Transcript of co-founder 'David Burrage's article that appeared in the Costa Blanca News on Fri 02-12-05
Regional health authorities in Valencia have decided that the SIP health cards, issued upon the basis of residence, in accordance with Circular 1/2002 will now have a validity period of one year. (Important note
This edict does NOT affect those holders of S.I.P cards who obtained them by virtue of form E121)
Expatriates who have previously applied for and been issued with a S.I.P. Health entitlement card, solely upon the basis of residence in the Valencia Region, must be aware of these new guidelines. Unfortunately, the one-year validity decision was taken after the first cards were issued, as such these cards will show no expiry date.
It is essential therefore, that you attend your local Health Centre and check the validity of your S.I.P. card.
The British Consulate informs us that your Health Centre is able to tell you whether your card is valid or not.
We strongly advise that you check its validity NOW, especially so if you have given up private health care insurance cover.
Cards issued over one year ago are now being cancelled and you will not have been informed.
All that should be necessary to obtain renewal is to produce the 'Legislative' letter from The Overseas Department, Newcastle, and present these two letters (one is in English one in Spanish) along with your expired SIP card.
In case you did not pick up upon our previous letter, published by Costa Blanca News, the 'legislative' letter is now forwarded to you in English and Spanish. We have informed Newcastle over recent events and to expect a rush.
Do not allow your expired SIP card to be retained or destroyed by your Health Centre until you have secured a renewal.
The advice of our Consulate is under no circumstances give up your private health insurance cover, as the moment you step outside the border of Valencia Province you will have no health cover whatsoever, as the SIP card issued to you is territorial and applies only to the Valencia Region only. You cannot obtain an EHIC (EU standard format replacement of form E111) with a S.I.P. card.
It may be advisable for those who have given up private health insurance to obtain fresh cover. It is regretted that insufficient thought had been given to this matter by our Health Authorities.
‘Addendum to above letter Regarding S.I.P.cards.
It is apparent, from the feedback this Association has monitored, that members and readers of the Costa Blanca News have not read the above article properly.
In that article we made no reference to pensioners, or any other person who has a separate health entitlement form, issued by their State of origin. In our case this is the U.K. and therefore this article does not apply to such persons. Some forms must be properly registered, here in Spain, such as the form E121, which is normally issued to pensioners. Provided such persons have registered their ‘E 121’ forms properly, they need not be concerned over the above article.
It must also be made clear that the above article refers only to early retirees, resident within the Community of Valencia.
We again emphasize that those to whom the article was directed, were early retirees. Their right to health care comes to them under most recent legislation from the Community of Valencia, in accordance with Circular 1/2002. Further, since the issue of these cards, the Health Aauthorities in Valencia, have changed the rules several times. One such change was that it was decided to issue the cards for a limited validity period of 1 year, but then make them renewable on an annual basis. That is where you are able to satisfy the Health Authorities, here in Valencia, that in the meantime you have not acquired any other right to health care, such as the issue of Form E121 (U.K. State pensioners entitlement to receive health care within the E.E.A).
In the latter case the Spanish Health authorities receive payment from the U.K, whereas in the former case they do not. Therefore one can understand the change in that direction. However these entitlement forms e.g. E121 must be registered as soon as you have acquired the right and have been issued with them. Do not neglect to do this; otherwise we shall have a reduced health service here, through lack of funding.
We have to tell you that whilst the British Consulate became aware of this change, they failed to inform our Association. We only became aware because of the difficulties being encountered by some of our members. This was a failure that must rest at the doorstep of Russell Thomson, the Consul in Alicante.
Because the rules had changed the earlier issued S.I.P. cards did not display an expiry date, albeit all newly issued cards will do so. This has meant that some of you who had obtained your S.I.P. cards before the inclusion of the expiry, date are being informed, most unceremoniously, when attending your Health Centres for treatment. You are merely advised that your S.I.P. card is no longer valid and has been cancelled. This has meant that those of you, who had cancelled your private health care insurance protection cover, were left without any health cover protection at all. It was those people that we attempted to reach with our Article in the Costa Blanca News, as set out above.
Those of you who have been issued with a S.I.P. card, merely upon the basis of your residence within the Community of Valencia, under the provisions of their Circular 1/2002, must understand that this S.I.P. card is territorial to Valencia only. Once cross over the boundary and outside of Valencia Province your S.I.P. card, issued in accordance with the above circular, will no longer be valid. It follows that you cannot seek the issue of EHIC (Replacement E.111) with this particular S.I.P. card.
All must be aware, that health care within the E.E.A. has not been completely harmonized, Therefore those who are here as early retiree residents, have no legal right to use an EHIC card issued by the U.K. Authorities. These ‘EHIC’ (European Health Insurance Card) are intended for short holiday trips of up to 6 months in any one year. Use them outside the purpose for which they were issued and you render yourself liable to prosecution, as it will amount to benefit fraud.
All that should be required, when seeking to renew your S.I.P. card here in Valencia in accordance with Circular 1/2002,, is to present a letter from the DWP declaring that you have no entitlement to health care in the U.K. and that you have no entitlement to be issued with an E. form under Community law. This is known as the ‘legislative’ letter.
Again we had to pick up on the requirement by the Valencia Health Authorities for this letter, as Consulate again failed to inform this Association. The advice then from our Consul was that this letter had to be ‘Officially’ translated into the Spanish ‘language’, or taken to our Consulate in Alicante for ratification. It never occurred to our Consul that this was a ‘sledge hammer to crack an egg for breakfast’ situation. Had he properly addressed himself to this situation he would have done, that which we immediately did.
Your Association immediately e-mailed the DWP Newcastle requesting that they issue this letter in, both the ‘English’ and ‘Spanish’ languages. We received an instant and positive response. These ‘legislative’ letters are now currently being issued in both languages, thus avoiding you unnecessary cost and, or inconvenience. The address to write to is ffor a set of these letters is :-
The International Pensions Centre (I.P.C.)
Tyneview Park
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE98 IBA
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 191 218 7777
Fax: +44 191 218 7293. Their Office is open between 8 am and 8 pm.
We have also advised the DWP to expect a deluge of immediate requests.
We advise that you send your letter by ‘certificated’ post. It will assist the DWP if at the foot of the outside of the addressed envelope you include: - Request for set of legislative letters.
We continue to address those, where INSS health care is not available to them under other Community entitlements, to exercise, or continue to exercise, the right accorded you under the law of the autonomous Communidad of Valencia.
As the S.I.P. card has such limited value of usage, we advise all early retirees, to which the Circular 1/2002 applies, to retain their private health care protection insurance. If you have given it up, then please, we urge you to take out such protection again.
We will continue to advise you over your ‘rights’ in Spain, but we will also advise you, as to your lawful obligations.
Finally, to assist all our members, and those who visit this website, we have set out below a list of all the E. forms which, to the best of our knowledge, are in current use, as of December 2005. We also show you the nature and purpose of each of those forms: -
Click here to visit our guide to E Forms
David R.Burrage and Peter Woodall your joint co-founders.