Prescription charges

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truebrit
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Prescription charges

Postby truebrit » Sat Jan 16, 2016 10:44 am

I know this has been discussed before, but can't find an update from 2012, have the charges changed since they were originally introduced. I know the charges differ in various areas of Spain but I have been told (Not confirmed)that in some areas it is now zero. Anyone know anything. Obviously I am interested in Andalucia area.

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Re: Prescription charges

Postby gerryh » Sat Jan 16, 2016 10:55 am

In my wife's case, she is registered with the Spanish health system and is a pensioner, she pays a small percentage of the prescription charges with a maximum charge of 20€ a month.
This is for prescriptions for a Spanish health system doctor.
She and I pay the full prescription charge for any prescription from a private health care doctor.
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Re: Prescription charges

Postby Lyric » Sat Jan 16, 2016 11:07 am

It is 10% up to 20€ for a pensioner (I thought it was 8€ but, as ever, might be wrong.)

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Re: Prescription charges

Postby truebrit » Sat Jan 16, 2016 11:21 am

I have heard the amount of 8€ bandied around. The reason I asked is that in other areas they are saying they pay 0%.! I must admit I do take what some of these people say with a pinch of salt. Sorry, should have said that the person came from the Valencia area.

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Re: Prescription charges

Postby gerryh » Sat Jan 16, 2016 11:26 am

I'm fairly sure it is 20€.
Next time my wife goes to the pharmacia I'll get her to ask the pharnacist.
Definitely wasn't a zero charge a week or two ago when she picked up a prescription.
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Re: Prescription charges

Postby Lyric » Sat Jan 16, 2016 11:30 am

As I have a second home in the pharmacy and am on first name terms with all the staff I can assure you it is 10%. Sometimes, towards the end of the month, I feel I pay less this may be the monthly limit kicking in.
Most of my stuff is low cost but I now have an inhaler that is 6€ and change at 10% (it is 64€ retail) which must put me over 8€, and I still pay so the limit must be higher. I have never not paid.

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Re: Prescription charges

Postby truebrit » Sat Jan 16, 2016 11:50 am

Got to go today so will have a check. Thanks for your input.

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Re: Prescription charges

Postby El Cid » Sat Jan 16, 2016 11:53 am

It depends on your circumstances, ie whether pensioner or working age and also your income.

For pensioners earning less than €18k the cost is 10% with a cap of €8.23 per month. If your declared income is over €18k but under €100k the charge is still 10% but the cap is €18.52. Over €100k (I wish :) ) the cap is €61.75.

Non pensioners have no cap and the contribution rates are 40%, 50% and 60% in the above 3 income bands.

These are applicable across Spain unless the region has different rules. For example, in Valencia, pensioners with an income below €18k pay nothing at all.

The income details are taken from your latest tax declaration and if you have not made a tax declaration then the cap is removed and you pay the full 10%.

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Re: Prescription charges

Postby peteroldracer » Sat Jan 16, 2016 5:11 pm

If you have a digital signature you can use this on the health portal (where you book appointments and check on surgery waiting lists) to see your personal data. It will tell you the cap on costs for you.
I used to cough to disguise a [email protected] I f@rt to disguise a cough.

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Re: Prescription charges

Postby truebrit » Sat Jan 16, 2016 5:27 pm

I asked at my farmacia and the girl told me it was 10% the same as everyone else. No mention of taxes or anything else. I asked if it differed depending on your tax situation and she said not as far as she knew. If you were a pensioner it was10%, this is what I paid for my prescription.

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Re: Prescription charges

Postby El Cid » Sat Jan 16, 2016 5:31 pm

10% applies to all pensioners. The monthly cap is dependant on your income based on your tax return..

I would be surprised if the girl in the pharmacist knew that - it's not her problem.

If you want the information from the official source, it is here.

http://www.seg-social.es/Internet_1/Tra ... 4560#30489

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Re: Prescription charges

Postby markwilding » Tue Jan 19, 2016 11:42 am

Agree.
It is very likely she doesn't need to know. These days you have to present the blue health card for prescriptions. The program they use must calculate everything using the info on the card.

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Re: Prescription charges

Postby truebrit » Tue Jan 19, 2016 8:31 pm

Blue Health Cards? Thought they were green and red?

markwilding
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Re: Prescription charges

Postby markwilding » Tue Jan 19, 2016 10:20 pm

I thought they were all blue. Obviously, the colour depends on which region you live in.

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peteroldracer
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Re: Prescription charges

Postby peteroldracer » Tue Jan 19, 2016 11:05 pm

I used to cough to disguise a [email protected] I f@rt to disguise a cough.

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Re: Prescription charges

Postby El Cid » Tue Jan 19, 2016 11:17 pm

And your point is?

The card you show is green, ours are red.

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peteroldracer
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Re: Prescription charges

Postby peteroldracer » Tue Jan 19, 2016 11:28 pm

Just that this shows the ones we have, and I thought they would be the same for all Andalucia - trust you to be different Sid! Red for rich maybe....
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Re: Prescription charges

Postby El Cid » Tue Jan 19, 2016 11:41 pm

Red for rich? I should be so lucky!

I have no idea why they are different. In our local health centre there is a poster on the wall which shows the various types of card.

Our card is issued by the Ministry of Social Security, rather than the green cards issued by the Junta de Andalucia and it says on the top Securidad Social. We got ours via the usual S1. (Old E111). I have no idea why we got a red one rather than a green one. It does, however, have "Junta de Andalucia" on the back in green.

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markwilding
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Re: Prescription charges

Postby markwilding » Wed Jan 20, 2016 12:09 am

I hadn't really looked at mine before but it is issued by the Basque government and it's blue and white.
Just as well I have looked at it though, because this one has expired.


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