Medical concerns

Hi,

without proof of entitlement it would not be free. In fact. I'm not even sure if you can visit one of the Health Centre's.

You would probably have to visit either a private doctor or one of the private hospitals and pay private.

EHIC card covers you as long as you are on 'tourist' status. Once you apply for ID card it does not cover you any more. When you apply for residency you should check out with the entitlement office.

A regular doctors visit is not expensive, just make sure that you have the coverage for real and possibly expensive emergencies.

Cheers
Ricky

So could we visit a health centre at all and pay? If we were to pay to visit a Gp how much are we talking about?

They have polyclinics where you can go for free with your ID card. I even went before I had my ID card, just showed my passport and no other documentation proving I lived here or anything. It's not a great system you just turn up and wait in a room.

Sometimes you get tickets with numbers so you know who's next but other times you just have to ask who was last to arrive, they're often very busy and can get quite heated as people can try and push in. I go to the one in Gzira and there is usually a long wait.

A lot of pharmacies have resident doctors on certain days where you can pay between 15/20 euro for a simple check up, there is usually less queuing and I think you can make appointments too.

Hope this helps!

The thing is I didn't think we would apply for an ID card until 90days residency or I got a job, whichever sooner. So really does that not mean I can use the Ehic card? I am very confused as to how I would go about seeing a doctor if I needed to for my son or myself.

You really need to consider your position -))

As a tourist you can use your EHIC card but are not a resident and will not be working or saying that you are looking for work.

Once you are a resident ( by applying for an ID card) or applying for residency you can't use the EHIC anymore but need an entitlement to free health insurance or private health insurance through work or Reciprocal Health Agreement.

You used to be able to just show your British passport for free treatment but that does not work anymore! They changed the rules last year .At least the official rules say it does not work that way anymore. You need to show your British passport plus the residency certificate for free treatment. Passport plus ID card or just passport is not enough.

Paying your way is ok for normal small illnesses and treatments but an emergency would cost - a lot !

But you should qualify to transfer your entitlement from the UK to Malta if you have been paying contributions in the UK.

There is no polyclinic I'm aware of where you just show your ID card and get treatment for free . If there was I would be the first to go there -)))

Cheers
Ricky

Thanks Ricky,

Here is my position... I am coming to Malta with the intentions of moving there permanently,however for at least 6 months I will be a student and I assume I will not be working unless it fits in with my studies and childcare. We are also assuming that my husband won't be working for the duration of my course either as we both have made sure that we would be financially ok until my course finishes, somewhat of an extended holiday if you will.  After 90 days we intend to apply for residency and of course before then apply for a transfer of our health coverage from the uk. I have already been advised that we would be covered until Jan 2014 but we need to wait until we have an  address before I can get the ball rolling on that. My concern is, what do I do in the meantime? The Newcastle office says entitlement can be backdated,  so can I use my Ehic card until then or until I have to apply for residency?

Hi,

the simple answer is that as long as you are a tourist ( up to 90 days) and you don't apply for the ID card or residency you can use the EHIC insurance card.

After 90 days you cannot present the EHIC card for coverage unless you lie and say that you just arrived and no one can show that you actually arrived earlier.

As a student you normally also have to show that you have health insurance.

Entitlement is a totally different question and needs to be applied for. To be quite clear - in general there is no free health insurance in the EU based on residency like in the UK ( George corect me if I'm wrong)

Cheers
Ricky

Hi Summer,

We've been here a year and had to take my son to the hospital a couple of times over the past week as he's had pneumonia. I took his EHIC card and my husband's last pay slip with me for billing purposes. On the first visit the receptionist in A&E photocopied the EHIC card and when I went last Friday for the second appointment I was taken to billing where the woman just said you're British we have the EHIC card no charge. They didn't ask for anything else.

For doctors we use our local doctor at the pharmacy and we pay €10 per visit, we've never been asked for any ID cards or identification of any kind. Even for a house call we pay €10.

