Can treatment continue on Spanish healthcare once UK private insurance is used up?

[tripadviser]

Hi All

My Wife has full Spanish Residency and private UK health insurance. She will be continuing her treatment for some time is reaching the limit of her UK cover. She was wondering can shebcontinue her treatment on the Spanish social system

[junglejim]

I´m surprised she has UK insurance if she is "resident" in Spain ,normally Uk Insurance is only valid if you are resident of UK - if she or you do not pay into the Spanish Social System then it is unlikely to get treatment under that system, does she have an EHIC for emergency treatment ?
You may want to contact British Consulfor sound advice !
I hope she gets better soon, best wishes and good luck !

[casabonny]

She would need to be registered with a social doctor and be refered to the necessary specialist , but this can take quite some time depending on what it is.

[junglejim]

I´m surprised she has UK insurance if she is "resident" in Spain ,normally Uk Insurance is only valid if you are resident of UK - if she or you do not pay into the Spanish Social System then it is unlikely to get treatment under that system, does she have an EHIC for emergency treatment ?
You may want to contact British Consulfor sound advice !
I hope she gets better soon, best wishes and good luck !

https://www.gov.uk/government/world/organisations/british-embassy-madrid/office/british-consulate-santa-cruz-de-tenerife

[fonica]

I've recently helped a lady who developed cancer soon after she came to live here.Her treatment was delayed because she wasn't a resident here but once we had that sorted out it took about 5 months before she actually started Chemo treatment.She is a married to a British pensioner.If you are not pension age then under the new system you can pay into the Spanish Social Security system but I'm not sure that it would guarantee you full treatment.I think its only a basic care package.The Spanish system (like most of Europe)is creaking under the strain and isn't easy to navigate unless you have fluent Spanish,endless patience and can grovel with the best of them.However if you decide to try I can recommend a lady translator who is very well thought of in the main hospital and she should be able to point you in the right direction.

[Goldenmaniac]

Some useful general information here https://www.gov.uk/healthcare-in-spain . It will also depend on when she became a resident as rules have changed for new arrivals

[rosemary]

Full Social treatment for residents is automatic if you are a pensioner.