Getting a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) in Spain is a simple process and one which many people do not know about. If you are paying into the Spanish Social Security system then you are entitled to receive urgent medical treatment anywhere in Europe when you are travelling. So many people nowadays take the risk of travelling without travel insurance (not something to be recommended) and don’t realise that with their TSE (Tarjeta Sanitaria Europea) or European Health Insurance Card, they could walk into any State hospital in Europe and they will be given proper medical treatment usually for free. Obviously this only applies to urgent treatment but it is a good and reliable system.
Please remember that if you are a pensioner receiving a pension from the UK, then your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) should be issued from the UK (being the country that pays your pension).
The TSE (Tarjeta Sanitaria Europea) or European Health Insurance Card replaces the old E111 certificate so make sure that you have one if you are registered in the Spanish Social Security system and wish to travel within Europe…… the card is free. You may not even realise that you are entitled to it – it just takes a telephone call to your local Social Security Office to find out. Click here for more info….