Medicines can be expensive but often you can talk to the pharmacist and they'll give you what you need without seeing a doctor. Just watch out as antibiotics, especially for kids, are given out like sweeties whether you actually need them or not!

If you need to see a specialist the expect to pay upwards of €15 for an appointment, eg. gynecologist I paid €25.

Hope that helps!

I am now so confused! I've always just gone to my local Polyclinic (Gzira) and just shown my ID card! I don't have a certificate of residency. My first job here sorted everything out for me and told me I only needed an ID card.

Any ideas where I can get this certificate and if I'll get in trouble for being here 2 years without it?!

Hi all,

it sounds as if you are all talking about different things and situations!

If you are showing your last payslip as proof of insurance then you are automatically covered through national insurance contributions in Malta. In fact , from what I've seen, if you don't show your last pay slip you will get billed privatly first. When you go and show your payslip they will cancel the private bill afterwards (happened to my girlfriend).

The other case is where somebody is not working and/or not paying contributions and is looking for coverage under the Reciprocal Health Agreement.

Voodoo showed her husbands payslip so the whole family is covered anyway. Was the EHIC card from Malta or the old onme from the UK would be the question here?

So please try and be very exact with the circumstances and take into when something was as the rules changed last year for the Reciprocal Health Agreement in becoming more strict.

Cheers and good health to all
Ricky

if you are working and its registered then you already have a residency certificate

following is extracted from a thread on another website, called "EU citizen moving to Malta Q&A"


3. what do I need to apply for if I want to reside in Malta under OR ?
residency certificate - working/economically self sufficient/student
ID card
register with ETC (if intending on working)
You will also need to contact the Inland Revenue Department and register at the Expatriates section for a Tax number, and if you are working, contact the Social Security Department in order to be given an social security number.

Thanks everyone for your help but now I am very confused. It does sound like an EHIC card will be enough for now as we are not applying for residency until 90 days have passed or one of us has a job, whichever sooner. Up until that point I am considered a tourist anyway, am I right?  Does the whole thing with visiting a Gp still stand if a tourist with an EHIC card? I intend to apply for transfer of health entitlement as soon as we have an address so my question is, will an EHIC card be enough until that comes through?

"Up until that point I am considered a tourist anyway, am I right? " correct, unless you apply for an ID card, as you are then declaring yourself resident


"Does the whole thing with visiting a Gp still stand if a tourist with an EHIC card? " - if you visit a GP you pay as you are going private, if you visit a polyclinic then the EHIC is used

"I intend to apply for transfer of health entitlement as soon as we have an address so my question is, will an EHIC card be enough until that comes through?" - yes, and the transfer should happen quickly

Hi all,

Just to clarify I took my husband's payslip with me but was not asked to show it or any ID for myself.

My son's EHIC card was all that was required. It was issued in the UK.

Two years ago when I used my EHIC in France I was billed then recompensed afterwards, that has not been the case here. The bill was stamped exempt.

Why do you want to apply for residency by the way? Don't rush in until you get all the answers.

Don't I have to apply for residency at some point?

You'd better check that out, but my understanding is no. You're an EU citizen so you have the right to live and work here. All you need is the ID card.

Wait for Ricky or Georgeingozo they are the dons and will be able to sort you out.

A move anywhere is huge, making a move overseas is enormous but don't make yourself go crazy before you even get here OK? You're going to be fine and things will work out for you, you'll be hitting the ground running and learning as you sprint! Roll with it and don't tie yourself up in knots before you get on the plane!

Oh god I am getting myself confused. I am sorry I have been using the wrong lingo, I mean ID card, that is all. Don't I have to apply for an ID card at either 90 days or when I get a job, whichever sooner?

Look it's bloody confusing and I may have it wrong so I'm just looking it up! Back in a mo!

Ok, let's double-check with the the big guns but this is my understanding.

