Medical treatment in Spain under the Spanish National Health Service and Private sector in general is very good and compares very favourably with the UK . If you visit Spain for short periods of time - such as holidays - then you should obtain Form E111 from you local Post Office. The completed and stamped form will need to be produced to a Doctor/Hospital in Spain when you require assistance. It is useful to keep at least one photocopy of this document in addition to the original as this will be required for administration purposes when treatment is sought.

There is much contradictory information and advice on the internet as the lifespan of the form E111. It is a common misconception that the E111 form only lasts for one month or that you have to renew it after one year and then even this procedure can only be repeated once. These assumptions are all incorrect. The same E111 form can be used continuously in an EEC country provided that you are 'officially' still living in your original country of origin or if the document is taken or you lose it.

HOWEVER WE HAVE HEARD OF INSTANCES WHERE IN SOME COUNTRIES E111's OVER 12 MONTHS OLD ARE BEING REJECTED. ALTHOUGH THIS IS INCORRECT, IT MAYBE BE WORTH OBTAINING A NEW FORM EVERY 12 MONTHS.

Go to any main post office or travel agent and ask for a leaflet "Health Advice for Travellers'". Fill in an application form at the back of the leaflet and the form E111 as well, in accordance with the instructions in the leaflet.

Hand over the completed forms at the post office where the form E111 will be stamped and signed and returned to you. The E111 is free; you will not have to pay for its issue. Keep it safe, preferably with your passport, and carry it with you when traveling within the EEA.

REMEMBER, YOU MUST GET THE E111 STAMPED AND SIGNED BY THE POST OFFICE OR YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO USE IT . If you are going on holiday and plan to live abroad after fill in the application form and E111. Do not write anything in part 3 of the E111. When you have filled in the application form and the E111 send them to:

Department for Work and Pensions Jobcentre Plus Overseas Division Medical Benefits
Tyneview Park
Whitley Road
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
NE98 1BA

If you do not pay Spanish social security through self-employed contributions or through your employer then you could still be entitled to free healthcare in Spain through your tax contributions in the UK .

If you paid either class one (if employed earning a minimum of £3,500) in the current tax year or class two (self employed at least fifty payments made during that tax year), both you and your spouse will be entitled to free healthcare for the next two years. If you haven't paid enough for this tax year but have for the previous year, you will be entitled to only one year healthcare.

This form can be obtained from the D.S.S. in Newcastle . It will be sent to your UK home address and if you supply a Spanish address when you return the form completed, it will be posted to you in Spain . You will need to take the form to the I.N.S.S. office (the Spanish equivalent to the D.S.S.). After the form has been stamped it is valid for one or two years (depending on contributions in the UK ).

This form can also be applied for to be used a 'stop-gap' should you take early retirement and have been paying contributions in the UK for the last three years.

When registering a dependent of the holder of form E121 or E106 or self employed resident, you must complete the Asistencia Sanitaria form in duplicate, supplying details of both people, an original marriage certificate (and leave a copy with the form) or if a Certificate of Convivencia must be obtained form the local Town Hall/Guardia Civil.

It is important to remember that after officially transferring healthcare to Spain, you will only be eligible for healthcare in the UK as a visitor.

If you are a retired British citizen and have residency in Spain then you are entitled to full health care provision under the Spanish National Health Service. You will need to obtain from E121 in the UK, which will not need renewing. After submitting the completed form to the appropriate authority in Spain, in due course you will receive a card and a letter confirming the details of your designated doctor and clinic in your area. The same procedure is true for anyone claiming 'incapacity benefit'.

Most prescriptions for pensioners are free in Spain . However, prescriptions given by a hospital (authorization to purchase certain drugs) must be paid for at the pharmacy supplying the drugs and then money can then be reclaimed. The procedure for reclaiming the cost of the treatment/drugs is as follows:

• Pay for drugs at pharmacy • Go to see your doctor and take the hospital notes with you • Your doctor will give you a prescription for you to take back to the pharmacy where you originally purchased the drugs • Give the pharmacy the prescription, the bill, the labels on the packaging which the drugs came in and the pharmacist will give you a refund If you are not covered by social security and not entitled to free healthcare you will find that most drugs are cheaper than in the UK .

If you were to reside and work legally in Spain (by paying Spanish Social Security contributions (Seguridad Social), then you would receive the same services. For persons who do not fall within the above categories or who are of below U.K. retirement age and reside in Spain permanently, private medical insurance should be