Gesy re S1 holders

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Mrblobby
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Gesy re S1 holders

Post by Mrblobby »

We have just had this reply .

We would like to inform you that since you are an S1 holder you will not have to contribute to the General Healthcare System.
Thank you for contacting us, we remain at your disposal.

GHS Contact Centre
Health Insurance Organisation


I just thought it is best to add the question sent . this is the question my wife sent to Gesy .

“Hi , My husband and I are uk pensioners , and have our healthcare covered by the S1 . Will we have to pay to be in Gesy , or will the money that the uk pays cover it ?”
Last edited by Mrblobby on Thu Apr 11, 2019 9:03 am, edited 1 time in total.
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kingfisher
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Re: Gesy re S1 holders

Post by kingfisher »

Thank you for that, MrBlobby
I was not familiar with the form "S1", so I looked it up, and it seems it was formerly the E121, which I believe we have.
Good news!
[Quote]
"S1
(formerly
E 106,
E 109
and
E 121 - still issued by some institutions) Certificate of entitlement to healthcare if you don't live in the country where you are insured. Useful for posted workers, cross-border workers, pensioners and civil servants and their dependants. Contact your health insurance authority to find the relevant institution issuing the S1
Submit it to any health insurance authority in the country where you live.

https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/w ... dex_en.htm
trevnhil
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Re: Gesy re S1 holders

Post by trevnhil »

Very interesting News..
Trev..
Cherry345
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Re: Gesy re S1 holders

Post by Cherry345 »

That is really good news after all of the confusion, I do love a bit of good news.....thank you.
Jim B
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Re: Gesy re S1 holders

Post by Jim B »

Mr Blobby.
Sorry to rain on your parade but what you have been informed is misleading. If we crash out of the EU on Friday those who rely on the S1 for medical cover may lose it. Yes you are presently covered by the S1 but only till this Friday in the case of everything goes pear shaped and we leave the EU without a deal then presently there's nothing in place to replace it.
As I continuously say; don't take my word for it, just type in on Google, "Is the S1 Medical Card still valid after Brexit". You will find lots of information available.

Jim
WHL
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Re: Gesy re S1 holders

Post by WHL »

I think this is just for a temporary amount of time, until something more permanent is agreed.
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JimX
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Re: Gesy re S1 holders

Post by JimX »

Jim, I do not think the UK will be ''crashing out this Friday'' maybe a couple of years away, as it is not possible to know when this might or might not happen. Also we should remember there was life on Cyprus before they joined the EU Club and we had cover then for medicals, I am not expecting that much change for pensioners here on the island, but nobody has any answers just ask Mrs. May.
Jim.
Jim B
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Re: Gesy re S1 holders

Post by Jim B »

I know Jim but the UK had special dispensation for both Cyprus and Malta when joining the EU but times have changed. No medical reciprocal agreement has been signed yet, it's supposedly covered in Mays rejected plan, that's why the negotiators were scrabbling round trying to get something sorted for the 29th March. I did post an update in the politics section which as usual was put down to Project Fear.
Hopefully there won't be a crash out Brexit but the way things are at the moment who can say what will happen.

Jim
Tuppence
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Re: Gesy re S1 holders

Post by Tuppence »

This is the reply I received recently to my enquiry to the British High Commission:
Thank you for your enquiry of 14/03/2019.

We appreciate your patience while waiting for further information.

It has been confirmed that if you complete a tax return in Cyprus, you will have to pay healthcare contributions as set out by the Cypriot authorities. The contributions apply to everyone who pays there tax in Cyprus, including UK nationals. For an explanation of contributions for pensioners please read the information published by the Cypriot Ministry of Health through the following link:

https://www.gesy.org.cy/sites/Sites?d=D ... ofinancing

If you have any further questions about the new healthcare system and associated contributions, GESY have published their contact details. You can either call or send an email by accessing their contact the details through the following link:

https://www.gesy.org.cy/sites/Sites?d=D ... =contactus

Regarding the continued validity of the S1 form, the Cypriot government have made a positive announcement. People with S1 certificates will be able to access the same healthcare cover as they currently enjoy for an interim period of several months. At the end of the interim period (the precise length will need be confirmed soon) UK and Cyprus will seek a longer-term bilateral agreement to secure reciprocal healthcare cover for Britons in Cyprus and Cypriots in the UK”.

Regards
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Flyer
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Re: Gesy re S1 holders

Post by Flyer »

That's odd! I emailed the very same people (GESY helpline) but got a totally different reply:-

My Question:-

I am a UK expat pensioner holding a MEU3 and also hold a medical card under the S1 form issued from the UK.

When the new GESY system starts will I have to pay the contributions through the Cyprus Tax authority or will the S1 form arrangement with UK cover my contribution requirement.

Also will I need to register with GESY and a GP and pharmacy or will I continue as present and visit the general hospital

Many thanks for any information you can provide.

Their reply:-


"According to the GHS regulations, all Cyprus tax residents who receive a pension or any income from the Republic of Cyprus or abroad are obliged to pay a contribution of 1,70% on their pension/income for the 1st phase of the GHS (1st March 2019) and 2,65% for the 2nd phase (1st March 2020). Kindly note that as a UK expat resident in Cyprus, you will have to pay the contribution directly to the Tax Department through self-assessment, twice a year.



