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@kaththomas700 hello

Have you enquired from our health insurance partners : /en/insurance/euro … ia/burgas/ ?

Regards

Bhavna

@kaththomas700

I'm slightly confused about your post, as your S1 is something you're entitled to by virtue of receiving a state pension (in the UK, or elsewhere in the EU). You just have to call them and ask for one, and I doubt they're concerned about what you're doing with your pension.

Or do you mean that you've got the S1, but you're not a resident yet (due to bank account, etc.) and hence can't enroll in the health system to use your S1? In this case, you should be able to use your EHIC/GHIC (in a public hospital) for the time being.

Or, for whatever reason, you don't have your S1, and hence don't have proof of health cover for your D visa / residence applications? In this case, your EHIC/GHIC should work. Or you go to any insurance broker and get a Medical Insurance for Foreigners policy that should cost less than 100 euros (for a year).

Or, you simply want a private medical insurance (similar to BUPA, etc.)? I got a quote for this from 24ins (dot bg online insurance broker), but most brokers can do this for you. It's substantially cheaper (less than half) after you have your public coverage sorted with your residence permit + S1, so it's preferable to wait, if you can. The above-mentioned insurance for immigration does cover you for accidents and emergencies (and repatriation) so it does have some utility. Both will cover you throughout Bulgaria, not just Burgas. :-)

Thank you I'm old and confused obviously. I'll re read your post and think again as I do have the new UK health card to be going on with  and I thought that I'd only get an S1 if I moved my state pension.

Kath, it makes no difference where the pension is being paid. As long as you're getting the UK pension, you can apply for an S1. Here's the info on where to apply from Gov.UK:

NHS Overseas Healthcare Services

Telephone: +44 (0)191 218 1999

Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm

Saturday, 9am to 3pm

Thank you xxx

Thank you Jane, I've got a copy of my S1 on my phone now and a hard copy is being sent to my Bulgarian address. Thanks again

And a big thank you to you gwybj