British Consul welcomes the return of the Convenio Especial in Andalucia

The Servicio Andaluz de Salud confirmed this week that the Convenio Especial, a monthly pay-in scheme that gives access to state healthcare, is once again active across the region. The reintroduction of the Convenio Especial means that UK Nationals who are resident in Andalusia, but do not work or claim a pension, can access public healthcare by joining this scheme. People who have not yet registered for residency can also use their registration on the Convenio Especial as proof of healthcare for residency applications.

The scheme was put on hold in July 2018 following the introduction of the Royal Decree for Universal Healthcare. For many early-retirees who were in the process of registering for residency, the Convenio Especial was an important access route to healthcare cover in Spain and a vital part of their residency paperwork. Its reintroduction is welcomed by the British Embassy and British Consulate in Malaga.

Consul Charmaine Arbouin said: “We have worked closely with the Department of Health team based in the Embassy to raise this issue with the Andalusian authorities, and we are delighted to see the Convenio up and running again. We have heard directly from our customers how important this scheme is for them, particularly for those who are in the process of registering for residency.

I would encourage all UK nationals living in Andalusia to stay up to date with the latest news on issues such as healthcare and residency, by signing up for email alerts and visiting the Living in Spain guide on gov.uk and following our Brits in Spain page on Facebook.”

To apply for the scheme, you must have lived in Spain for at least one year and be registered on the padrón, and you must not be eligible for healthcare cover from the UK or other EU countries.

British residents are advised to contact their nearest district health office (Servicios de Atención a la Ciudadanía de los Distritos Sanitarios) or Healthcare Management centres (Áreas de Gestión Sanitaria) for more information about how to apply for the Convenio Especial.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

  • In December 2018, the Spanish Ministerio de Trabajo, Migraciones y Seguridad Social listed 56.5K British nationals registered as residents in Andalusia.
  • The Convenio Especial provides access to the state healthcare system for a monthly payment of €60 per person under the age of 65 and €157 for those aged 65+. It covers all pre-existing medical conditions but it does not cover the cost of prescriptions, which are charged at full price.
  • The Convenio Especial is accepted by Extranjería/Policial Nacional as proof of access to healthcare when registering for residency.
  • People can read a blog with more information about how to apply on http://healthcareinspain.eu/?p=1910 . They can also visit http://www.juntadeandalucia.es/servicioandaluzdesalud/centros/default.asp to search for their nearest district health office.
Author badge placeholder
Written by

Euro Weekly News Media

Share your story with us by emailing newsdesk@euroweeklynews.com, by calling +34 951 38 61 61 or by messaging our Facebook page www.facebook.com/EuroWeeklyNews

Comments