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HEALTH INSURANCE FOR A RETIREE IN CATALONIA
- valerie canado
- Mar 17
- 5 min read
HEALTH INSURANCE FOR A RETIREE IN CATALONIA
To receive public healthcare from CatSalut, you must be accredited as an insured person or beneficiary by the National Institute of Social Security (INSS), which is the organization that recognizes and accredits this status in the national healthcare system.
Applicants from European Union (EU) countries, the European Economic Area (EEA), and Switzerland must provide a document issued by the competent organization in their home country, the S1 form (registration to receive health insurance coverage).
BEFORE MOVING TO CATALONIA IF YOU ARE A RETIREE from the French social security system: you must inform all the organizations that pay you a pension of your change of address to Catalonia, as well as your bank account details. You must request that the French organization paying your basic social security pension (CNAV, CARSAT, MSA, etc.) issue you the S1 community form (formerly E106, E109, and E121), so that once you are in Spain, the National Institute of Social Security (INSS) can register you as a pensioner and provide you with access to healthcare services. Please note that you are not required to return your Carte Vitale when you leave. This will allow you to be covered for urgent and scheduled care during your stays in France. Be aware that, since July 1, 2019, only individuals who have contributed for 15 years are entitled to this (as well as their minor children). The spouse who does not have their own pension will not be covered during their stays in France.
WHAT IS THE AMOUNT OF CONTRIBUTIONS?
If your tax residence is no longer in France, you are exempt from the General Social Contribution (C.S.G.) and the Contribution for the Repayment of Social Debt (C.R.D.S.), and, if applicable, the CASA (Additional Solidarity Contribution for Autonomy). However, a health insurance contribution of 3.2% on the basic pension, 4.2% on the supplementary pension for the general employee regime, and 7.1% on pensions for self-employed workers will be deducted in the following cases:
Being unemployed and receiving only a French pension: In this case, even if you reside in a country where all residents are entitled to healthcare, France will bear the cost, in accordance with European regulations.
Receiving pensions from France and the country of residence, but in this country the pension does not grant healthcare rights.
Receiving pensions from several member states other than France and the country of residence, but having had the longest career in France.
Your dependents can also have access to healthcare insurance as long as they reside in Spain, including in certain circumstances:
The spouse of the insured or the person living with them in a common-law relationship.
Separated or divorced persons, if they are entitled to alimony.
Descendants of the insured or their spouse, regardless of their legal filiation.
Their siblings, and those living with them, who are under 26 years old or have a disability of at least 65%.
WHERE TO APPLY FOR RECOGNITION OF RIGHTS (Dirección Provincial del INSS)
ONLINE:https://bit.ly/3g7gS67
Documents required:
Photocopy of your passport or identity card + original on-site.
Photocopy of your EU registration certificate + original on-site.
Photocopy of your family record book or documentation proving your family unit and its members + original on-site.
If you have been in Catalonia for less than 3 months, you will be entitled to the first level of healthcare services: primary care, emergency care, urgent medical transport, and health programs. If you have been in Catalonia for more than 3 months, you can access second-level healthcare services. You will need to obtain the registration certificate (padrón or certificado de empadronamiento) from your local town hall for a continuous period of at least 3 months immediately before submitting the request.
Applicants from European Union (EU) countries, the European Economic Area (EEA), and Switzerland must attach the S1 form (individual and nominative).
REQUEST FOR THE INDIVIDUAL HEALTH CARD (TSI)
IN PERSON: At the CAP of your place of residence
ONLINE: https://bit.ly/35akgH2
Once you have obtained your recognition of the right to healthcare, you must request the individual health card (TSI) at the primary care center (CAP) with your identification, your EU registration certificate, your recognition of right, and your town hall registration certificate (padrón) to CatSalut. CatSalut is the public body responsible for ensuring the provision of public health services to all citizens of Catalonia and will send the TSI to your home by mail free of charge. This card allows you to access centers and services in the public healthcare system.
Each holder of the individual health card (TSI) is assigned to a CAP, which is a Primary Care Center (Centre d'Atenció Primària), and is the first place to go when you have a health problem. All CAPs have an emergency service (servei d'urgències).
At the CAP of your place of residence, a general practitioner will be assigned to you. The CAP also provides nursing services, social assistance, and often offers dentistry, sexual and reproductive health services, and other specialties. (Medical care does not cover dental prosthetics or glasses). Our general practitioner will evaluate, if necessary, the need to refer us to a specialist or to conduct complementary tests. In this case, the doctor may redirect us to another CAP, a diagnostic center, or a hospital where the medical specialty we need is available.
To facilitate communication between healthcare staff and foreign-born patients, the Department of Health (Departament de Salut) offers a telephone service called CatSalut Respon (061 CatSalut Respon), available 24/7, where healthcare professionals and assistance services have access to a translation service.
HOSPITAL CENTER: In hospitals, you can find medical services for inpatient consultations, surgical services (operations, childbirth, etc.), and outpatient consultations, where visits to the clinic, preoperative examinations, or patient follow-ups are conducted, as well as emergency services.
As in most places, specialist appointments can be quite long. For example, for surgery, you will be called in order of urgency, so if you are not in pain and the operation can wait, be prepared to be patient! This is why many people prefer to take out private health insurance. Of course, it’s paid, and depending on your age and health problems, it can be costly, but it allows you to avoid waiting for specialist consultations, have surgeries without paying anything or only for medications. Be sure to check that the centers and doctors are located close to your place of residence. The most well-known private insurance companies are SANITAS and ADESLAS. Some banks in Catalonia offer these health insurances: BBVA and Banco Sabadell offer Sanitas, while CaixaBank offers its own, Adeslas. Other options include Mapfre, Axa, and Generali. You can expect to pay between 50 and 65€ per month for insurance without a deductible.
You can also join the Caisse des Français de l'Étranger (CFE).
If you plan to travel outside of France or your new country of residence, you will need to obtain the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Request it before leaving France from your health insurance provider.
For more information, visit:
According to the WHO (World Health Organization) in 2019, Spain ranked 1st in Europe and 5th in the world for the EU country with the highest life expectancy. (The siesta and olive oil, that's the real secret!)
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