Private health insurance needed to become a resident - my experience

Interesting reading and thanks for all the points covered. Out of curiosity then, if you are living in Malta but working and paying tax/NI in the UK [British passport holder] are the following statements correct?

1. You are eligible for an RHA card
2. You can apply for an EHIC through the Maltese government

I have a dodgy medical background and life insurance on my mortgage is astronomical, as such private health care is probably not an option...

Sorry but I am confused by your question.
Living here but working in the UK?
Living or registered resident here?

Apologies, as in living in Malta while working for a UK company from abroad, being resident in the UK for taxation purposes but domiciled in Malta (hope that makes sense!). I have tried to find info on uk gov sites but no joy.

Everyone is required to register for Income Tax if you are resident on Malta.  In general, individuals are considered to be resident in Malta if they spend more than 183 days in a calendar year in Malta. (Whether you are liable to pay any tax will depend upon your circumstances.)

Quote:
An individual, who is either resident in Malta or domiciled in Malta, but not both, is subject to tax on income arising in Malta, on income arising abroad but received in Malta, and on capital gains arising in Malta. Individuals who are neither resident in Malta nor domiciled in Malta (temporary residents) are subject to tax only on income and capital gains arising in Malta.
This includes the use of Credit/Debit cards connected with any bank outside Malta.

So, you would register for taxation purposes in both countries.

For best advice contact John Huber here:  http://www.johnhubermalta.com/

Persons issued with the RHA Entitlement Card will be entitled for free healthcare services in local public healthcare institutions on an in-patient and out-patient basis as well as other specialist services provided for Maltese nationals.
RHA Entitlement Card holders will not be entitled for:

1. treatment abroad including the UK
2. the European Health Insurance Card
3. long-term care and other things and services provided for under the Social Security Act and other legislation.

RHA Entitlement Card holders will not be entitled for the entitlement to Schedule V card otherwise known as the 'yellow card' which permits the holder access to free medication for some chronic conditions.

I hope this goes part way to answering your questions.
I am guessing but are you looking at residing here under 'self sufficiency' but working for UK company from here?

Thanks redmik, yes I would be looking at the self sufficiency route for residency and I read you still need to apply for taxation in Malta also. I would not be employed in Malta for work purposes, and still travelling regularly back to the UK for work purposes but based permanently in Malta (hence needing to be a tax resident in the UK).

That helps, and it seems I will be best placed to seek taxation advice in both countries prior to taking the plunge. Thanks again.

Still confused over the EHIC card though, does that mean you need private medical cover for any EU based vacations and in the event I was taken ill while on business in the UK?

Also, "RHA Entitlement Card holders will not be entitled for the entitlement to Schedule V card" is worrying as I am on regular medication that is not cheap!

We use Health Insurance through or bank accounts to cover us when travelling.
Ditto re medication, we just pay for it.

There are 'double taxation' allowances but I do not get involved with them as my declared income to Malta Tax is below the threshold.

Good point re the bank account and travel cover, hadn't thought of that.

The medication will be an issue though as it is prescription only and thousands of pounds a year. Hmmm.

Thanks again for your input, much appreciated.

I just added, There are 'double taxation' allowances but I do not get involved with them as my declared income to Malta Tax is below the threshold.

I guess that theoretically it is possible to remain a resident of UK and receive the medication there etc. and live here, particularly if commuting and staying in UK regularly but that's something I wouldn't know about.
I wouldn't be surprised if there are some who do that.

Cheers.

Would another option be to simply make voluntary social security contributions in Malta, much the same as making voluntary NI contributions can be done in the UK?

I don't think that is possible.  You could go the self employed route though and pay contributions.

Be warned though, the Sched V process can take a long time so if you decide to do this then bring as much medication with you as possible. However, I am also certain that you will only be given 2 month's supply from the UK.
From my article:
Advice. If you have a pre-existing medical condition for which you are receiving medication before moving to Malta ensure you have a maximum supply of that medication. I also strongly advise you to bring copies of medical records, copies of prescriptions or a letter confirming your conditions and medication. These may prove invaluable for when seeking medication here, either by attending a free clinic or doctor privately and/or during Schedule V assessment.

https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=370643

redmik wrote:

...However, I am also certain that you will only be given 2 month's supply from the UK.
...

You are correct, I had a disagreement with my doctor already about trying to increase the amount they give me on prescription...

Lot to think about, thanks for the steer towards all the information.

yes double taxation as our uk civil service pension is uk taxed no liability in malta for tax on it, the whole EU is subject to double taxation rules. income taxed in one state is not taxable in the other...my income is above malta threshold but not subject to malta tax (current exchange rate puts me on about 12000 euros per annum)

I should of course add that as part of my E-residency application I supplied a copy of my last P60 to prove my income is liable to UK tax

Of course!... as one also does when completing one's tax returns. Whether one pays tax here or not, if one is a resident, all remitted income or income arising here should be declared and a tax return submitted. Like you my pensions are taxed in the UK and I have no choice in the matter.

Everyone is required to register for Income Tax if you are resident on Malta.  In general, individuals are considered to be resident in Malta if they spend more than 183 days in a calendar year in Malta. (Whether you are liable to pay any tax will depend upon your circumstances.)

Quote:
An individual, who is either resident in Malta or domiciled in Malta, but not both, is subject to tax on income arising in Malta, on income arising abroad but received in Malta, and on capital gains arising in Malta. Individuals who are neither resident in Malta nor domiciled in Malta (temporary residents) are subject to tax only on income and capital gains arising in Malta.
This includes the use of Credit/Debit cards connected with any bank outside Malta.

