P.E.P.A. Fun Day on Friday 31 August

Last Friday, Millie Munro Services had a wonderful time at the P.E.P.A. Fun Day that was held at Restaurante La Visteta, Barx, close to Gandia.

Over 800 euros was raised for this very worthy animal charity of which Millie Munro Services is a sponsor. A great day was had by all attendees and despite some earlier worries about the weather, the rain stayed away and the event remained dry for the entire time.

There was plenty of entertainment on hand for the throngs of people that turned up to enjoy the day, including music from 40's, 50's and 60's, all supplied by talented local artists. There were also many stalls selling household goods, plants, cakes, pet supplies, books & cards and jewellery & cosmetics. As well as all these stalls raising much-needed money for the charity, a tombola was also held, with great prizes for those that played.

Millie Munro Services had a great day, meeting lots of lovely folk and giving Health Insurance and Funeral Plan advice to those that needed it. As a company we are very proud to be involved with this wonderful animal charity that is so positive and life-changing. An organisation that does so much good for the many poor dogs and cats that are abandoned or abused in Spain.

Please visit the P.E.P.A. website and get involved in their work by either adopting one of their precious creatures or by donating to their cause.

For Health Insurance or Funeral Plan advice please visit our website at www.milliemunro.com. We can't enrich your life by finding you a loving pet (like P.E.P.A.), but we can help you make sensible plans for now and the future!

Is Your Private Health Insurance In Safe Hands?

It has been in the news recently that a large provider of private health insurance in Spain is being taken over by another insurance company. After doing some research we have discovered that this new health insurance provider will not have an Expat division so finding an English-speaking Doctor or specialist or member of staff might now prove difficult for those holding a policy with them. This is a worrying prospect and a few of our clients have contacted us to find out if the company involved is their provider and they are wondering if their policies are safe.

EL PERPETUO SOCORRO AND MILLIE MUNRO SERVICES

We are very pleased to inform you that all the Private Health Insurance policies held with Millie Munro Services are supplied by El Perpetuo Socorro. This highly regarded insurance company are neither of the companies involved in the takeover recently being spoken of in the news.

El Perpetuo Socorro is one of Spain's leading Health Insurance companies with an history of excellent service going back many years. Millie Munro Services is proud to have worked with El Perpetuo Socorro for a long time and the service that they provide our clients is of the utmost quality.

Millie Munro and another happy client

The truth is that many people who move to Spain are worried about what will happen if they become ill. Many do not understand the language and this causes anxiety in an already stressful situation. With a private health insurance plan from El Perpetuo Socorro, not only do you have 24-hour a day, 365-days-a-year cover but you have the ability to choose an English-speaking doctor from the wide range of medical professionals that work with the company. Speaking about El Perpetuo Socorro client Evelyn Bonfield says “We are so very pleased that we joined Millie Munro Services as our private medical provider. Having such a competent office to deal with gives us such peace of mind and I can’t praise EPS enough for their continued help and support with our ongoing medical problems”.

Some private health insurance companies claim not to raise the price of their policies as you get older - ‘The Age you Join is The Age you Stay’ - but it is important to note that often if you make a claim for medical expenses, the following year your premium may increase dramatically, a bit like losing your ‘no claims’ bonus! El Perpetuo Socorro premiums will rise with medical inflation, as will happen with all Spanish Health companies, but El Perpetuo Socorro premiums will not increase simply because you have used the service.

We are also pleased to inform you that El Perpetuo Socorro employ English staff at their head office, some who have been with the Company for over 18 years. They truly are the best choice for Private Health Insurance for the Expat in Spain. Of course, the staff at Millie Munro Services are also available 24/7 which is a great relief to many people. Client Hilary Petrie writes “Fantastic service from Millie Munro Services. Extremely helpful, nothing is too much trouble even when I rang at the weekend and outside office hours”.

ADVICE

If you do have a private health policy and you are unsure if it is going to provide you with the service you require, please contact us for friendly and helpful advice. In Spain private health policies run from January to December so you only have a short amount of time left to move the plan if you wish to do so. Fortunately we can help you in all aspects of policy transfers so please call us now on 96 649 3082 or visit our website at www.milliemunro.com to find out more.

Millie Munro lends a Helping Hand

P.E.P.A. The Helping Hands Charity for Animals were recently in need of a helping hand themselves so Millie Munro Services quickly came to the rescue. In order to launch their new SOS Alert Card Scheme the charity desperately need money for printing costs, and it was needed quickly! Despite already having spent this year‘s charity budget, Millie kindly offered to pay for the essential SOS cards to be produced.

