Health care in Spain with BUPA/Sanitas

[fifi]

A lot of people ask about the various Health insurance plans available for people retiring to Spain. I came accross the BUPA one this morning.  It is possible to  download all the details and examine the policy through the link. http://www.bupa-intl.com/for-you/country/healthplan-complete

[Lostboys]

I can strongly recommend Sanitas here in Spain.  They have always been very quick and helpful.

[Globetrotter]

But doesnt BUPA's prices go up dramatically once you reach a 'certain age'
Friends of ours both him and her contributed to BUPA all their working lives until they reached a 'certain age' then they could no longer afford it on their pensions, so cancelled it.
The sad part is the husband started with a small mole on his back which took the NHS quite a while to diagnose and treat, unfortunately it was malignant and he died, don't know if he could have had quicker more successful treatment under BUPA but we will never know.
Well worth checking out the cost before reaching pensionable age I guess.

[fifi]

I think some companies do that allright. The one I am with doesn't.

[Deso]

Yes, but you are only a spring chicken yet Fi.   

[fifi]

Yes, but you are only a spring chicken yet Fi.   

.....It pays to have good health care though....

[SurfJames]

But doesnt BUPA's prices go up dramatically once you reach a 'certain age'
Friends of ours both him and her contributed to BUPA all their working lives until they reached a 'certain age' then they could no longer afford it on their pensions, so cancelled it.
The sad part is the husband started with a small mole on his back which took the NHS quite a while to diagnose and treat, unfortunately it was malignant and he died, don't know if he could have had quicker more successful treatment under BUPA but we will never know.
Well worth checking out the cost before reaching pensionable age I guess.

This is very sad. It is really important that folk check their skin regularly for malignant moles. Moles that are above the surface, or look crusty or like cauliflowers etc are safe. But the moles that are level or in the skin need checking out, particularly if they have a black/blue colour. If they appear to change colour or become itchy or scally, or bleed get advice asap. People never appreciate how dangerous these moles are. They puncture through a blood capillary and then stream off malignant cells into your blood stream, which settle all around your body to form secondary growths.

It is very easy to treat pre-cancer skin cells - they get burnt off (frozen) with liquid nitrogen. It's relatively painless and quick. There are specialised mole clinics which will look over your whole body, and treat any suspect moles.

Not trying to worry anyone - but obviously Fuerte is a beautifully sunny place, and these moles are the result of sun damage.

[fifi]

I was out for lunch with one of my neighbours last year and she asked me to have a look at her head because she was saying that when she was combing her hair that something kept catching in the comb. There was a tiny little thing that looked like a little grey wart there. I advised her to go to the hospital to have it checked immediately. Unfortunately she left it for months and now the cancer has spread and there is nothing that can be done. Like you say it really pays to have these things checked out as soon as possible Surfjames.

[Lostboys]

I had a mole that started to bleed and itch so I went straight to my doctor here in Fuerteventura.  He didn´t think twice and gave me a slip to get an appointment with minor surgery (done at the health centre in Corralejo).  3 weeks later I was called with an appointment for the following week.
The offending mole along with a few others was cut out with a fast moving scalple. 
Although they didn´t "check" to see if it was cancerous, at least it was taken out with no questions asked.
Better to be safe than sorry as my doctor said.

[fifi]

You were very wise Lostboys.

[djk99]

Some of the quotes I'm getting are sky high........€100 - €300 a month ...some even include a €5000 excess!!

[fifi]

Is that the price for just one person DJK99?

[Globetrotter]

Some of the quotes I'm getting are sky high........€100 - €300 a month ...some even include a €5000 excess!!

Thats what our friends found even though they had paid in the majority of their working lives.

[fifi]

The VIVAS policy is about €3400 per annum for a family. A lot of people are giving up their private health insurance in Ireland because of the recession and some of the private hospitals may have to close because of this.

[djk99]

Is that the price for just one person DJK99?

Yes Fifi....one fiftysomething !!