Question on life in the Canaries? Come to a free info session
British residents in the Canary Islands urged to register for healthcare and social services for future peace of mind
Some 45,000 British nationals are believed to live in the Canary Islands but only 32,000* are registered with their local authorities. That means one in three Brits risk missing out on basic social services when in future they need it most.
So the British Consulates in Las Palmas and Tenerife, and the Healthcare Team in Spain that represents the UK’s Department of Health, are joining forces with local town halls to tell residents about the importance and benefits of registering for healthcare and other public services.
Discover why you should register on the ‘padrón’
Between Tuesday 24 and Thursday 26 February February the joint team will host four free information events in Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Tenerife and Gran Canaria, where British residents can find out why it is worthwhile registering on the ‘padrón’, get answers to their questions on healthcare and what services the British Consulates offer, and raise any other concerns they may have.
Find out about the new healthcare option for early retirees
The Healthcare Team will also provide information about the new “convenio especial”, a special pay-in public health insurance scheme in the Canary Islands for those not otherwise covered for state-run healthcare, such as early retirees. They will also explain how to register for healthcare in general and how to get a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) if you are a worker or a pensioner.
The British Consul for the Canary Islands, Charmaine Arbouin, says:
Our consular staff all too often see British citizens who are in desperate need of assistance because they have failed to appreciate how important it is to register correctly for healthcare and other social services when living overseas
Whether registered or not, I urge all British residents to come to these free information sessions where local consular staff and healthcare representatives will provide reliable, up-to-date information on a wide range of issues
Admission to all events is free and there is no need to register in advance.
The venues, dates & times are:
Lanzarote: Tuesday 24 February at 11.00am
Sala Fondeadero, La Tiñosa, Puerto del Carmen
Fuerteventura: Tuesday 24 February at 5.30pm Hotel Sheraton Fuerteventura Beach, Caleta de Fuste
Tenerife: Wednesday 25 February at 6.30pm Auditorio Infanta Leonor, Avenida Juan Carlos I, Los Cristianos
Gran Canaria: Thursday 26 February at 4.30pm Centro Socio Cultural de Mayores, Calle Santa Brigida s/n, San Fernando, Playa del Inglés
*Source: INE. Estadística del Padrón Continuo a 1 de enero de 2014.
The full programme and latest news on the events will be published on the Event Page on the British Embassy’s Brits Living in Spain Facebook page.