Retire Happy
Click the Hyperlinks to jump directly to the specific information
Spain Healthcare | France Healthcare | Portugal Healthcare
Carefree LIfestyle will help you identify the important information you need to look at when retiring to Spain | France | Portugal. Information regarding the legal side of your healthcare, including who to speak to, where to go and how to make sure that once you move to Spain | France | Portugal, nothing will go wrong. Just read through the following information to help you identify how the process works.
Healthcare
The rules that govern the healthcare system differs between the UK and Spain | France | Portugal. The NHS is a residence-based system, which means that you can access it just by being a resident of the country.
Mobile Home Retirement - Healthcare in Spain
In Spain, living on a mobile home park, normally you would need to make social security contributions which would normally be made by an employer on your behalf or by yourself as a self employed worker. As a retiree from the UK in full benefit of a UK state pension, you will be entitled to free healthcare in Spain after completing the S1 form
S1 Form
When you discuss your move abroad with the International Pension Centre, ask for the S1 Form. When this is registered with the Spanish authorities, the S1 gives you and your dependants the same medical cover in Spain as a Spanish national. This does not mirror the UK NHS, and will mean that you may pay for certain treatment or remedies.
Registration with Spanish Authorities For Healthcare
In order to register the S1 you'll need to get the following in this order:
i) Certificate of Residence in Spain (Certificado de Residencia/Numero de Identificacion Extranjero) – available from your nearest National Police station;
ii) Certificate as a Local Resident (Certificado de Empadronamiento) – available from the Local Town Hall (at the Padrón Office).
Don't forget - Carefree Lifestyle can help you make this whole process a hassle free experience. You are paying for a complete package with Carefree Lifestyle, from a simple exciting idea to a happy future abroad, we will guide you step by step and help you take care of all the paperwork
Mobile Home Retirement - Healthcare in France
How does health cover and social security work if I am a resident in France? Before your departure, please contact:British nationals planning a permanent move to France are advised to consult the UK Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) at the earliest opportunity to obtain advice on their longer term entitlement as residents to health care provision under the French national system.
Enquiries should be made to the DWP Overseas Medical Benefits help-line on 00 44 191 218 1999, which is open from Mondays to Fridays, from 08.00 to 20.00. Please also contact the French Embassy in the United Kingdom on 00 44 207 073 1000 or visit the website.
On arrival, for further information please contact: Information can be obtained directly from the English-speaking health insurance advice line of the Caisse Primaire d’Assurance Maladie (French social security service) on 00 33 811 363 646 (Monday-Friday from 09.00 to 18.00) or CLEISS (the Helpdesk in France for international mobility and social security) on 00 33 1 45 26 33 41.
Mobile Home Retirement - Healthcare in Portugal
The Portuguese Health System is universal and based on being resident in Portugal. For this reason, British people are entitled to receive state healthcare in Portugal by registering as a resident and then with their local health centre.
However, EU regulations state that if you are in receipt of a State Pension from one EEA member state but resident in another, your healthcare should be covered by the state that pays your pension. For example, if you are resident in Portugal but in receipt of a UK State Pension, the UK should cover your healthcare by issuing you with an S1 (previously E121).
Therefore if you reach State pension age whilst living in Portugal, it will be necessary to request the form S1 from the DWP and hand it to your nearest social security office (Posto de Atendimento da Segurança Social) so that they can change the way you are covered.
Please remember that if you do register with the state health system in Portugal, it is important to de-register with your GP in the UK. Likewise, if you decide to return to the UK, then you must de-register with the Portuguese authorities.
All information obtained via the UK British Consulates information services available for:
Spain Retirement | France Retirement | Portugal Retirement
If you get stuck with anything, send us an email or drop us a line at 01642 712711 (Mon - Fri 09.00 - 17.00)