Confused about health care cover

Purdy wrote:

I'm totally confused about the health care cover in Malta for a Brit. My husband and I are wishing to move to Malta in the next few years. Am I right in thinking that if we pay a stamp/contribution so to speak then we would have access to the Maltese NHS? And would this cover is for hospital treatment or just GP? We are both under 60.
I assume the dental side of things is similar to that of the U.K.?

If you contribute to the system in Malta you will get the same cover as a Maltese citizen, you can visit the polyclinics and hospital at no cost, you also can have a Malta issue EHIC. (your UK EHIC is no longer valid once you take up residency in another country.)
If you wish to see a doctor or specialist outside that system you pay, there are no GPs as such. The doctor I have seen (once) charges €10 if you go to see him and €20 if he comes to you.  Dentists you pay unless it is via the hospital.

You can apply for cover under the Reciprocal Health Agreement between the UK and Malta which will provide basic health cover and is sufficient for applying for your eResidence card. ( But you will not get an EHIC from either country).
Once you reach UK state retirement age you can have full entitlement by using the S1 form from the UK, this will also allow you to apply for an EHIC card issued by the UK.

The other alternative is Private Health Insurance. ( No EHIC)

Hope this helps

Ray