LOW-INCOME FAMILY DENIED HEALTH CARE

News

Corry Granger / 2010-01-20 14:13:14

‘The 270 euros per quarter per person including children is impossible for us to pay,’ says Denice

A mother has spoken of her family’s ‘desperate situation’ in her battle to get health care promised for people on low incomes.

Denice Carter, 46, her husband Stephen, 53 and their daughter Tara, now 13, bought a house in Pinar De Campoverde six years ago. ‘We loved Spain and what it had to offer,’ she says. ‘After looking into all aspects of Spain especially health and education we finally came to stay for keeps.

We also looked into our finances to find that we could manage a simple but relaxed way of life and apportioned our small amount of savings according to our families needs until we were fully retired.’

The family, from Kidderminster, had paid full tax and national insurance in England to ensure they were entitled to the state pension scheme.
‘When we moved here we became not only fiscal residents but tax residents, filing our tax returns every year to the Spanish authorities,’ says Denice.

‘Now the Valencian Government has rescinded the law from 2003 which has taken away our healthcare.’

In line with others on low incomes, Denice took advice from the British Consulate to seek help from Social Services as the family’s income was well below the amount which would entitle them to ‘sin recursos’.

‘The 270 euros per quarter per person including children is impossible for us to pay,’ she says. ‘My husband’s private pension is now, because of the exchange rate, only 499 euros a month and our mortgage is 330 euros. We are well below the 615-euro threshold that was quoted for us to receive help with our healthcare. We were also informed that we could get healthcare for our daughter under the law for minors which entitles all children under the age of 18 free healthcare.’

Denice’s case began early in October last year when she explained to a member of staff in the Depencia Department of Social Services in Pilar de la Horadada their situation.

‘I gave her all the information and paperwork need and she duly sent it to Alicante on October 23. Our SIP cards had an extension put on them till December 31. I called in to see her before Christmas and was told that she had not heard anything and I had to call back in January.

We went back on January 13 and were told that our paperwork had gone to Valencia as a lot of people had complained so I guess they have passed the buck yet again. The member of staff said that the Valencian health authority was looking into this and would be sending us a letter. When, no one knows.’

Denice asked what would happen if any of the family were taken ill and was told that it was the hospital’s duty to treat them. On receiving a bill for treatment she was advised to tell the hospital authorities that there was no money to pay it.

‘My husband has high blood pressure and high cholesterol and needs three prescriptions a month, with one of his drugs alone costing 44 euros,’ says Denice. ‘We are not eligible for private health cover because of existing illnesses. As it stands we have no health cover whatsoever. I worry about going out and I fear for our daughter, she did not ask to be put in this situation and we would not have come here had we known this was going to happen.’

Denice says she feels that as she and her husband have been supporting the country as official tax residents in Spain they should be entitled to the promised health care.

‘We never came to Spain expecting something for nothing and have always paid our dues to the Spanish tax which is centrally funding the health authorities, so we are all contributing towards our health care when we are official tax residents. This private health scheme has not been fully looked into before being implemented on early retirees, residents and their children.

‘So many of my friends have left Spain in the past few weeks, with young children who have been here a number of years and now have found themselves in a dire situation and have had no choice but to return to the UK. I am not blaming anyone in particular for our situation but surely somewhere along the line the UK and Spanish authorities should have more compassion and see that people are in a desperate situation. What happened to human rights? If not for adults, what about the children of ex-pats?’

Denice, who is a member of the action group PUMA22 which is fighting for the reinstatement of healthcare, said that moving back to the UK was not an option as it would be difficult if not impossible to sell their property in the current economic climate

'At least in the future people moving here will know full well that they have to pay for healthcare and they will not be duped like we were when we decided to come,’ she says.

‘What will it take before both Valencia and the United Kingdom see sense? There have been terrible individual cases already; we do not want to hear of any more.

‘I understand that the Valencia region is suffering in the economic climate the same as every other country but surely when they made this law, those people that were permanently living here should still have their healthcare still in place. We don’t want to be another statistic, walking away and returning our house keys to the banks like a lot of my friends have been forced to do.’

As an only child Denice also feels responsibility for her parents, who moved to Spain at the same time. ‘My mum has chronic arthritis, so leaving here would be impossible as the climate is good for her but she will need more assistance in the near future. She is eligible to claim carers’ allowance for herself in the UK for me to look after her. I wonder what the circumstances would be on my family's health provisions then? We do not need any financial help just health provision.’

A statement issued by the British Consulate outlined the new scheme when it was put in place, stating: ‘If you feel you have insufficient income to meet the cost of the scheme you may be eligible for health cover through ‘sin recursos’ (insufficient economic means). Ask the social worker at your local health centre for more information.’

