All residents earning less than 100,000 euros a year will qualify for free healthcare

ALL legal residents in Spain who earn less than 100,000 euros per year will have the right to free medical care on the State from September 1 this year, says health minister Ana Mató (pictured). Even foreigners – EU citizens or otherwise – and irrespective of whether or not they pay into the Social Security system or are working – will be able to obtain a SIP card, which lets them register with a doctor and be treated for all ailments, pre-existing or otherwise, by the State. EU citizens or nationals of other countries which have reciprocal agreements with Spain will receive healthcare in accordance with the conditions established by these treaties. Those who fall into one of four categories – State pensioners, employees or registered self-employed workers, those registered on and claiming dole, and those whose dole money has run out but who remain recorded as jobseekers with their unemployment office – are automatically eligible without question. Residents who do not fall into any of these categories – ‘black’ workers who have never earned enough to ‘go legal’, or early retirees not yet old enough to claim a State pension, for example – will only be entitled to free healthcare if they earn less than 100,000 euros a year before tax. These earnings include income from working, businesses owned, capital returns or capital gains, wherever these can be offset against or are taken into account when calculating income tax. All live-in partners of those who qualify for free medical treatment, who are registered on the padrón as such are entitled to State healthcare, as are children or siblings aged under 26 years where they live with the qualifying party. The definition of ‘children’ extends to fostered and adopted children. Non-legal immigrants from outside the EU will be treated provided they pay either Social Security or a similar subscription, to be defined, although they will automatically receive healthcare if they are under 18 or pregnant, including labour, ante-natal and post-natal care.

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