SA29. Your social security insurance, benefits and healthcare rights in the European Economic Area
Medical services
28. Gibraltar
The UK does not treat Gibraltar as though it is another EEA country for healthcare (see Introduction). Gibraltar has its own healthcare system based on contributions, which is quite different from the UK National Health Service. If you are moving between the UK and Gibraltar, then sections 29-39 do not generally apply to you.
Special arrangements on healthcare exist between the UK and Gibraltar. Any medical treatment that is needed by UK pensioners who live or go to live in Gibraltar is provided by the Gibraltar authorities without payment of insurance contributions. You will have to pay prescription charges. A UK pensioner is someone who gets long-term Incapacity Benefit, Severe Disablement Allowance, State Pension, widow's benefits or bereavement benefits.
Urgent medical treatment is also covered and applies only to visitors to Gibraltar for stays up to 30 days. See booklet, “Health advice for travellers”. You can get a copy from any UK post office or from www.dh.gov.uk/travellers. If you are sent to Gibraltar to work for more than 30 days, you should get in touch with the Gibraltar Health Authority. They will tell you if you can stay covered by the agreement or if you will need to pay into the Gibraltar Group Practice Medical Scheme. To find out more about the Gibraltar healthcare system, write to:
Gibraltar Health Authority
17 Johnstone's Passage
Gibraltar
If you go to live in Gibraltar and you are not a UK pensioner, you are not covered by the special arrangements and you must:
- either join the Gibraltar Group Practice Medical Scheme,
- or take out private medical insurance cover,
otherwise you will have to pay your own healthcare costs.