Why you should beware of many Spanish Bank Insurance policies

Beware of Medical Insurance with a Spanish Bank

Posted on 15 October, 2018 at 10:00

Beware of Spanish Banks and their medical insurance deals.

In Spain there are many Banks and Expat organizations who offer Spanish Medical Insurance via some of the big name Insurers.

We need to be aware that these Insurances are usually the same price or maybe a few euros cheaper per annum than buying it direct from the insurance company , but they do not normally offer the same cover as you would receive were you to insure direct with the Insurance Company.

Caixa Bank offer Caser Insurance, then Sabadell bank offer DKV medical insurance and a few large expat brokers offer similar big name Insurances via Sanitas, Assa Assisa Mapfre Axa. All the insurers will provide a trimmed down version of their insurance and leave the seller to put their own prices on the policy..

SO WHY SHOULD WE BE CONCERNED BEWARE

These large Organizations approach an insurance company promise the Insurer high volume of sales and negotiate a lower price policy and then negotiate it even lower by removing or reducing the cover. They create exclusions exceptions price caps and all the nasties we do not want to find in an insurance policy. Having reduced the cover substantially they then proceed to sell often never mentioning that its not the same product .

These type of  policies are called modality insurances. In these insurances physiotherapy maybe reduced to 30 sessions a year, heaven help you if you need rehabiltation after a serious accident requiring 120 physios in a year, Donor Tissues & Organs maybe excluded yet the policy mentions Surgery for organ transplant is included. You proceed thinking this clause includes the donor tissue or organ.

With the DKV Medical Insurance we sell there is NO COST LIMIT on treatment. You are treated until rehabilitated. The Sabadell bank DKV policy caps expenditure at 237.000,00 euros a very big difference to taking the DKV policy through our agency for unlimited cover.

If you are offered a cheaper cost for the same insurer it is almost definately a modality insurance lacking in cover as the Insurance Companies will not permit their fully comprehensive policy to be undersold for any reason

There are many people who have made the assumption that because its the same Insurance Company that they are getting like for like for 30 euros a year cheaper. Buyer beware........

Why not call Tailor Made Healthcare Solutions and chat with us regarding medical policies in general   www.tailormadehealthcarespain.org 

10 GOOD REASONS TO CHOOSE DKV INTEGRAL MEDICAL INSURANCE
Posted on 1 November, 2018 at 7:20
November Policies will be 20% less for upto 13 months. Then 2020 will be 15% lower and 2021 10% lower, 2022 5% lower

 

This is why this DKV Insurance is Spains most comprehensive and best value policy

1. No upfront payments - DKV settle direct with Hospital/Medical centre

2. No claim forms

3. Medical Cover without Limits - Treated until rehabilitated

( The most important clause to look for in medical insurance as 98% of insurers cannot match this in Spain)

4. Choice of DKV affiliated medical centres 1800 across Spain

5. Basic Dentistry

6. Travel Assistance & Accident & Emergency upto 20.000,00€ when outside of Spain

7. The Elite Option without Copago recommended policy Residency applications

8. Under this policy - Not happy with Doctor Specialist then get a second opinion

9. Includes all the main preventative Medical checks and cancer screening- wellman well woman checks

10. Choices -Not happy waiting a week phone other centres ,Specialists or Doctors and get seen sooner

DKV INTEGRAL POLICY RATED SPAINS NO.1 MEDICAL POLICY FOR COMPREHENSIVE COVER

Tailor Made Healthcare Solutions are an English Agency for Spanish Medical Insurance offices located in Spain

www.tailormadehealthcarespain.org

Free Healthcare for all in Spain

Since the Decree was issued we have spoken to 100's of customers who have tried and failed
Within the last 6 months we have spoken to many people who have tried to obtain the Free Spanish Healthcare and been turned away. Some have tried several times and others have employed lawyers or Spanish gestors to assist in the process. 

This week we sold a medical insurance policy to a customer in Almeria a registered resident of Spain who was convinced that in Almeria there would not be an issue. However, he tells us that he made three attempts spending several days going from office to office to no avail. Finally he went to a Spanish law firm and asked them to assist. They wrote letters, attended meetings, yet 1200€ in fees later, the lawyer informed him that he would not be entitled in the near future. The explanation was that the Provincial Health Authority  whilst knowing that the Decree was in place insisted that there was a higher law relating to Spain’s Social Security requirements and regulations which meant that they were only obliged to offer Free Healthcare to Pensioners, Disabled, Homeless, Destitute and illegal immigrants with no home.

