Hi, Sherri -- for sure you'd have to have at least an national identification number for foreigners (it is called "NIE") which is easy to get. In my case, I know that I started my Spain experience by actually buying a home in Barcelona in 2013; the typical housing within the big cities is called a "piso" which is essentially the same as "apartment" (maybe townhouse, except that they are generally only one level) in US and "flat" in the UK). I enrolled in healthcare at the same time, so I cannot discern which came first. I was able to add my girlfriend (now wife) to my policy even though she did NOT have legal residency status. At that time and probably now as well, the Barcelona area was much more open to foreigners than are some of the other areas which are notably more xenophobic.
Actually I’ll tell you something pretty interesting: in 2016 I bought a three-bedroom attic/penthouse apartment in Tarragona and I paid €30,000 for it which also means that within 2-3 years of time I had a *free apartment* including HEALTH INSURANCE that was cheaper than having health insurance alone here in the United States. Amazing.
Until Obamacare, I had “cadillac” insurance from my employer-- meaning it covered literally everything but facelifts and tummy tucks. Things changed drastically since 2013 for private insurance and Medicare recipients. Now we have very expensive insurance that doesn’t cover well, and charges are astronomical here.
I believe you are correct tho, in saying there was an initial uptick in cost, and downturn in coverage in the late 80s.
The other thing that changed in the 1980s is that Americans started to lose job benefits, job security, and career longevity. That was the start of the "gig economy" which provides no stability and few if any benefits.
I have a health share. I have had it for 8 years and I have never actually used or ever met my deductible. I do have coverage across the USA. It does not cover dental etc. I just could not justify having health insurance when I would never use it.
The only thing with the health share is I have to ask for the cash price when going to a medical provider. Which, I have learned is way cheaper than the insurance route! There is a blue book of procedures that is supposed to help out in comparison shopping.
It does cover 12 chiropractor visits (once you have met your deductible)and naturopathic doctors.
I did come across an article written about the health share indicating it had fraudulent activity and denying people proper coverage in times of need. I am thinking it is still better than health insurance. Coming from another country with universal health care, and now living in the US, I am still trying to figure out why Americans think health care is better than Universal health care. I feel we are all being taken for an expensive ride with nothing to show for it but debt.
Based on experience and numbers, I completely agree with you that “we are all being taken for an expensive ride with nothing to show for it but debt.” As you have probably observed by now, Americans wear debt and burden as a badge of honor because it’s a representation supposedly of “independence“ which is why the country has no public sphere and everything is divided and duplicated at great expense and minimal benefit. No public health, no public infrastructure except for roads that require independent cars and weekly purchases of gasoline... privatize corporations profit off of basic necessities such as water, gas and electricity. Europe obviously does a lot of things correctly but they also use low prices and subsidies to control the population to perform the correct behaviors like mandatory vaccination. I don’t see that Latin America has done much better in terms of breaking free from the globalist agenda; they really don’t have enough financial or military flexibility to do so … But you may have noticed that Argentina and El Salvador are breaking free
Thanks for reading. Well put on the views of our indolence. I am grinning! It has been interesting to see how each country approached mandatory vaccinations. We are the biggest cohort in the history of humanity! I have lived in three countries now, and it is interesting to see the perspectives from inside the US and outside. How long have you been in Spain?
Hi Alex - love your articles and post. Do you have to be a citizen or live in Spain to get their insurance?? (serious question!)
Hi, Sherri -- for sure you'd have to have at least an national identification number for foreigners (it is called "NIE") which is easy to get. In my case, I know that I started my Spain experience by actually buying a home in Barcelona in 2013; the typical housing within the big cities is called a "piso" which is essentially the same as "apartment" (maybe townhouse, except that they are generally only one level) in US and "flat" in the UK). I enrolled in healthcare at the same time, so I cannot discern which came first. I was able to add my girlfriend (now wife) to my policy even though she did NOT have legal residency status. At that time and probably now as well, the Barcelona area was much more open to foreigners than are some of the other areas which are notably more xenophobic.
Thanks. Maybe I need to become a mail order bride. Haha! :)
Actually I’ll tell you something pretty interesting: in 2016 I bought a three-bedroom attic/penthouse apartment in Tarragona and I paid €30,000 for it which also means that within 2-3 years of time I had a *free apartment* including HEALTH INSURANCE that was cheaper than having health insurance alone here in the United States. Amazing.
We need an offline conversation so I can learn more! Good to connect Alex!
Until Obamacare, I had “cadillac” insurance from my employer-- meaning it covered literally everything but facelifts and tummy tucks. Things changed drastically since 2013 for private insurance and Medicare recipients. Now we have very expensive insurance that doesn’t cover well, and charges are astronomical here.
I believe you are correct tho, in saying there was an initial uptick in cost, and downturn in coverage in the late 80s.
The other thing that changed in the 1980s is that Americans started to lose job benefits, job security, and career longevity. That was the start of the "gig economy" which provides no stability and few if any benefits.
I have a health share. I have had it for 8 years and I have never actually used or ever met my deductible. I do have coverage across the USA. It does not cover dental etc. I just could not justify having health insurance when I would never use it.
The only thing with the health share is I have to ask for the cash price when going to a medical provider. Which, I have learned is way cheaper than the insurance route! There is a blue book of procedures that is supposed to help out in comparison shopping.
It does cover 12 chiropractor visits (once you have met your deductible)and naturopathic doctors.
I did come across an article written about the health share indicating it had fraudulent activity and denying people proper coverage in times of need. I am thinking it is still better than health insurance. Coming from another country with universal health care, and now living in the US, I am still trying to figure out why Americans think health care is better than Universal health care. I feel we are all being taken for an expensive ride with nothing to show for it but debt.
Based on experience and numbers, I completely agree with you that “we are all being taken for an expensive ride with nothing to show for it but debt.” As you have probably observed by now, Americans wear debt and burden as a badge of honor because it’s a representation supposedly of “independence“ which is why the country has no public sphere and everything is divided and duplicated at great expense and minimal benefit. No public health, no public infrastructure except for roads that require independent cars and weekly purchases of gasoline... privatize corporations profit off of basic necessities such as water, gas and electricity. Europe obviously does a lot of things correctly but they also use low prices and subsidies to control the population to perform the correct behaviors like mandatory vaccination. I don’t see that Latin America has done much better in terms of breaking free from the globalist agenda; they really don’t have enough financial or military flexibility to do so … But you may have noticed that Argentina and El Salvador are breaking free
Thanks for reading. Well put on the views of our indolence. I am grinning! It has been interesting to see how each country approached mandatory vaccinations. We are the biggest cohort in the history of humanity! I have lived in three countries now, and it is interesting to see the perspectives from inside the US and outside. How long have you been in Spain?
We left Europe in March 2022 because they were really pushing vaccines and the social credit system: https://healthythinking.substack.com/p/sorry-i-was-away-from-my-desk-for