Discover out all concerning the UK’s International Well being Insurance coverage Card, when and the place you need to use it in Spain and particularly what for.
GHIC stands for UK International Well being Insurance coverage Card, it allows those that are normally resident within the UK to get crucial healthcare within the European Financial Space, together with Spain.
This isn’t be confused with the EHIC which is the European Well being Insurance coverage Card for residents or residents within the EU. You probably have residence in Spain and are coated for public well being right here, you’ll be able to apply for this as an alternative and use this while you journey to different international locations taking part within the scheme.
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Who’s GHIC for?
It’s designed for use for UK nationals on vacation or who’re briefly in Spain.
It may be used throughout your first three months of dwelling in Spain earlier than you get issued residency allow or visa corresponding to earlier than you apply for the digital nomad visa.
It can’t be used when you reside right here full time and have residency. On this case you’ll both have entry to the general public healthcare system when you pay into the social safety regime or you’ll have to get non-public medical insurance.
What sort of healthcare does the cardboard cowl?
It is vital to keep in mind that it isn’t a alternative for journey insurance coverage and the UK authorities nonetheless recommends that you just don’t journey with out some sort of medical insurance. It is because the cardboard doesn’t cowl:
- Repatriation or flights again to the UK for remedy
- Remedy in a personal medical facility
- Ski or mountain rescue
It’s additionally not designed for use for normal visits to the physician for minor well being complaints like a GP appointment. It ought to as an alternative be used for emergency healthcare.
It particularly covers:
- Emergency remedy and visits to the emergency room
- Remedy for routine medical take care of long-term or pre-existing medical situations
- Routine maternity care, however not when you’re intentionally coming to Spain to present delivery
Should you do want remedy for ongoing pre-existing situations corresponding to kidney dialysis for instance, you’ll have to organise this prematurely of your journey, you’ll be able to’t simply flip as much as a hospital in Spain and count on to be handled.
The identical applies for maternity care, except you are feeling like there’s an issue, through which case you’ll be able to go to the emergency room.
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The way to apply for the cardboard
A UK GHIC could be utilized for by the NHS website and each member of your loved ones wants their very own card.
It’s fully free if utilized for by the official channel and lasts for as much as 5 years.
Based on the web site, you could embody the next knowledge:
- full title
- tackle
- date of delivery
- Nationwide Insurance coverage quantity
- Well being and Care quantity (when you’re from Northern Eire)
After you have submitted your software, you’ll be e-mailed inside 24 hours to say whether or not it has been permitted or not. As soon as it has been permitted, you’ll obtain your card within the publish inside 15 working days.
In case your card has expired, you’ll be able to apply for a brand new card as much as 9 months earlier than your present card runs out.
If you’re already in Spain and also you want emergency remedy, however haven’t utilized on your GHIC card or forgot it, you’ll be able to request a Provisional Substitute Certificates or PRC from the Abroad Healthcare Workforce. You or the hospital can request one by emailing: OVERSEAS.HEALTHCARE@DWP.GSI.GOV.UK
Keep in mind, when getting handled you will have to point out your card alongside together with your passport.
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The way to declare a refund when you’ve been charged incorrectly
You probably have been charged for remedy in Spain though you’ve got GHIC or PRC, the NHS says that you must ask for a replica of your bill and be sure you get a receipt.
To say a refund for healthcare that’s presupposed to be coated, you’ll be able to obtain the form here and ship it to NHS Abroad Healthcare Companies. You have to connect your receipts and every other crucial paperwork from the hospital.
It’s possible you’ll want to incorporate data corresponding to:
- Affirmation that the remedy was supplied by the nationwide healthcare system
- Affirmation of funds like a card receipt
- Your journey insurance coverage cowl when you have it and your supplier paid for remedy
- Discharge paperwork from hospital
The NHS Abroad Healthcare Companies will then determine whether or not or not you might be eligible for refund.
