Job Discussion Forums

[pamantha]

do you have health insurance?
this is the most borring topic i know
BUT i'll be in spain and can't be without it.

where you got it, how it works...anything would be great. if americans usually work under the table my guess is it doesn't come with benefits like health ins.

i know EU citizens get free reciprocal healthcare thanks to an agreement with their respective gov'ts. but...sounds like USA-ers don't qualify.

thus, my quagmire.

[lozwich]

I think you mean 'quandary' pamantha...

Do you really need insurance? When was the last time you used it? Sometimes I wonder if insurance is just a great big scam, but then I guess I also live within the safety net of socialised healthcare.

I read somewhere once, that if the average person put the amount of money they spend on insurance in the bank instead of paying health insurance, they would only spend tiny amounts on their actual healthcare and the rest on lovely things like holidays, movies and chocolate..

Just a thought...

Lozwich.

[grahamb]

And if they banked the money they spent on cigarettes...!

[spiral78]

I hesitated to put in my two cent's worth here because I don't have any direct experience with Spain. But I have dealt with health coverage for a couple of other EU member countries as an American. And so far, Pamantha's not getting much direct info!
Yeah, if you NEED health insurance, then you NEED it!
And no, you aren't going to get it working illegally in Spain. The scary thing is that even if you've got some traveler's insurance (that pricey kind) or an extension on your US coverage, it may not cover you if it can be proven that you've overstayed your tourist visa, are in the country illegally, or are injured on an illegal job. I think in your case, I'd look into all legal options for work first - even if it meant changing my destination.

Have you looked into exchange programs for Spain? Or working for US coumpanies based there? I have no idea where/how to look for such options in Spain, but if you're working legally somehow, you can solve this health insurance issue. It might be worth some research time on your part.....
Good luck

[pamantha]

hey spiral 78
thanks your post was very helpful. you make a lot of good points and i'm glad you put your two cents in! i was interested in spain b/c i speak spanish and will be spending the rest of this year already in south america. (eventually i'll move on after my spanish is where i want it)
i've already been accepted into the celta in sevilla, but maybe i should get my certificate and run. it is a big world afterall...

i totally agree with you too, lozwich the healthcare system is a bunk in many ways. but unfortunately i can't be without it.

ps a quagmire is a predicament; a difficult posistion

[lozwich]

[CharlesTESOL]

You can get health insurance from private companies in Spain. I used to have one that ran me about 40 euros a month. The price you pay depends on factors like gender, age, health and whether you smoke or not. Each doctor visit I made using this insurance was hassle free and no cost. Lab work and medicine did cost, but that is so cheap in Spain compared to my home country that it I found it quite affordable. The company I used was FIATC www.fiatc.es but you might find an even better deal somewhere else. Check the online Yellow Pages at
http://www.paginas-amarillas.es/home.html under COMPA�IAS DE SEGUROS.

I kept my private policy for a few years but eventually dropped it because I found the public system satisfactory.