On Monday 9th July, a very thankful Janet Goodwin, founder of the animal charity, visited Millie and her team at their Benitachell office to gratefully accept a donation of 100 euros on behalf of P.E.P.A. and in return Janet gave Millie a letter containing a message of kind thanks from all at P.E.P.A. - a letter that Millie was delighted to receive.

Millie is strongly behind this excellent scheme, going on to say that she is eager to join P.E.P.A. so that she can become eligible for her very own SOS card.

The SOS Alert Card Scheme has been created to give peace of mind to owners when leaving their pets at home. Carrying your numbered SOS Alert Card alleviates the worry of who will care for your pets if you are taken ill or hospitalised whilst out of your home. Just one telephone call to the 24 hour Emergency line quoting the SOS Card code activates the account, which then enables pre-arranged contingency plans to jump into action.

The SOS Alert Card is free to all members of P.E.P.A., and for pet lovers is an essential item to carry in your wallet or purse. Contact Des on 962807086 for membership details or visit the website at www.pepaspain.com.

To arrange your own contingency plans for the future, please visit www.milliemunro.com and view the excellent range of Golden Leaves Funeral Plans and El Perpetuo Socorro Private Health Plans.

Healthcare in Crisis

On July 1st 2012 all pensioners across Spain controversially began paying for their prescriptions despite warnings that health cuts could spark a “humanitarian problem”.

For the first time since the Spanish Health System was created in 1986, retired people will have to pay prescription charges for medicines. All workers will now also pay a fee based on their income.

In April, Mariano Rajoy’s government announced a wide series of changes, with the co-payment system being just one of them. The aim of these cuts is to save seven billion euros and try to bring Spain back in line with European financial recommendations.

Other cuts aiming to save money include the withdrawal of free medical care for illegal immigrants and a series of efficiency measures, including a clampdown on health tourism. How ‘efficient’ these measures actually are remains to be seen.

In a long standing reciprocal agreement, the UK government currently pays £3,500 a year for each retiree to receive Spanish health care – this entitles them to the same care as a Spanish citizen, but as of now British state pensioners resident in Spain will have to pay prescription charges. Many expats were caught by surprise when they took prescriptions to pharmacies this week and for the first time were asked to pay 10% of the value of the medicines.

Charges

The charges are levied as follows:

• An annual income of under 18,000€: workers pay 40% of prescription charges; pensioners pay 10%, capped at 8€ per month.
• An annual income of 18,000€ to 100,000€: workers pay 50% of charges; pensioners pay 10% of charges, capped at 18€ per month.
• An annual income of over 100,000€: workers pay 60% of charges; pensioners to pay 60%, which is capped at 60€ a month.

Those unaffected by the charges will be the long term unemployed, disabled people, and people being treated for alcoholism and drug addiction.

The government states that the changes are the only way to maintain the welfare state and one Minister said “It’s time we end the culture of everything for free”, but critics claim that the co-payment system is a tax on disease.

In an article published in the highly respected medical journal The Lancet, paediatrician Marciano Sanchez Bayle, a spokesman for the Federation of Associations for the Defence of Public Health said “It punishes those with more limited resources and more health problems”.

A Blow to Pensioners

Across Spain the new prescription charges are seen as a blow to pensioners who believe they have already paid their dues.

One 77-year-old described the charge as “outrageous”. “When you reach a certain age it doesn’t cost less to live but we have to survive on less amid rising prices.” He went on to say that pensioners had already tightened their belts, and now they were being hit again with the extra costs of prescriptions on top of a hike on utility bills.

A spokesman for the Democratic Union of Pensioners of Spain said “An extra expense for these people, however small it may seem, will prevent them from meeting other payments”. The Union carried on to state that more than 4 million pensions fall below the minimum wage.

It appears that there are some tough times ahead for pensioners in Spain, be they Spaniards or Expats.

New Private Health Insurance discounts available until September

Millie Munro Services is pleased to offer clients a discount on new Private Health Insurance policies for anyone under the age of 55 years in any one family. This excellent money-saving deal is only available until the end of September 2012 so be quick!

In one family, one member can save 10% of the policy price, two members save 20% and three members of the family can save a massive 30%! In these times of belt-tightening this is a great way to save money and have complete peace of mind regarding healthcare.

All Private Health Insurance plans are with El Perpetuo Socorro, a leading private medical insurance company which has been established and trusted for more than fifty years. Included in this comprehensive Private Health Insurance policy are Mens' and Womens' Health Checks, Dental Care, Eye Laser Surgery and Medical Travel Insurance for those trips back home or further afield.

