Thanks for posting the links Mitzy. I was told by a neighbour that France were refusing to treat Brits in their hospitals, she has obviously misheard or misunderstood. The news link explains it clearly.

creep!

well ........ its just that if someone said to me that they were going to move to a EU country where they had no chance of getting any kind of health care other than emergency, and that they would have to subsist on private health for the rest of their life I'd tell them to think very carefully. Although I have private health care it might certainly make me think twice about continuing to live here in the long term as private health care doesn't cover everything

I'm sorry, I nodded off for a second there............

Yes you have the attention span of an amoeba

France has withdwawn free healthcare from expats who have not reached retirement age - pensioners will continue to get free care.

In Spain, with the exception of Valencia, free healthcare is only available to pensioners, and that right cannot be removed as it is laid down by EU law.

So all they have done in France Fred is bring it into line with other EU countries? Thats good, as the suggestion on the other forum was that pension cover was also being withdrawn. Thanks Fred

Yes pensioners are safe! The British government pays a flat fee for every pensioner living in Spain (and elsewhere) so effectively you are transferring your benefits from back home.

I didn't realise you didn't know it only applied to those of working age, but even then as long as you are indeed working and paying taxes it isn't a problem.

Pensioners and workers are ok, its just early retirers it effects.
I think in France and a few of other EU countries you have always needed top up health insurance anyway.