Bill to make public healthcare free for everyone in Spain

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

1. The bill would make public healthcare free for all Spanish nationals and for foreign residents in Spain, without depending on Social Security. Payment would remain only for people who voluntarily choose a mutual society that covers healthcare and for certain civil servants in a mutual society until it joins the National Health System.
2. It would restore the wording that existed before Royal Decree-Lawroyal decree-law A rule with the force of law that the Government passes because it is urgent. It applies from its publication, but the Congreso must validate it within 30 days or it lapses. 16/2012 in the Health System Cohesion Law and in the Aliens Law, so that foreigners registered with the local council or actually living in Spain would have the right to healthcare on equal terms with Spaniards, as long as no third party is required to pay.
3. The Government would have to prepare, within a maximum of six months, a report on integrating the mutual societies into the National Health System and on finding out which public resources are going to private healthcare.
4. It would repeal Articles 1, 2 and 3 and several provisions of Royal Decree-Law 16/2012, which tied healthcare to insured status. The law would take effect the day after its publication in the Official State Gazette.

Who it affects

• People with no link to Social Security: They would regain free access to public healthcare.
• Foreigners without a residence permit who are registered with the local council or actually living in Spain: They would have the right to healthcare on equal terms.
• Spaniards who used up unemployment benefits and left Spain for more than ninety days: They would regain health coverage, even if they left to look for work or training.
• People in substitute mutual societies and civil servants in an administrative mutual society: Their care would not be free until they join the National Health System.

Words worth knowing

Asegurado (insured person)

Someone registered with Social Security and therefore entitled to public healthcare.

Convenio especial (special agreement)

A contract to pay a fee for health coverage when you cannot get it any other way.

Mutualidad (mutual society)

A separate system of health or benefit coverage, different from Social Security, common among some civil servants.

Real Decreto-ley (Royal Decree-Law)

A rule with the force of law that the Government can pass urgently, without the full parliamentary process.

Disposición derogatoria (repeal provision)

The final part of a law that says which earlier laws or rules stop applying.

royal decree-law

A rule with the force of law that the Government passes because it is urgent. It applies from its publication, but the Congreso must validate it within 30 days or it lapses.

decree-law

A rule with the force of law that the Government passes because it is urgent. It applies from its publication, but the Congreso must validate it within 30 days or it lapses.

It summarizes the text as it was introduced. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries