New surcharge to stop expats in Spain using the NHS

As a pensioner I can't fault the Spanish health service & think it is better than the UK. So why go to the UK?

hi, does that include all the foreigners we have coming to the uk to use our nhs I think that is wrong ,these are the ones that come with nothing , at least our pensioners over in Spain did pay into the system in the uk all their working lives .... are entitled to come here and have treatment , But like the above just said Spanish health care is far better than ours .

The Spanish health care system blows the NHS out of the water. But yes, any returning expats are almost guaranteed to get given a harder time than immigrants -legal or otherwise. Sad, but true,

The Spanish health care system blows the NHS out of the water. But yes, any returning expats are almost guaranteed to get given a harder time than immigrants -legal or otherwise. Sad, but true,

I can.t see this working at all most people I know use there childrens address or there own in uk how are the hospital and doctors know you live in spain its a real cheek to live here and go to uk for treatment

Hi, I still live and pay taxes in the UK, but I feel if an EX Pat, resident in Spain who say is 60 years old and has paid his or her dues for 45 years or more, then surely should be entitled to treatment in the UK. I am sure the Spanish NHS is very good, providing a clear and concise diagnosis has been made, and a course of treatment is agreed. Sadly this is not always the case. Nearly 4,000,000 voted for a regime that will take back control of our frontiers, then and only then, can we limit who we do treat and who we do not. At the moment we treat any Tom Dick and Harry, plus their families, the only qualification being, they are from a European member state. How can it possibly be fair to deny British tax payers (past or present) treatment in the UK ?

Because, if people do things properly, the UK government pays the Spanish government £3000 a year (almost €4000 at current rates) to look after them. Yes, people have paid into the system through tax and NI and are being rewarded by having the UK government pay for their treatment in Spain.
The Spanish (and other EU countries) pay the UK government to look after their citizens in the same way.
Be a bit strange if UK had to pay for expats in Spain and then pay for them to have treatment in UK as well.
The rules for who is and who isn't entitled to healthcare in Spain are very clear. If you have problems and haven't paid into the Spanish system then you should really consider whether moving for a bit of sun is worth it or not. These rules apply to the Spanish as well so it's not as if they are picking on the expats.
Emergency treatment is always provided in Spain for visitors.
I firmly believe that it is the UK fault for giving free treatment to all and sundry when the EU rules clearly state anyone under retirement age should have sufficient medical cover not to be a drain on the health system of their adopted country. Pensioners and the disabled aren't because their government pays. The UK system is dependent on residency, not taxpayers and that is also nothing to do with the EU.
The EU rules also state that EU emigrants should not be a drain on the welfare system either. Don't pay in, don't get out.
It is nothing whatsoever to do with the EU who gets benefits or medical treatment in any country.

Anyway, this is a site about Quesada not the UK. I feel our town hall at Rojales will bend over backwards to help you out if you are on the padron and the lady who deals with health matters will do anything she can to assist you. We are very lucky in that respect.

At last someone else who understands how the switch from the NHS to Spain's health service works. Well said Marcliff!!!

Only had a quick look at the link by original poster but note it is written by insurance company. I have asked on their Facebook page for details of where the info was generated but nothing back yet. I'm not suggesting there isn't any truth in it but I just think it is important to read it directly from source.

Bell