This client aged 53 finally took out Private Medical Insurance for 43,99€ per month

Another client tells us that  having received approval at their local village medical centre, they then had cause to go to a Spanish State hospital on an Emergency resulting in a 10 day stay. At the end of that stay he was given a payment demand for 8.500,00€. The hospital informed him that the medical centre had been incorrect in accepting his application as he had no S1 (S1 reciprocal medical care arrangement between governments) and was not paying social security in Spain.
Each week we speak to people who share the same experiences of being refused, yet on Social Media when Private Healthcare is mentioned a string of posts appear telling people not to pay for healthcare because it is free. The majority who make these claims  are pensioners on the S1 who are entitled to reciprocal medical care and are simply repeating what they have read without experiencing the reality. Slowly for most, the realization is dawning that the promised free healthcare is not going to be available to all any time soon and people must not take a chance with their health.

On Facebook in recent weeks I have challenged 2 people claiming they have the free Spanish State Healthcare yet when challenged it turns out they have been living in Spain dependent on the EHIC card for medical attention. Both admitted they were never aware that the EHIC is only for emergency temporary medical assistance ending 90 days after you arrive in Spain. Interestingly both ladies believed their husbands, who insisted to each of them that they did not need medical insurance as they were fully covered with a European Health Card. These days if you attend a Hospital and need costly medical attention the Health Authority will require evidence of your arrival date and if you are getting treatment beyond the 90 days of arriving, they now raise an invoice.

A friend of mine on a 3 month caravan trip to Alicante collapsed 2 years ago and went to the State Hospital with his EHIC card. He was in a coma for 10 days and they found a tumour on his brain. At the time he was admitted, he had been in Spain for 60 days. The care he received was wonderful but when he reached his 90 days in Spain he was advised ongoing care would be at his cost. He stayed another 10 days until he was well enough for a car journey home. The 10 days cost 5.600,00€ Unfortunately my friend passed away 6 months later. This is a good example of how the EHIC works for genuine holiday makers and will not work for long term dwellers in Spain

In Spain you can arrange some very low cost health insurance by volunteering to pay a small excess each time you visit a Doctor or Specialist so forexample a 60 year old can have a very comprehensive policy for as little as 48€ per month

Francis Payne

Tailor Made Healthcare Solutions Spain

The English Agency for Spanish Medical Insurance

www.tailormadehealthcarespain.org

Are you really Bullet Proof ? Don't play Spanish Roulette with your Health

Are you really bullet proof ?

Time and time again we speak to prospective clients seeking medical insurance for the simple reason that out of the blue they have had to shell out a lump of cash for an injury or illness.

This month we have spoken to a couple in their mid 60s, the wife was walking along texting in a Marbella cobbled alley when she tripped and suffered a fractured skull. The medical treatment was fast and efficient and the Hospital accepted the EHIC card. 

She was admitted into Hospital and spent 3 weeks on the ward.  Now 6 months on they tell me that after 90 days the EHIC treatment ended and she continues paying for physio twice a week and requiring ongoing Checks tests and neurology treatment. Cost to them has been 5.800,00€

Last month a Lady called because she had been in a car accident and it had cost her retired father 6.000,00€ for surgery a metal plate and steel pins.

Another enquiry from a man in his late 50s been diagnosed with prostrate cancer been through the treatment cost 9.000,00€ for Spanish Hospital.

All of these people are concerned about the future and want to put in place medical insurance.

However the first two examples can arrange a medical insurance policy but both will have exclusions. For the head trauma there will be no cover if anything arises deemed by a Medic to be connected to the injury ie brain clot, nausea dizziness

The Car accident case will not be insured for complications from the metal plate or the pinned bones.

The gentleman just recovered with Prostrate Cancer will be refused insurance completely and might be able to try for Medical Insurance again in 5 years if the all clear given.

There are many people walking around Spain with no access to State Health believing they are ok on their EHIC card a card that is valid for 90 days abroad and is designed for Emergency treatment when travelling in another EU country that you do not reside in.