In order to receive healthcare services as a beneficiary, you will have to enroll to the GHS and later on register to a Personal Doctor’s list. Please be informed that the beneficiary enrollment has not begun yet. The exact date for the beneficiary enrollment will be announced on the GHS website (www.gesy.org.cy) at a later stage. Once the enrollment begins, you will be able to enroll to the GHS either through our website or through a visit to the affiliated Personal Doctor of your choice.



You will be able to visit any affiliated pharmacy you want and obtain your medicines with the prescription of your Personal Doctor / Outpatient Specialist. Kindly note that inpatient services will be covered by the GHS from 1st June 2020 and then you will be able to choose the affiliated hospital you want.


Thank you for contacting us, we remain at your disposal.


GHS Contact Centre

Health Insurance Organisation
Jim B
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Re: Gesy re S1 holders

Post by Jim B »

Tuppence
If you read the last sentence you highlighted in red it states there is presently no reciprocal agreement in place. The interim agreement depends on a Brexit Plan of which the only one on offer has been rejected three times. If you Google S1 you will see for example in Spain the British Residents are in deeply concerned in case of a no deal Brexit.
I personally believe the High Commission has as much idea as everyone else what's going on and are just preaching the government line and as we all know that changes by the day.
I'm not trying to scare anyone but sometimes forewarned is for-armed

Jim
Varky
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Re: Gesy re S1 holders

Post by Varky »

Jim B wrote: Wed Apr 10, 2019 4:08 pm Tuppence
If you read the last sentence you highlighted in red it states there is presently no reciprocal agreement in place. The interim agreement depends on a Brexit Plan of which the only one on offer has been rejected three times. If you Google S1 you will see for example in Spain the British Residents are in deeply concerned in case of a no deal Brexit.
I personally believe the High Commission has as much idea as everyone else what's going on and are just preaching the government line and as we all know that changes by the day.
I'm not trying to scare anyone but sometimes forewarned is for-armed
Jim
Notwithstanding Brexit, it would appear (in red) that, as a temporary measure (months?) the Cypriot authorities have announced that things will remain the same for UK state pensioners? To be firmed up later.
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Mrblobby
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Re: Gesy re S1 holders

Post by Mrblobby »

Thanks flyer , this is the question my wife sent to Gesy .

“Hi , My husband and I are uk pensioners , and have our healthcare covered by the S1 . Will we have to pay to be in Gesy , or will the money that the uk pays cover it ?”

So we are still up in the air after seeing the reply you got . :?
Tuppence
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Re: Gesy re S1 holders

Post by Tuppence »

Jim B
Don't shoot the messenger! I posted the reply I had received from the BHC & highlighted the last paragraph in red (which I had read) because of the conflicting reply that the OP had received from the GHS Contact Centre. I do follow current affairs & am aware of the concerns of British people resident in other EU countries & that nothing is going to happen until Brexit is resolved.
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PhotoLady
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Re: Gesy re S1 holders

Post by PhotoLady »

It still sounds like nobody knows what the situation is..... either they're making it up or they haven't been kept up to date with things as they happen!
"Have Camera, Will Travel"
galexinda
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Re: Gesy re S1 holders

Post by galexinda »

As Flyer mentions in his comment this is the information I am finding on various Cypriot sites in various formats:

"According to the GHS regulations, all Cyprus tax residents who receive a pension or any income from the Republic of Cyprus or abroad are obliged to pay a contribution of 1,70% on their pension/income for the 1st phase of the GHS (1st March 2019) and 2,65% for the 2nd phase (1st March 2020). Kindly note that as a UK expat resident in Cyprus, you will have to pay the contribution directly to the Tax Department through self-assessment, twice a year''.

Lots of good comments on this thread, just a shame that no two authorities seem to have the same directives!
Jim B
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Re: Gesy re S1 holders

Post by Jim B »

Tuppence
I'm sorry if you thought I was having a go at you, that was the furthest thought from my mind.

My daughter had the 1.7% stopped from her salary this week so it is happening.

Jim
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Lofos-Jan
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Re: Gesy re S1 holders

Post by Lofos-Jan »

The contributions apply to everyone who pays there tax in Cyprus,
I'm just rather disappointed with the BHC's grammar!

Jeanne
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Tuppence
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Re: Gesy re S1 holders

Post by Tuppence »

Jim B
No problem :D
jeba
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Re: Gesy re S1 holders

Post by jeba »

Mrblobby wrote: Wed Apr 10, 2019 5:29 pm Thanks flyer , this is the question my wife sent to Gesy .

“Hi , My husband and I are uk pensioners , and have our healthcare covered by the S1 . Will we have to pay to be in Gesy , or will the money that the uk pays cover it ?”

So we are still up in the air after seeing the reply you got . :?
I also received a similiar reply stating that holders of a S1 form are excluded from the obligation to pay contributions to GESY - even if you don´t use your S1 to enroll into the Cypriot system.

If you want to receive healthcare services within the GHS, then you will have to enroll to the System and register to a Personal Doctor’s list. Please note that either you enroll or not, you will not pay a contribution since you are an S1 holder. If you do not wish to enroll, then you are not obliged to and therefore you can pay the costs of treatment on your own.

Thank you for contacting us, we remain at your disposal.

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