For further information on the fight for healthcare visit puma22.org
PUMA22 has started a Facebook group, with more than 400 members, enititled Sick and Abandoned – ex-pats in Spain. Visit it on http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=info&ref=search&gid=267166349103

Tags: Healthcare, Puma 22

Comments

Denice Carter 26-01-2010 / 18:25

Re Pauls Scotts comment
I find Paul Scotts comment deeply offensive to my family and myself. Mr Scott you have not won your bet we have not and will not complain about the immigrants being handed everything on a plate in the UK. If he had read the article correctly we are not asking for financial help but to have our health provisions back, that were in place when we came to Spain in 2004. I have never and do not want a free hand given to us. Does Mr Scott think it is right that children are not covered fr their health here? We only have 1 child but we know lots of families with 3 or 4 children who cannot possibly afford to pay this amount. Do you not think just one household payment would have been more realistic. This is a major concern for us and many more who came to Spain for a better life for ourselves and siblings.

Alex Chilton 25-01-2010 / 16:23

As someone who has paying into the Spanish system for the past 7 years and a father of 3 children I would hope that if things became so difficult that I could not pay my contributions that I would hope that my healthcare for me and my family would still be covered. If the familys circumstances are what they say they are then this should be enough.
At least the family have done the right thing legally and actually paid into the system.Decent British citizens as members and subsidisers of the EU should be allowed the migratory privilidges afforded elsewhere.
In my area of work I cover the area lived in by the family and the area is full of the usual uninsured, untaxed Brit cars. I know 1 owner of a big 4x4 who has fuel receipts sent over to him from the UK to cover himself if he is stopped, I also know quite a few who fly over every so often to sort their undeserved incapicity and unemployment benefits out, at least this family has tried to be legitimate.
Good luck BB and Paul Scott with your Daily Mail doctrines and all!

Denice Carter 25-01-2010 / 13:24

Re Pauls Scotts comment:
I find this comment deeply offensive. Your bet is off as we have never complained about the immigrants in England.
We are not expecting anything to be handed on a plate to us finacally or otherwise. We just feel that we were covered for healthcare when we came to live here and now the rug has been pulled from under us. Also we are registered for tax but donot pay any has BB rightly says because we are below the threshold. Never wanted anyone knocking at our door saying we owed money, so we safe guarded ourselves.
The UK ought to be looking at the likes of many people who are living here who have abused the so call European healthcard for there treatment in Spain flitting from the UK to here getting the best of both worlds. Perhaps then we would get a fair crack instead of being in this situation.

Jan tinsdale 25-01-2010 / 11:32

I totally agree with BB here, why should Spain or any other country for that matter have to subsidise people who haven't contributed fully to the country they are expecting to look after them? How did they expect to live once there savings had run out?

It's not bureaucy gone mad, it's a country looking after it's own people & there future, how long could any country afford free hand outs to all & sundry before they find themselves in trouble?

Sarah Hill 25-01-2010 / 08:48

Had a terrible time trying to register my healthcare in Orihuela City. They dont seem to be geared up for this at all. I started out at the Social Security Office who knew nothing about it. They sent me on to a healthcentre who then sent me to a second healthcentre who then sent me on to a third healthcentre in a different town- St Miguel . Fortunately, a very helpful woman in St Miguel gave me a bank form and sent me on to an office in Torrevieja. So finally after visiting 5 places in 3 towns I was able to register to pay my 90 euros a month. But it doesnt stop here. My paperwork now goes to Alicante and I have to wait at least 20 days before more paperwork gets returned to me. Then I have to return to St Miguel with my paperwork to get my sip card. Until I get my sip card in my hand I have no health cover here although I bet it doesnt take long for the first payment to be taken out of my bank account!
I have agonised over this payment system. I live off a meagre teacher´s pension and have a number of health conditions that need monitoring so cant afford not to pay however I think it is incredibly wrong and short-sighted of the Valencian authorities. Have to say it is typical of the Partido Popular that control the finances in the Valencia region. They even want to see the state healthcare system here privatised, caring very little for the needs of ordinary people.
Anyway enough from me- a resident of Orihuela
Best wishes
Sarah Hill

Fiona Pitt-Kethley 25-01-2010 / 07:19

As the income was low just one of them should have been paying the 270 a month with the others registered as dependents. A decent asesor should be able to sort out the paperwork for them.

BB 24-01-2010 / 20:15

I can't see how they have paid any tax on that income, even before the drop in exhange rates, and especially with a mortgage - and what on earth will they do when interest rates increase?
I have lived here for over 20 years, and my husband has paid his Social Security payments (N.I. equivalent) through good times and bad. It seems as though they should be entitled to "low income" treatment, but otherwise, all those who think they should get free treatment should campaign to Britain. Spain cannot afford to subsidise thousands of early retirees.