Every month we provide quotations to people who have no Health Access and have been here for years without worrying about it. We understand that budget plays a big part in not going the Private Health Insurance route. However if you cannot insure yourself maybe look at getting the Children Insured as this is very low cost in Spain. If you don't insure yourself ,well maybe you can consider at least insuring your frailer partner.

Time ticks by and with age complications arise. A friend of mine recently told me he cannot afford private medical insurance and within 2 weeks went off an upgraded his 2 year old  sports car. Its all about priorities and surely your health should come first.

Article by

Francis Payne 

Tailor Made Healthcare Solutions Spain

enquiries@tailormadehealthcarespain.org

www.tailormadehealthcarespain.org

DKV SELECCION Policy for over 75s Its not the best and we tell you why

The Only Medical Insurance in Spain for the 75 plus

We receive many enquires a month for this over 75s Medical Insurance and the reason for this is that there is no other insurer in Spain who will consider Insuring anyone over the age of 75.

In comparison to the DKV Integral Insurance it falls far short of the cover. This policy does not offer preventative screening and there are clauses where if you are injured in a car accident there is no cover.

This is an insurance which is not available in all of Spain's provinces. We are also quick to point out that there are very few medical centres that accept the Seleccion Medical Card and each year we see less and less location options. So there you have it an insurance that falls short of what is required for peace of mind. Yet despite this some people take the attitude some cover is better than no cover and decide to proceed with the 96,00€ per month that it costs.

In fact we prefer not to sell this insurance as it is not a great product. However we do so because it does suit some people who are over 75 that need to show the Government Authorities that they have health cover. We have also seen a number of over 75s use the Policy to obtain Visa or Residency despite the fact that it does have a 3 euro Copago (policy excess per claim) which essentially means that the authorities if being extra strict refuse residency/visa because it has a Copago.

So the upshot is that we will sell you this policy but warn you of the shortfalls from day 1.

DKV do still sell you a Normal Comprehensive policy if you are just under 75 and once insured as long as you pay you can continue the policy for your life time. If you are a particularly fit 75 yr old and not reached 75 1/2 years of age we might possibly still convince DKV to offer you a standard comprehensive policy. This would be at the Insurers discretion.

So the decision is yours. Not often you get an agent who does not want to sell a product but there you go we like to be honest and as I say for some people some cover is better than NO COVER

So there you have the truth now if you still want to apply and get confirmation of QUOTE and Brochure then click on the following text

SEND ME DKV SELECCION POLICY INFORMATION AND PRICE

Article by Francis Payne
Tailor Made Healthcare Solutions Spain
Tel. 0034 956 777 905
enquiries@tailormadhealthcarespain.org

www.tailormadehealthcarespain.org

I am British and I need Private Medical Insurance for Residency in Spain

OUR BREXIT UNCERTAINTY & DECISIONS IN SPAIN

With the uncertainty of Brexit looming it is only natural that British citizens living in Spain are deciding to get their Spanish affairs in order. After all when D day arrives it is surely sensible to be an approved resident.
Who knows what regulations and costs will be levied on British Citizens who are still here without residency approval, once the UK has completed its Brexit formalities .

The majority of Brits in the Spanish coastal resorts are accepting the need to comply and Spain has in the last 18 months introduced an appointment system to deal with the increasing queues of applicants looking to obtain "Residencia" with each month the wait gets longer

The decision to which medical insurance to have is straight forward as the Spanish Authorities are telling us we must take a Private Health Insurance Policy that has No Copago (policy excess) and is near as close possible to the Spanish State Healthcare.

In Spain your medical insurance offers you the option to contribute a small or large percentage of your medical treatment cost and by doing so your premium is reduced. The higher the part payment percentage you contribute the lower the premium becomes this part payment is known as Copago.

So for most British the decision is straight forward and we obtain a Policy with No Copago to support our Residency Application. The purpose of this blog is to bring awareness about some of the situations that can and do arise when making an application for residency.

Here are a few of the situations that we have dealt with experienced by existing clients.

1. Application refused because you cannot produce proof of payment
2. Application refused because your policy shows too many pre-existing conditions
3. Application refused because you have a Copago shown
4. Application refused because you have produced a policy that expires in a month
5. Application refused because the policy you have is restricted to  your Province

The items listed 1 to 5 are fairly common and we often get calls from clients from all provinces in Spain stressed and confused as to what to do next.

