EHIC scheme and we will no longer be EU citizens, able to access some of the benefits we enjoy now via UK membership.

EHIC is issued by the country of residence and I have permanent residence here in Portugal (as well as being UK resident) so entitled to EHIC issued by Portugal and if the UK drops out I'm still covered. Obviously, both wouldn't be used at the same time but, it would be interesting to have a link to the text which says it's illegal.

Call me pedantic but if there is no UK EHIC post Brexit you will only be able to have one (Portuguese) EHIC so it must be legal

As EHICs could lead to the UK and Portuguese medical services communicating and potentially awkward questions, I intend to leave sleeping dogs lie until the UK EHIC is no more and would then apply for a Portuguese Card.:encouragement:

 

[nortada]

Agree, much easier to search smaller threads on specific subjects rather than a very long general one. Indeed in the general one I am aware that subjects have been repeated because it is so long.

Whist not bothered one way or the other.

I find it even more difficult searching a number of threads for that illusive post than just one long thread - put it down to old age. :sleeping:

 

[macd]

EHIC is issued by the country of residence and I have permanent residence here in Portugal (as well as being UK resident) so entitled to EHIC issued by Portugal and if the UK drops out I'm still covered.

I referred to it earlier in the thread, but it seems clear that EHICs are issued by the country of (health) insurance. This may or may not be the same as the country of residence:
https://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=559

From accounts in this thread and others, it may be that Portugal has a slightly different take on this than they should (so no change there, then...)

 

[rjcoles]

As it was said smaller threads are easer to search, so let’s keep this one separate.
Our sailing area is in the eastern med and still assuming a hard exit (god forbid) I will have to look for insurance to cover us in Greece and Turkey. So I was looking for a reasonable price without having to go for residency, any suggestions?

 

[Graham376]

Until age vastly inflated premiums, we used Insure and Go long stay cover, used to be <£400 for two of us for 9 months p.a. 12 miles coastal and scuba as standard. Offshore passages could be added for specific dates at extra cost.

 

[greeny]

At the moment, we're all EU citizens and as such we get certain benefits, including the EHIC. IF we leave the community without a deal the UK may not be in the EHIC scheme and we will no longer be EU citizens, able to access some of the benefits we enjoy now via UK membership.

EHIC is issued by the country of residence and I have permanent residence here in Portugal (as well as being UK resident) so entitled to EHIC issued by Portugal and if the UK drops out I'm still covered. Obviously, both wouldn't be used at the same time but, it would be interesting to have a link to the text which says it's illegal.

Hi Graham, I tried replacing my UK EHIC 4 years ago and was truthful on my application admitting to be a resident and taxpayer in Portugal. I was refused and told to apply in my country of taxation. Have a look at the renewal process online and it clearly asks that question. Or at least it did 4 years ago. My son lives in Germany but works and is taxed in UK. He is registered as resident in Germany but cannot have a German EHIC, he has to get one from UK and then get an extra document (don't know the name of this, maybe a version of the S1) to enable him to access the German health system.
The link you're looking for may well be on the EHIC application page.

 

[Graham376]

HMy son lives in Germany but works and is taxed in UK. He is registered as resident in Germany but cannot have a German EHIC, he has to get one from UK and then get an extra document (don't know the name of this, maybe a version of the S1) to enable him to access the German health system.
The link you're looking for may well be on the EHIC application page.

I was surprised just how easy it was to get into the Portuguese health system without being a tax payer here, had expected to have to make contributions. Maybe the fiscal number indicates being in the tax system although no earnings here to pay tax on, just car tax which of course requires the fiscal number.