Cyprus-Forum.com

[nardoux]

As a member country of the EU does Cyprus have a health service available to incoming residents? If so for example for someone over 65 what is available and at what cost. If there is a shortfall and a portion of costs has to be bourne what would be the cost of insurance to cover this

[Svetlana]

Hi nardoux

I assume from your mail you are British. If so, if you or your husband/wife are in receipt of a UK Pension, then that person is entiled to free or subsidised healthcare.

As I recall; free if your combined income is less than CY18,000pa, subsidised above that, but you pay in full when your income reaches CY22,000pa

Lana

[nhowarth]

Hi Nardoux

As Cyprus is now in the EU, there is a reciprocal agreement with the UK to provide medical cover for UK nationals, depending on the individual circumstance. However, an anomaly currently exists, as apparently the DHS (formerly the DHSS) say if you are out of the country for more than three months of the year you are no longer considered resident in the UK.

There are four main categories for aUK national to use the Cypriot national health services:

A) holidaymakers and people spending occasional periods of time in Cyprus;

B) pensioners;

C) people of non-retirement age living in Cyprus who are unable to work and

D) people intending to live and work legally in Cyprus, or who have taken early retirement.

A) If you are a visitor to the area you should contact the Overseas Department of the DHS in Newcastle prior to leaving the UK, and request a form El11, which entitles you to routine medical treatment. The E111 is usually issued for a one year period, and you can normally renew it for a further 12 months. Thereafter, a second renewal will usually be refused as it is apparent you are spending the majority of your time out of the UK, and you will be expected to make provision for medical cover in the country where you are living. If you do need to visit a doctor or hospital, you should present the El11 to them as soon as possible.

B) If you are of pensionable age, and intend to live in Cyprus. you can contact the DHS and request a form E121. This is applicable for British men over 65 years old and women over 60 years old. It provides permanent health cover and does not need to be renewed.

C) If you are unable to work, and claim incapacity benefit, you may also apply for a form E121, regardless of your age. If you do not claim incapacity benefit, you will not be eligible to use this form.

D) If you decide to take early retirement, or wish to receive medical cover while you are finding work in Cyprus, you may apply for a form E106. Please note you are only eligible to this form if you have been working and/or paying in to the UK system for the last three years. The E106 provides temporary cover, usually for two years: thereafter you will not be able to request an extension. If after expiration of the E106 you have reached retirement age, you can then apply for the E121 as described above. In all other cases, you will be expected to provide your own medical cover, either through private health insurance or by working within the system. Please note that private doctors, clinics and hospitals do not accept any of the European (E) health care forms. It is also important to note that the E121 and El06 forms are regarded as permanent: in other words, you will be transferring your health provision from the UK to Cyprus. This means that you will still be eligible for cover in the UK, but as a visitor. Should you decide to return to live in the UK, you should contact the DHS and ask them to re-register you on the British health system.

Regards,

[nardoux]

Hi Nhoward
Thanks for your reply. Our situation is that we have lived in France for the last 6 years and are pensioners. We went through the e121 routine when we came here and have been in the French health system since then. While it is very good its no entirley free you ay 25% and they pay 75%
As i read it if we came to Cyprus on a permanant basis providing we could deliver the correct documents as a pensioner health costs would be without charge. Do you know if this includes dental charges and prescription charges?
Look forward to your reply
nardoux

[nhowarth]

Hi Nardoux,

I'm afraid you will not get free medical treatment unless your joint annual income is below CYP 18,000 as Lana mentioned earlier. As far as I'm aware, it includes prescription charges, but not dental charges.

Unlike the UK, state healthcare in Cyprus is means tested.

Regards,