You need to apply for ID card within 90days, you need an address to do this.

When you get a job offer your work permit and your residency is applied for by your employer. They are recieved at the same time.

Here's some cut and paste info.

In order to obtain an employment license you must meet the following requirements:

    You must already have a job offer from an employer in Malta.
    You must have a skill or qualification that is needed in Malta.
    The area of employment you are going in to must be in high demand in Malta such as construction workers or nurses.

Your employer can submit a request to the Director of Labor once these requirements are met and an employment license will be issued.

Licenses are valid for up to a year but your employer can request a license be valid for up to three years. An employment license is renewable every year as long as it can be justified.

A residence permit is automatically granted with an employment license but this does not automatically make your spouse eligible to work. You will need to look into this once you arrive.

Permanent employment licenses are granted on a case by case basis.

Don't be scared by that it's easy to find work and you'll be fine.

voodoo hoodoo wrote:

You'd better check that out, but my understanding is no. You're an EU citizen so you have the right to live and work here. All you need is the ID card.

as per my earlier post

3. what do I need to apply for if I want to reside in Malta under OR ?
residency certificate - working/economically self sufficient/student
ID card
register with ETC (if intending on working)
You will also need to contact the Inland Revenue Department and register at the Expatriates section for a Tax number, and if you are working, contact the Social Security Department in order to be given an social security number.

yes you have the right to live here, but you need to apply for a residency certificate once here for 3 months (or earlier if wnt to work)

The paperwork is actually easy to do - I'll PM you a link with all the details

Hi voodoo hoodoo,

I'm sorry to say that most of what you copied and pasted is obsolete or only applies to non-EU citizens or is not accurate in the way it is said and only confuses!

Too many mistakes to really comment on each individual statement.

Cheers
Ricky

Thank you george for that link, although I think I may have confused myself a bit.

Am I right in thinking that once my 90 days are up I would then apply for an OR at Department for Citizenship and Expatriate Affairs in Valetta and this would give me the certificate I require. I would also apply for an ID card (can this be done sooner than 90 Days?)Also when do I need to register with the ETC and the Inland Revenue? Once I start work or apply for OR?

Thank so much

ID card and residency certificate - you can apply within the first 90 days (quoting from the link I sent you "It is mandatory for EU nationals and their family members to be in possession of the said documents if their residence in Malta is for a period exceeding three months.")


ETC and IR - as soon as you want

My apologies it was done with the best of intentions will leave it to the experts.

Hi voodoo hoodoo,

no need to apologize -))

All the different experiences boil down to the fact that we are in Malta!

George and I try to give the correct rules and regulations and the way it should be. The way things like hospital billing or other things are actually handled can change on a daily basis and also depend on the person dealing with them -)))

The health insurance question will pop up when you actually apply for your residency certificate as they will ask to see proof of your health insurance and for the whole family too. They will also want to know what income you are living off in Malta if you are not working in Malta.

You do not have to answer those questions if you just apply for the ID card. That is the reason why some Expats get away without having health insurance although it is not advisable.

Cheers
Ricky

Hi Ricky,

Thanks made me feel better, had my tail between my legs!

Our situation is this.

My husband has a contract here, his employer applied for the work permit, residency came with job, he applied at the Inland revenue and social security for those. I'm a spouse and baggage!

Voodoo

Hi Voodoo,

you say 'residency came with the job'.

Do you actually have the little grey document called ' Residence Documentation for a European Union National' issued by the Department for Citizenship and Expatriate Affairs?

Cheers
Ricky

Yep

Then the company did a really good job -)))) Many EU Expats apply but don't actually get the document until a lot later or never !

Cheers
Ricky

Nice to see they've done something right!

I never got that grey form and have been here almost 2 years... is there a way I can reapply or something? All I ever got was my ID card, work permit and SS number.

I'm just paranoid that not having it will get me in trouble at some point!