Coordination of social security schemes

Social security is a key issue for persons exercising their fundamental right to free movement. But without coordination at European level national social security legislations may lead to disadvantages in the field of social security for European citizens and their families who move within the European Union. True free movement therefore needs protection of these rights. EU Regulation 1408/71 and implementing Regulation 574/72 offer practical and satisfactory solutions to most of the cross-border problems that may arise in the field of social security.

These Regulations do not harmonise but co-ordinate the social security schemes of EU Member States, i.e. they do not replace the different national social security systems by a single European scheme. Therefore, Member States are free to determine the details of their own social security systems, including which benefits shall be provided, the conditions of eligibility and the value of these benefits, as long as they adhere to the basic principle of equality of treatment and non-discrimination

The Spanish National Health System

The Spanish National Health System is the coordinated system of the health service of the State Administration and the health services of the Autonomous Regions. It comprises all functions and aspects of public health care delivery, which is responsibility of the public authorities, at the service of the citizens' health.
Its most important features are the universal right to medical care (covering approximately 99.4% of population), public financing and the decentralization of its management in the regional governments.
Each Autonomous Region has a health care service made up of the health centres, services and establishments of the Autonomous Region, Delegation, City Council and any other territorial administration within the Autonomous Region.
Each and every single member of the population residing in Spain, irrespective of their nationality, has a right to health and medical care. This means that the full 100% of the Spanish population is covered by the Spanish National Health Care System.
Social security
The Spanish Constitution stipulates that every citizen has the right to receive assistance and social services in case of need. The Social Security System is responsible for guaranteeing these rights to all citizens and their relatives.

Medical Care
After completion of the transfer process of the health care competences to the Autonomous Regions, all aspects of medical care and public health service delivery in Spain will be handled by the Health Services of the Autonomous Regions and, in Ceuta and Melilla, by the National Health Management Institute (INGESA). All health care issues, which until recently were considered to be a State responsibility, are now managed by the Autonomous Regions. This means that all Spanish residents, in case of need for medical care, must contact the corresponding organisation in their Autonomous Region of residence.

Regional Hospitals
http://www.murciasalud.es/

Hospital Virgen del Castillo
Address: Avda. de la Feria, s/n
30510 Yecla
Telephone: 968 78 91 09
Fax: 968 79 38 62

Hospital General Universitario Reina Sofía
Address: Avda. Intendente Jorge Palacios, 1
30003 Murcia
Telephone: 968 35 90 00
Fax: 968 35 98 19

Hospital Santa María del Rosell
Address: Address: Paseo Alfonso XIII s/n
Cartagena
Telephone: 968 50 48 00

Hospital Rafael Méndez
Address: Ctra. Nacional  340. Km. 589
30800 Lorca
Telephone: 968 44 55 00

Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca
Address: Ctra. Madrid-Cartagena, s/n.
30120 El Palmar – (Murcia)
Telephone: 968 36 95 00
Fax: 968 36 97 76

Hospital General  Universitario Morales Meseguer
Address: C/ Marqués de  los Velez, s/n,
30008 Murcia
Telephone: 968 36 09 00
Fax: 968 23 24 84

Fundación Hospital de  Cieza
Address: Ctra. de Abarán,  s/n.
30530 Cieza
Telephone: 968 77 55 50
Fax: 968 45 56 32

Hospital Los Arcos
Address: Paseo de Colón,  54.
30720 Santiago de la Ribera
Telephone: 968 57 00 50         

Hospital Psiquiátrico  Román Alberca
Address: C/ Lorca, 58,
30120 El Palmar (Murcia)
Telephone:  968 36 58 00

Foreigners' rights
All foreign nationals who are going to work or are already working in Spain and are contributing to Spanish Social Security (a certain amount is money is deducted from their salary) will receive a medical card with their personal details and social security
 
number. Once you have received your Social Security Affiliation Card, you can apply for an Individual Health Care Card at you nearest health centre. Holders of this card are entitled to receive free medical care and hospital treatment for themselves and their families. The Spanish Health Care System covers 60% of prescription drug costs. The remaining 40% must be paid by the patients themselves. As far as dental treatment is concerned, Social Security only covers extractions.
To receive medical assistance in case of accident or illness, it is recommended you contact the corresponding Social Security organisation in your home country before coming to Spain, in order to get a European Health Card (EHC).

