Changes to European Health Insurance Card
THE Euro Weekly News has received a number of enquiries from concerned readers with regards to changes in the issuing of the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to UK State Pensioners Resident in Spain. We spoke to David Burrage, of the former ‘British Expats Association’ (BEA) in order to determine the facts.
The confusion was generated from a letter dispensed by the UK Pensions Service, to anyone who draws a State Pension and those who are entitled to receive Health Care in their State of residence within the EEA and Switzerland, addressing the imminent changes in the issue of the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), as required under the new Social Security Coordinating Regulations 883/2004 which come into effect on May 1 2010. As from that date the payment of a citizen’s health care, when using the EHIC, will also become the responsibility of the state issuing the form E121, which is available to Pensioners as well as those in receipt of long term sickness benefit and entitles them to state health care in Spain.
AMBIGUOUS
Mr Burrage stated that the wording of the letter is rather ambiguous, and makes no reference to dependent family members, such as a Spouse or children over the age of 16 years but still in full time education, who the regulations also make allowances for. He highlighted that the letter does refer to dependent children aged 16 years and under, although this is an inaccurate interpretation of the law, which does not specify a qualifying age, only that they must be in some manner dependent on the Pensioner concerned. Incidentally, the Pension Service will already be aware of such information which is contained on the copy of the form E121 issued by Newcastle, and eventually forwarded back to them by the Pensioner’s local INSS Office, to include dependent family members. He has voiced his concerns to Martin Fitches of the Consular Services in Madrid, but had yet to receive a response at the time of going to press.
REGULATION
These arguments are upheld in a Press Release issued by the EU Commission on July 2, 2009, which states that “The new regulations apply to all EU citizens who are or who have been covered by the social security legislation of one of the member states (as well as their family members and their survivors). This means that in addition to employees, self-employed persons, civil servants, students and pensioners “non-active persons” (e.g. persons who are in a social security system covering all residents but who do not exercise a paid activity, such as persons taking care of the home) will also be protected by the coordination rules.”
ACTION
Mr Burrage stressed that it is extremely important that when Expats acquire a State Pension based on their contributions they should also request a Form E121, and that if they have formerly obtained health care via the E121, such as those in receipt of long term sickness benefit, they should notify the authorities of all changes in their relevant circumstances.
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