We have therefore provided some solutions

1. In Spain you receive a Policy and it usually arrives with a Terms of Insurance contract which must be signed and returned, only when the contract is returned will the insurer take funds from the bank. So you must take with you proof of payment by way of a copy bank statement
2. If you have a policy and it shows a page with pre-existing conditions some pedantic officers may say its not good enough as it doesn't match state health. We are aware of  a number of clients who have re-applied and presented the Policy without the exclusions page 
3. Some clients have taken out a Policy not explaining to the agent its for residency and then presented the Authorities with a Policy that does show Copago. Sometimes a low Copago will not get noticed and they will get residency. Others have to make another appointment and upgrade the Insurance. We see many people in remoter inland towns apply and get accepted with Copago. However on the Costas of Spain this is seldom the case
4. If your policy expires within a month or two the Authorities may raise an eyebrow (not usually) However to be sure we as an Agency produce a certificate of contractual guarantee. It simply says to the Authorities that the policy is contractually guaranteed renewal . This is also good to have if you are applying for a VISA .
5. There are Medical Insurance Policies that only insure you for treatment in the Province you reside in. We have seen a steady stream of people who get refused because of this restriction and ask us to provide a policy insuring them for all of Spain. Avoid Localised Medical Insurance.

Private Medical Insurance works well in Spain. The premiums are anything between 40% to 60% cheaper than a UK policy. The Spanish Costas have many Private Medical Centres and Hospitals that accept Medical Insurance customers. We often see when advertising in the Social Media comments such as 'Why go private State Medical is great in Spain' 

Seems to me that many people have acclimatised  to believing a 6 to 8 week wait is acceptable?
The fact is there is nothing great about having to wait for an appointment when you are ill or are concerned about a lump or pain that you cannot explain. What is good about wanting to see a specialist and waiting 6 to 8 weeks. What is good about waiting 9 months for a Hip operation then being told the appointment is cancelled because there are no beds or that the surgeon is no longer available.
Private Medical Insurance means that if you are in need of a specialist you simply ring and obtain an appointment. If you are told nothing available at a certain clinic or hospital for 6 days then ring several others and find the specialist you need sooner. Its as simple as that.

There are too many people in Spain thinking they can get away with Medical Treatment on a 90 day EHIC card or by renewing an annual travel insurance. These are options designed for first instance treatment. Under these options there is no long term cancer treatment or ongoing Diabetes care or 12 months of rehabiltation after a serious accident. The EHIC may last a year or some issued are 2 years but again they are for 90 days away at any one time

You may have been pressured into Medical Insurance because of Spain's regulations but once you have it in place make sure you take full advantage.

With the right policy go and get regularly screened. Book your preventative check ups and treatments at your convenience so Living the Spanish dream for you and your family really does become a happy reality.

For medical insurance in Spain it is often a good idea to go through an Agency who will be there to assist you with ongoing support . Most insurers have Call Centres that we all find frustrating so often better to call a good agent and speak with them first.

Also be aware that Medical Insurance through your Spanish Bank is often not like for like as Banks tend to offer a modality policy issued by the same insurer but where cover has been restricted.
For instance a DKV Insurance Policy through a broker or agent or Direct with DKV is usually more comprehensive than the slimmed down version sold by a Spanish Bank. Your Bank will claim that its a similar policy  and time and time again we speak to people who have the Bank Policy that have been refused a certain treatment or have been capped on expenditure

Please feel free to contact Tailor Made Healthcare to talk through your situation. We assist 100's of Expats from all areas of Spain every month and our support to our Policy holders continues beyond the point of sale.
If you would like a QUOTATION then Click this Link below and answer a few short questions   Click Here "GET A QUOTE LINK"

Article Written by

Francis Payne
Tailor Made Healthcare Solutions Spain
www.tailormadehealthcarespain.org
tel. 0034 956 777 905

Which Medical Insurance do I need to apply for Residency in Spain ????

Which Medical Insurance do I need when applying for Residency in Spain

For QUICK QUOTE click here to go to our Tailor Made Healthcare Website

As an agent for Private Healthcare Insurance its a question we get asked daily. However the answer is not an easy one to provide due to the differing requirements in different towns and provinces across Spain. Every day we provide Private Medical Insurance Quotations to Expats who are looking to apply for Residency who hope to ensure that they are more secure in Spain by the time Brexit has happened.

