Mato defines healthcare in Spain

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MADRID, June 16 (UPI) -- Spain's Health Minister Ana Mato said the cut off point in income for free medical care in the country would be $126,000.

Starting Sept. 1, Mato said, the state will provide free medical care even for foreigners who register for a SIP card. Foreigners can qualify for the cards whether they come from the European Union or not, thinkSpain reported.

Citizens of other European Union states will be granted medical care based on specific international treaties that include their home country.

State pensioners, workers, including the self-employed, and those receiving political assistance – including those whose political assistance has run out – qualify for the state's healthcare program automatically, Mato said.

Those who do not qualify automatically, but would otherwise fall between the cracks, are eligible if their earnings are under $126,000 per year, thinkSpain reported.

In addition, registered partners of those who qualify and children under the age of 26 still living at home qualify, as do illegal immigrants from outside the European Union, so long as they pay into their country's social security system or the equivalent of that.

Also, non-legal immigrants under 18 or pregnant will qualify, thinkSpain reported.

Mato defined the rules while Spain stands on the brink of an international bailout that could come with demands for spending cuts.

The international community recently granted Spain a $125 billion loan to bailout its troubled banking sector.