Living in Spain and visiting abroad? – You need the TSE – Tarjeta Sanitaria Europea

In Spain, the EHIC (European Health Insurance card) card is known as the Tarjeta Sanitaria Europea (TSE).

If you are thinking of visiting another EEA country, live in Spain and are already registered for health care, you can apply for the TSE card. For pre-existing conditions that require ongoing treatment, you will need an E112 form from the Spanish authorities. This is called ‘el supuesto de enfermo autorizado’ or ‘a course for authorised sickness ‘.

According to the Seguridad Social’s website, the TSE card covers you against:

‘La Tarjeta Sanitaria Europea (TSE) es el documento personal e intransferible que acredita el derecho a recibir las prestaciones sanitarias que resulten necesarias, desde un punto de vista médico, durante su estancia temporal por motivos de trabajo, estudios, turismo, en el territorio de la Unión Europea’

Roughly translated:

The European Health Card (EHIC)is a non-transferrable personal document that affords the holder the right to receive medical assistance that may be necessary during a temporary stay (in another EEA country) for reasons of work, study or tourism.

Pensioners don’t pay prescription charges with the scheme covering:

Surgical or Orthopaedic prostheses
Mechanically propelled vehicles for the disabled

What the TSE doesn’t cover:

Dental treatment / dentures
Glasses or Spectacles

More info about the TSE – Tarjeta Sanitaria Europea

Applying for the TSE

You can apply for this online at https://sede.seg-social.gob.es/Sede_1/ServiciosenLinea/Ciudadanos/232000 and also track the process of any application (Solicitud) you make. * Spanish language only