In Spain there are various levels of Medical Insurance policy options. Often the cover is the same cover with 4 or even 6 options that enable you to take up Healthcare Insurance with lower premiums. These options are referred to as Copago. This means that you take out an insurance and go for medical treatment but part pay for the treatment. The higher the part payment the cheaper your policy becomes.

People who rarely use the Doctor may feel that they will save money by paying a high copago and if you are rarely going then premiums can be reduced by upto 60% in this way. The majority of British Expats we deal with are in early retirement and coming to an age where preventative screening is important and therefore knowing that they will use the Private Healthcare system take out a policy with a NO COPAGO option. Essentially they walk into the approved Medical Centre hand over their card with no payments to make.

So lets get back to finding a Health Insurance Policy that will get you approved for residency. The simplest answer we can give is to tell people that a policy with NO copago payments is the definite solution. However we are aware that people retiring have budgets and will need to save costs where possible. So what we have been doing is recording information from people who apply for Spanish residency using a Copago insurance and noting which areas and what levels of Copago get refused or approved. Based on this we have been able to suggest a route toward getting residency with a Copago Policy. We know that the highest Copago insurance often get refused as the Authorities feel that the contribution is simply too high. Our approach recently where budget is important factor for a client is to arrange a mid range Copago Healthcare Insurance application. We advise the client that they apply for the residency on this basis and then in the event they are refused that they recontact us and we upgrade the policy to the higher level. There is a policy where the copago part payments are extremely small between 2,50 and 3,75 that can save between 10 and 18 euros a month when compared to the Policy with zero copago.

Many of our clients have informed us that they were approved with a Copago Policy . Its frustrating for us not to be able to get a clear cut answer from the Authorities but it does seem that it also depends on how carefully they scrutinize the policy document. We have had several clients who have been told that the amount of Copago would not qualify them and it had to be a policy with no part payment and these clients have returned at a later date with a different officer attending them only to be passed using the same insurance policy.

So our suggestion is to take out a policy you feel you can afford as if refused you are always able to upgrade the insurance and obtain a second appointment and re-apply for your residencia in Spain.

Francis Payne (Mr)

Tailor Made Healthcare Solutions Spain, Bloque E, Portal 3, Puerto Sotogrande, Cadiz 11310, Spain. tel. 0034 956 790 320

WEB SITE LINK www.tailormadehealthcarespain.org Go to our web page click on QUICK QUOTE

Our change of Healthcare insurance on moving to Spain

Our Healthcare experience moving from UK to Spain

To obtain a QUICK QUOTE click on this link QUICK QUOTE

If you're moving to Spain it's worth obtaining a medical insurance quote from a Spanish Health Insurer. When I moved to Spain I arrived with my BUPA cover in place after they informed me the policy was worldwide.

On arrival in Spain my daughter was ill and because of this I checked the policy in more detail, only to find that cover worldwide was restricted to 120 days abroad. I reported this to BUPA as their error, after all I had made it very clear I was moving to live in Spain permanently.

Bupa then put me in touch with Sanitas their partner in Spain who offered me a new Bupa-Sanitas insurance for 2 adults and 2 children 390 euros a month. This was 150 cheaper than the UK premium I had been paying, so at the time was I happy.

Within 18 months after too many authorization problems and delays in getting authorizations I left Bupa Sanitas and joined DKV Seguros taking up their Integral Elite Policy which insured all four of us for 250 euros a month. The change was a good one and as a family we have been happy for last 8 years with premiums rising with age and occasionally with inflation.

Since then as you can see from this article I became an agent for DKV and now sell medical insurance mainly to Expats living or moving to Spain. In that time a lot of expats who struggle with making themselves understood have transferred their existing DKV policy to our agency where we provide support.

Spain is a great place to live and retire. The sheer volume of European expats requiring health insurance has meant that competition is fierce and premiums can be a lot cheaper than insuring in the UK. Also because you cannot insure a pre-existing condition with any insurer its worth knowing that treatment & surgery etc is a lot cheaper if you have to pay for it yourself.