Private insurance policies
If you want to have private insurance, you can buy a private insurance policy in your home country, which covers your stay in Spain, or from any of the private insurance companies established in Spain. Please take into account that most insurance companies require a waiting period of several months to one year before the insurance becomes effective, especially in cases of maternity or surgical interventions. Below is a short list of the main private insurance companies. For a more detailed list, please visit the following web: page  www.encuentrahora.com/seguro.html or check the Yellow Pages under "seguros", "sociedades medicas" or "seguros medicos".

ADESLAS
Principe de Vergara, 110 - 28002 Madrid – Tel.: 902 200 200
www.adeslas.es

ASISA
C/ Juan Ignacio Luca de Tena, 10 – 28027 Madrid – Tel.: 799 99 00
www.asisa.es

MAPFRE Caja Salud
P° de Recoletos, 29 - 28004 Madrid – Tel.: 902 20 40 60
http://www.cajamadrid.es
www.mapfre.com

SANITAS
c/ Rivera del Loira, 52 – 28042 Madrid – Tel.: 902 10 24 00
www.sanitas.es  (information available in Spanish and English)

Before taking out a private insurance, it is advisable to compare prices as some of these companies charge a consultation fee in addition to the monthly or yearly subscription fee. It is also important to know if your health insurance provides national and international coverage. Some insurance companies allow you to be treated by the doctor of your choice upon payment of the corresponding additional fees.

Chemists
In Spain, medicines can only be bought at chemists. You are generally required to provide a medicine prescription issued by the doctor responsible for your medical care. Opening hours for chemists are the same as other businesses. Some chemists open on weekends (you can find a list of "on duty" chemists displayed on the door of your chemist's). Many chemist's shops have recently extended their opening hours to 12-24 hours a day. When you need a medicine, your chemist can offer you, apart from the commercial brands, generic medicines that are substantially less expensive than the
 
original and have the same active ingredients. Homeopathic products are also available at the chemist's shops. Some health food shops sell alternative natural medicines. www.portalfarma.com

Transfer of retirement contributions
If you have worked in more than one EU Member State or in countries that have signed agreements with the EU, the different periods of retirement pension insurance will be added up in order to meet the minimum contribution period. If you are already entitled to retirement benefits and would like to submit your application, you can do this in your home country, in Spain, or in any other country, including non-EU countries, provided they have signed an agreement with the EU. The benefits paid by each insurance organisation will depend on the duration of the insurance period. This also applies to the payment of survivor pensions.
If you are residing in Spain and continue to be registered with the insurance system of your home country or any other Member State, you must continue to pay contributions in the third country. When you have reached the required age to receive a retirement pension, you can submit your application in Spain to the competent insurance organisation. The payment of non-contributory disability and retirement pensions has been transferred to the Autonomous Regions. Please contact the service and information centres of the Social Security, the Social Services of your City Council or the Ministries of Social Welfare of your Autonomous Region of residence. To locate your nearest centre, please visit the web page  www.igerontologico.com. You can also contact the Government Delegations and Government Sub-delegations, visiting their web page at:  www.administracion.es and clicking on: OrganizaciOn palica / AffiisftaciOn General del Estado / Organos Territoriales / Ver las Unidades, and select your current or future Autonomous Region of residence. All benefits are payable by the insurance organisation in Spain or the competent organisation of your home country.

Secretary of State for Social Security
The National Institute of Social Security (MSS) is responsible, among other duties, for the recognition and control of economic benefits rights granted by the Social Security System (at the level of contribution), including family allowances for children or foster children at charge and payments for the birth of the third and subsequent children (as well as multiple deliveries). It also recognises the right to medical care. The MSS is in charge of the management of retirement pensions, permanent disability, widowhood, orphanhood and compensation in cases of labour accidents and professional diseases, as well as benefits for temporary working incapacity, maternity or risk during pregnancy. For more information on allowances available to employees who are working and living in Spain, please visit the Social Security's web page at:  www.seg-social.es and look under "prestaciones" and "direcciones y telefonos", or visit the nearest social security office in your Autonomous Region of residence.