If you follow this link it explains all about EHIC

http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcareabroad/EHIC/Pages/Introduction.aspx

cactus jack wrote on Feb 15^th, 2011 at 12:43pm:

I've just read this and essentially it's saying you need an EHIC if you go on holiday from UK which is fine for people who spend most of their time in UK and visit here occasionally.  It doesn't address the situation for people who live here full time.  Not knocking your post.  Just adding for clarity.

Bigyin wrote on Feb 15^th, 2011 at 2:38pm:


I live between the UK  and Spain that is to say that I have permanent addresses in both countries, (which are not let out!) I am not resident in Spain neither do I work in Spain. I do work in the UK & USA (via the internet) and pay my taxes in both of those counties. So therefore when I am in  Spain, I am there for a holiday, be it 3 months, 6 months, or even a year. Nobody can determine how long a holiday is or should be, can they?
If you live permanently in Spain and have no address in UK then I would have thought it would make sense to become a resident of Spain following the rules and costs of Spain regarding health care and 'possibly' get a spanish equivalent of the EHIC for your holidays in the rest of europe.
Of course you will be treated with an EHIC card in Spain in an emergency and also it is always possible to fly back to the Uk for treatment for free for more long term or chronic illnesses (which would work out cheaper than paying for private health care insurance)
Just my opinion

Hi Jack,
You nipped in between my two posts 
With respect, your post covers a lot of situations (including whether you should apply for residency here).
I think the health cover issue can be split into two main sets of circumstances i.e.
1.  Your main residence is UK and you come here for varying length visits.
2.  Your main residence is here and you may well visit other European countries (including UK).
I'll try and pin down the sp for both.

Just to make things more clear.... We are resident here ( retired ) and do not own any property in any other country other than Spain...What is the procedure for getting  an EHIC or Spanish version of it ?
Quote:

Well Geandi, the way it used to be (and I somehow have the feeling that since I last went it might have changed) was that you just go into the offices of the Social Security with your residency papers and your social security card and ask for it, they normally used to take about five minutes.

In the end probably best to ring and check and Bigyin says.

Hi Guys and Gals, Hopeing to move out later this year, permantally. We both need medication, take tables every day, Ugly pills for her in doors and Viagra for me. and as we dont pay for our medication in the UK, what is the best way to continue getting the said tablets, and blood tests, she's a vampire.