Hi there,
I live in Canada and will be moving to Malta for work (company transfer).
I have dual citizenship (Canada and Czech Republic). I'm planning on applying for OR under form A.
My partner (not married) is coming with me. He has a Canadian passport as well as my 1.5 year old daughter.
I plan to have us all arrive under a 90 day tourist visa, and then apply for OR for all of us. Can I just get basic or emergency insurance for all of us in Malta through Bupa or Mapfre to qualify for residency?
Thanks!

You need comprehensive cover now

Will your company not be supplying medical cover ? I had my old id card without any cover although I have a job and was paying social security here and eu citizen.  Check with you company first

No, my company said they are leaving it up to me to figure out.

Hi

I am currently going through the same thing, Ive been jumping through hoops for months being passed from place to place but this is what I have finally been advised. If you are working and being paid in the UK you will need a Medical Entitlement certificate, issued from St Luke's Hospital to give you medical entitlement here under a reciprocal agreement with the UK.
To get this you need to have a Valid EHIC which can only be applied for and issued to you in the UK, Not Malta, you then need to fill out HMRC's Form S1 (Application for Health Care Cover in the EEA) and send that off to an address in Glasgow with your most recent payslip. They will then send you proof of your NI contributions (can take up to 2 months) which you then have to take along with your EHIC Card to St Luke's Hospital's Entitlement unit for them to issue you an Entitlement Certificate, this will then cover your medical under a reciprocal agreement with the UK - This should suffice to get your application in for your E-Residency card if applying under self sufficiency which would is the only route in our situation.

Whether this will be enough to get your medication I'm not sure but I am reliably informed this should allow our residency application to be accepted and giving us medial entitlement here

I'm currently awaiting a response to my filling out form S1 so have not completed the process yet - But have visited St Lukes and had this confirmed.

I hope this helps in some way.

Malta is a unique place when it comes to these things!

Tom

The EHIC is not required to prove you are entitled to healthcare if living in Malta.
The S1 form is what is required, see this link..

http://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/wo … dex_en.htm

The EHIC is only for emergency treatment in any EU country OTHER than the one you reside in.

http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?cat … ;langId=en

Terry

warrman wrote:

Hi

I am currently going through the same thing, Ive been jumping through hoops for months being passed from place to place but this is what I have finally been advised. If you are working and being paid in the UK you will need a Medical Entitlement certificate, issued from St Luke's Hospital to give you medical entitlement here under a reciprocal agreement with the UK.
To get this you need to have a Valid EHIC which can only be applied for and issued to you in the UK, Not Malta, you then need to fill out HMRC's Form S1 (Application for Health Care Cover in the EEA) and send that off to an address in Glasgow with your most recent payslip. They will then send you proof of your NI contributions (can take up to 2 months) which you then have to take along with your EHIC Card to St Luke's Hospital's Entitlement unit for them to issue you an Entitlement Certificate, this will then cover your medical under a reciprocal agreement with the UK - This should suffice to get your application in for your E-Residency card if applying under self sufficiency which would is the only route in our situation.

Whether this will be enough to get your medication I'm not sure but I am reliably informed this should allow our residency application to be accepted and giving us medial entitlement here

I'm currently awaiting a response to my filling out form S1 so have not completed the process yet - But have visited St Lukes and had this confirmed.

I hope this helps in some way.

Malta is a unique place when it comes to these things!

Tom

It would appear that you have been totally misinformed!
As a UK citizen you can apply for the RHA with just your passport at the 'Entitlement Unit' at St. Luke's hospital, if you have not already got your eResdence card they will still give you an RHA certificate but it will only be valid for one year, this link takes you straight to the relevant page on the government website, which in turn has a link to the application form.:-

http://health.gov.mt/en/cbhc/Pages/Enti … ltaUK.aspx

If you have not already got your eResidence or applied for it you can use the certificate they issue you to apply for it..

You will not get an EHIC from either the UK or Malta with this route! Your existing UK EHIC ceases to be valid as soon as you take up residence outside the UK!
Malta will only issue one if you are paying into their Social Services system and the UK only by the route below.


If you are a UK state pensioner, you can apply to the DWP Overseas Healthcare Unit in Newcastle (International Pension Centre on 0191 218 7777) for an S1 form and unless the system has recently changed, which I don't think it has, you will be sent 2 copies of the form, you take both to the 'Entitlement Unit' and they keep one and send the other back to the UK. When the UK confirms back to them they will issue you with a full entitlement certificate, this took 2 weeks in our case, You can also ask the same UK department for an application for an EHIC card and they will issue you with one from the UK after your S1 has been processed.
Another benefit of this route is that you are also covered for full NHS treatment in the UK if needed, whereas you are not covered by the RHA in the UK.

Ray

Hi Ray

I went to St Luke's with this form completed and they refused me a temp certificate unless I fill in form S1 with the UK HMRC  to prove that I pay my UK NI - At that time they advise me I had to apply in the UK for a EHIC card as well..

Although they said this to me face to face I don't doubt for a minute that the info they have given me is incorrect with regards to the EHIC card as I have been given so much incorrect information face to face its unbelievable.

There is small print on the form you gave a link for stating "The unit retains the right to ask for further information to ascertain entitlement" - I believe they refer to proof of NI contributions/medical entitlement in the UK which in my case is form S1 which is (apparently) supposed to show this.

Once I get the letter back from HMRC I will take it, my EHIC card and this form completed and they had better give me my entitlement certificate or I fear I may have a few choice words to pass on..

Sorry if my info was incorrect, I'm only passing on what I have been told, you'd like to think it was factual as i came direct from the staff at St Lukes


Tom