A trip to any of the Costa del Sol Private Hospitals will confirm there are a lot more people using Spanish private health facilities on a daily basis. Higher volumes have resulted in lower medical cost charges which ultimately have reflected in lower premiums across the board. Most insurers also offer what is known in Spain as Copago where you can reduce the premium further by contributing a small amount of the treatment cost each time you attend, a system that works well for low users.

Tailor Made Health Solutions Spain will provide you with an affordable Quote and an excellent health cover policy with initial summary of cover in English.
Our insurer is widely accepted by the majority of medical centres across Spain and has one of the largest medical networks of all the insurers.

To obtain a QUICK QUOTE click on this link QUICK QUOTE

Francis Payne
Tailor Made Health Solutions Spain

www.tailormadehealthcarespain.org

In our opinion probably the best private medical insurance in Spain. Can you afford to miss out?

Tailor Made Health Solutions Partners with DKV probably in our opinion the top healthcare insurers in Spain, with a network of medical centres across Spain giving you choice and peace of mind for you and your family

Here are few reasons why we work with DKV

1. DKV work with the best

Medical directory with over 20,000 highly prestigious professionals. More than 1,000 healthcare centres, including Teknon, Quirón, La Luz and Ruber.

2. We're committed

We will not cancel any policy due to a high level of claims after three yearly payments. We do not reduce coverage when you reach 65. We don't raise the price of premiums based on the number of claims in individual insurance, or group insurance. We reimburse your expenses in less than 7 days.

3. Our coverage sets us apart

Dental service included, at no additional cost. Rehabilitation and physiotherapy with no limit on sessions. Take out insurance up to the age of 75, in an individual policy. Medical care in work-related and road traffic accidents. Reimbursement of expenses for medical care abroad in the event of serious illness. Daily benefit for hospitalisation from the third day of admission when this is not covered by DKV, and at no additional cost. Extensive coverage worldwide for emergencies when travelling.

4. We are constantly innovating

Free choice of gynaecologist and paediatrician for Integral Individual (optional module). Reimbursement of pharmacy expenses for Mundisalud. Insurance coverage for assisted reproduction for Mundisalud Classic and Élite (individual category). Prostheses without limits on expenditure within the DKV network (except cardiovascular) Insurance coverage for AIDS patients. Extension of radiotherapy coverage.

5. We facilitate procedures and access via new technologies

Online authorisations. Self-settlement of invoices. Request for card duplicates or provisional cards. Management of personal data. Management of travel assistance certificate. Medical directory app on the mobile phone. Take out insurance online.

6. We offer health promotion and disease prevention solutions

My Healthy Living Plan, with specific online preventive programmes to encourage prevention and healthy living habits. 24-hour medical advice telephone lines: helplines for paediatric health, mental health, women's health, diet information, sports, etc. Preventive medical checkups. Access to health services at lower prices than the market average, such as acupuncture, dietetics, biomechanical walking study, assisted reproduction, etc. etc. in dkvclubdesalud.com

7. There is a DKV Healthcare Centre near you

Medical centres and dental clinics with the best guarantee for treatments and quality. The first chain of clinics with dual certification: ISO 9001 and UNE 179001, that certify that they provide a service with guarantees of safety in relation to healthcare. More information at dkvseguros.com/espacios-de-salud

8. We innovate in Corporate Social Responsibility programmes

DKV is the first company in the sector to acquire the SGE 21 Certificate for Ethical and Socially Responsible Management, which we have been renewing on a yearly basis since 2007. Clear Language Certificate: we audit the communications of this programme, an initiative designed to help users obtain a better understanding of the language and terminology of the sector. We have renewed our EFQM 500+ certificate with more than 600 points: a prestigious European certificate of excellence that reflects our commitment to quality.

9. One of the best places to work in Spain

For eight consecutive years, we have been ranked among the 10 most highly rated companies in the list of the 50 Best Places to work (organisations of between 500 and 1,000 employees). Certified as a Family-Responsible Company (F-RC) thanks to our commitment to achieving a work-life balance for our employees.

10. Pioneers in creating social and environmental value

DKV Integralia Foundation promoting integration into the labour market for people with disabilities or degenerative illnesses. 'CeroCO2 Company' Stamp (a zero emissions certification): all the company's emissions have been offset since 2007. Currently, more than 60% of our energy comes from renewable energy sources. We also hold the ISO 14001 certification and we apply the EMAS environmental management instrument, thus accrediting our development and implementation of environmental policies.