​Retired Brits can avoid paying private health insurance in Spain

British pensioners moving to Spain are being urged to check a little-known rule that could save them thousands of euros a year on private health insurance.

Since Brexit, most retirees applying for Spain’s Non-Lucrative Visa have been told they must take out full private medical cover — often costing several thousand euros annually.

But there is an important exception – if you have an S1 form you may not have to buy health insurance at all. Instead, the British government will pay for you to have public healthcare in Spain.

To get the form, you must be in receipt of state pension or certain other exportable benefits. 

Once you have obtained your S1 and registered it with the Spanish authorities, you will get access to GP care, hospital treatment, emergencies and prescriptions thanks to bilateral agreement under which the UK covers the costs. 

So, if you are applying for, or renewing, a Non-Lucrative Visa, and you have or can obtain an S1, it is well worth requesting that this is used instead of costly private health insurance. 

How to apply for an S1

Phone 

• UK: 0191 218 1999
• Outside UK: +44 191 218 1999

Email 

• s1applications@nhsbsa.nhs.uk

Postal address

Overseas Healthcare Services (S1 applications) Bridge House 152 Pilgrim Street Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 6SN United Kingdom 

Online contact

• NHS Business Services Authority Overseas Healthcare Services contact page (online enquiry form also available): https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/overseas-healthcare-services