Many people come to live in Spain with no knowledge of the language and they worry about what will happen if they become ill. With a private health insurance plan from El Perpetuo Socorro, you have 24-hour a day, 365-days-a-year cover and you can choose an English-speaking doctor from the large choice of medical professionals who choose to work with the company. The staff at Millie Munro Services and El Perpetuo Socorro are on hand to help you all the way with quick and easy referrals to English-speaking specialists.

With an age limit up to 80 and very competitive premiums this is an ideal policy for all lifestyles, especially now with our new money-saving discounts.

Private Medical Health Insurance is Vital to Live in Spain

New legislation brought into place by the new Conservative Spanish Government on 24th April 2012 means that having private medical health care is vital to become a resident in Spain.

The new rules are part of the Government's austerity measures but they are getting a lot of flak from EU groups claiming that the legislation is both illegal and dangerous. Under the new rules anybody applying for residencia in Spain from now will need to prove that they have both enough money to support themselves and that they have health cover, from either a private medical plan or from an existing member state agreement with their county of origin.

Unfortunately, as with many things in Spain, there are already many conflicting stories being told on expat forums and it is very difficult to find out what the actual changes are. Even the British Embassy are unable to give concrete information on their website. There are many non-committed sentences used on the Healthcare Reforms page, like "you may be asked to show proof that you are covered for healthcare in Spain" and "you may be able to use your S1 form to meet this requirement", neither of which really help when you are actually in the process applying for residencia.

From what we can ascertain it appears that from the 24th April 2012, people applying for residencia will now have to prove that they have a monthly income of about‚ €435 with which to support themselves, and that they have sufficient healthcare cover, be it a private medical insurance plan or by providing an S1 form. We have heard recent reports of UK pensioners, when applying for residencia, having to prove that they are covered by private medical insurance.

Further information can be found on the UK in Spain website.

At Millie Munro Services we feel that it is now even more vital that you are properly covered when it comes to health, not only because of the natural need to plan for our futures, but because it now also makes becoming a resident in Spain much easier, if not essential. We offer a very comprehensive Private Health Insurance Plan that covers your every need. Read more on the Millie Munro Services website.

This is Spain Spring Show 2012

On the weekend of the 19th and 20th May, Millie Munro Services will be exhibiting on stand 55 at the 2012 This Is Spain Spring Show which is being held at the Hotel Diamanté Beach in Calpe.


At the show Millie Munro will be presenting the vast range of essential Health Plans and affordable Pre-Paid Funeral Plans that her company is so well known for on the Costa Blanca. Millie Munro will be there in person for you to come and meet and talk to. Members of the Millie Munro Services team will also be there to advise and guide you on the best health and pre-paid funeral plans for you.


The show in February was a great success for Millie Munro and they have been able to provide a dependable and trustworthy service to many individuals, couples and families on the Costa Blanca. It’s great to know with confidence that the products that Millie Munro specialises in have been giving excellent coverage and confidence to many people in Spain over the last twelve months. Take a look at the testimonials on her website for further evidence of her caring reputation.

This is Spain Exhibitions Spring Show

Of course, there will be many more exhibitors at the 2012 This Is Spain Spring Show as well as Millie Munro! The large number of exhibitors will be displaying an extensive range of products and services over the weekend. These will include products such as health foods and exercise items, and you will be able to take health and allergy checks. There will be beauty aids and cosmetics, clothing and accessories, and for your home there will be furniture and luggage, security systems and television providers, and stands with representatives from pool, spa and solar heating companies.


In the category of general interest there will be estate agents and financial services, insurance providers and car rental companies, and specialist food and drink providers. Charities will also be well represented and there will also be a grand prize raffle to enter.


After walking around the many stands at the exhibition you will be pleased to hear that the Diamanté Hotel will be offering a ‘two for one’ deal on entrance to their spa which might come as a welcome relief! There will be food and drink available at the exhibition, from snacks at good prices to meals in the hotel restaurant.


The exhibition will be open between 10.00am and 6.00pm on Saturday 19th and between 10.00am and 5.00pm on Sunday 20th.The venue is very easy to reach with good links to the AP7 motorway and the N332. Regular updates will be printed in the local press but make a note in your diary now so that you don’t miss the This is Spain Exhibitons Spring Show on the Costa Blanca North on 19th and 20th May 2012 at Hotel El Diamanté, Calpe.


Don’t forget to come and meet Millie Munro and her team on stand 55 and make the important decision to protect your yourself and your family by taking out a health or pre-paid funeral plan with Millie Munro Services.