Question of the Week By Maria Cecilia Tacchi

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Q: we are now pensioners and have our S1, how should we proceed to get into the healthcare system? Do I need to take forms with me? what documents shouls I take?

A: once you have your S1s, its very easy to register. You do not need to take any forms with you, they will provide them there.
You do have to take
1) passport
2) residencia (green NIE ) paper
3) marriage certificate
4) s1 papers.
5) empadronamiento (just in case, not every office asks for this)
Take photcopies just in case, sometimes they just scan the documents, but I have heard of some offices asking for photocopies.
Go to the seguridad social office (INSS), and present the papers. they will probably tell you that you will receive a paper in the mail (sometimes they give the paper to you on the spot, again, it depends on the office).

That paper is VERY important, take a copy and file t carefully!.
With that paper, go to your healthcare centre to register with a doctor, but this is when you need to read the second part of a guide I wrote, because you DO NOT want to go and register iwth the first dr available, you need to ask for recomendations.
Even more so, as you do not have to register with the healthcare centre that belongs to you because of your address!, this is a little known fact.
If you go to register in a healthcare centre different from the one that belongs to your address, take this print out and somebody that speaks spanish with you, because in my experience, they will try to say no to you, even though its your right

http://www.juntadeandalucia.es/servicioandaluzdesalud/principal/documentosAcc.asp?pagina=gr_derechos_libreeleccion_2&url=derechos/LibreEleccion/GeneralyPediatra.html#
here is my guide

http://compasshealthcareguidance.com/downloads/

Read from my guide from this part on: “after having your healthcare recognised”, there you will learn some tricks that will help you move inside the system.
Also, in my page I have a blog , where I write about little known facts about the spanish NHS.
http://compasshealthcareguidance.com/blog/
Libre elección de médico de familia y pediatra – Servicio Andaluz de Salud
En el Sistema Sanitario Público de Andalucía se reconoce el derecho a la libre elección de médico de familia y pediatra. Los usuarios pueden elegir entre los médicos existentes en su municipio, y también entre el resto de los médicos del Distrito Sanitario al que corresponda el domicilio.
JUNTADEANDALUCIA.ES

Please note: The information provided is based upon our understanding of current legislation. It is not legal advice but is provided freely to enable you to be properly informed. We recommend that if you are considering taking action, you should seek professional advice.