Information translated and collected from the consulate of Belgium in Alicante

Social security

How to I enter the Social Security system in Spain

Before leaving your country of origin, ask your mutual insurance scheme to hand you the european form necessary for your registration with a social security (E104 form for an employee, S1 for retired people,...)

If you find a job in Spain as an employee, you are in theory covered by social security. The employer is supposed to register the worker at the Spanish social security and monthly deduct the necessary contributions from the worker's salary.

If you are self-employed, you have to register at the social security yourself. In this case, you will have to deduct yourself the necessary contributions from your salary.

Anyone who is part of the social security system receives a card, named Tarjeta S.I.P., which proves his/her registration with a social security. 

For more information, you can adress your province Instituto Nacional de la Seguridad Social (INSS). Website: http://www.seg-social.es/Internet_1/index.htm

European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

Source: www.gov.co.uk

If you're visiting Spain, you should get a free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before leaving the UK. The EHIC isn't a substitute for medical and travel insurance, but it entitles you to state provided medical treatment that may become necessary during your trip. Any treatment provided is on the same terms as Spanish nationals. You should produce your EHIC prior to treatment. If you can't produce an EHIC at the time of receiving care, the hospital may ask for payment up front. The EHIC won't cover medical repatriation, ongoing medical treatment or non-urgent treatment. Private hospitals won't accept the EHIC and will ask you to pay for your treatment, or to provide evidence of adequate insurance.

Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation. If you are referred to a medical facility for treatment you should contact your insurance/medical assistance company immediately. As a general rule, if you need hospital treatment in Spain you're more likely to receive appropriate care in a public healthcare facility (although in some tourist areas there may be no public healthcare facility nearby). Your insurance/medical assistance company will be able to provide further details.

 

Medical assistance

Beneficiaries

If you live in Spain and you are registered at Spanish public welfare system, you will benefit from social security. You will be eligible the receive healthcare at the social security official medical centres.

Necessary documents

The patient must present a documentary evidence of his legal right to medical assistance:

  • Either the EHIC, for tourists and non-residents
  • Or the SIP card for the Spanish residents. It is however advised to retired person living in Spain and who have a SIP card to keep hold of the EHIC which can be asked in the event of medical problems in other regions of Spain than the one they live in.

If you need medical assistance

Spanish residents must be registered in the medical centre that correspond to their registered home. A general pratictioner will then be appointed to them (médico de cabecera).

If your health do no allow you to get to a medical centre, you call them and ask for a home visit.

If your general pratictioner refers you to a specialist, he will deliver you a prescription (volante) that you will be asked to show to the specialist.

If a chirurgical intervention is necessary, one or the other doctors will ask for your hospitalization. 

Si une intervention chirurgicale est nécessaire, l’un ou l’autre de ces médecins demandera votre hospitalization.

The medical examination and hospitalization are covered by your SIP card.

Medicine

The doctor - general practitioner or specialist - will give a prescription with which you will be able to buy your medicine in any pharmacy. This prescription allows anyone to get or buy the prescribed medicine, subject to varying prices according your revenues.

Emergency services

The emergency number is 112.

In the event of an emergency, go to the nearest emergency department of a social security covered hospital.

Attention: Not every hospital do rely on Social Security ; a private hospital will make you pay for any medical treatment.