Spanish girl learns English (but claims benefits) in Edinburgh
May 20th 2010, 12:48 pm
#46
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Re: Spanish girl learns English (but claims benefits) in Edinburgh
Having said that, I agree that some foreigners (including Spaniards I imagine) abuse the system. Foreigners do take advantage of the Spanish system, too.
May 20th 2010, 12:57 pm
#47
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Re: Spanish girl learns English (but claims benefits) in Edinburgh
Not at all, my darling. Get some info on how the system works... We are automatically entitled to use the health system of other EU countries (even if, as in this case, the Spanish system is wider and more protective than that in the UK) and the reciprocal agreements don't operate for residents, only for tourists (and not anymore since some months ago, if I am not mistaken).
Having said that, I agree that some foreigners (including Spaniards I imagine) abuse the system. Foreigners do take advantage of the Spanish system, too.
Having said that, I agree that some foreigners (including Spaniards I imagine) abuse the system. Foreigners do take advantage of the Spanish system, too.
http://ukinspain.fco.gov.uk/en/help-...althcare/e121/
I have always understood that there was a reciprocal agreement in place, but if you can point me to a government source which says differently, then I am glad to be corrected
a family living in Spain, where one parent lives, works & pays tax & insurance in the UK is also entitled to state healthcare here in Spain, also under some sort of reciprocal agreement as far as I understand
Last edited by lynnxa; May 20th 2010 at 1:01 pm.
May 20th 2010, 1:00 pm
#48
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Re: Spanish girl learns English (but claims benefits) in Edinburgh
The British Government reimburses the cost of healthcare treatment for tourist through a covernant. It pays a lump sum of 3600 euros per annum for each UK pensioner resident in Spain (the actual cost of health cover is estimated at 1500 euros per person). Since the Social Security system hasn´t contributed a euro to the health care budget here since the end of last century, isn´t really that relevant. I´m not defending "health tourism", just saying that Spain, despite all the complaints, doesn´t do too badly out of the current arrangements lol:
We all pay taxes here since it´s vitually impossible not to - IVA, IBI, road tax, special taxes on alcohol, fags and petrol etc. The big contribution Brits (and other North Europeans) make though is through by buying property, particularly new builds where over well 20% of value goes in taxes (IVA, building licenses). For example, the purchase of a 200K euro villa represents a one off "present" to the Spanish authorities of 40-50K - not bad particularly since retired and early retired people tend to be fairly light users of services (other than perhaps healthcare). It would take roughly 15-20 years for the Govt to squeeze that much out of the average Spanish "mileurista" in income tax (IPRF .
We all pay taxes here since it´s vitually impossible not to - IVA, IBI, road tax, special taxes on alcohol, fags and petrol etc. The big contribution Brits (and other North Europeans) make though is through by buying property, particularly new builds where over well 20% of value goes in taxes (IVA, building licenses). For example, the purchase of a 200K euro villa represents a one off "present" to the Spanish authorities of 40-50K - not bad particularly since retired and early retired people tend to be fairly light users of services (other than perhaps healthcare). It would take roughly 15-20 years for the Govt to squeeze that much out of the average Spanish "mileurista" in income tax (IPRF .
Last edited by LittleWeed; May 20th 2010 at 1:03 pm. Reason: Functionally illiterate
May 20th 2010, 1:00 pm
#49
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Re: Spanish girl learns English (but claims benefits) in Edinburgh
In what way do the foreigners take advantage of the spanish system
If they pay into the Spanish system they are not abusing it!
The UK Government pays a fixed sum per year for every British pensioner registered in Spain.(Fact) They also pick up the bill for anyone using the EHC card. If someone tries to get treatment without the card they have to produce a credit card.
If they pay into the Spanish system they are not abusing it!The UK Government pays a fixed sum per year for every British pensioner registered in Spain.(Fact) They also pick up the bill for anyone using the EHC card. If someone tries to get treatment without the card they have to produce a credit card.
May 20th 2010, 1:02 pm
#50
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Re: Spanish girl learns English (but claims benefits) in Edinburgh
Sorry Littleweed only just seen your post
May 20th 2010, 1:03 pm
#51
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Re: Spanish girl learns English (but claims benefits) in Edinburgh
The British Government reimburses the cost of healthcare treatment for tourist through a covernant. It pays a lump sum of 3600 euros per annum for each UK pensioner resident in Spain (the actual cost of health cover is estimated at 1500 euros per person). Since the Social Security system hasn´t contributed a euro to the health care budget here since the end of last century, isn´t really that relevant. I´m not defending "health tourism", just saying that Spain, despite all the complaints, doesn´t do too badly out of the current arrangements lol:
We all pay taxes here since it´s vitually impossible not to - IVA, IBI, road tax, special taxes on alcohol, fags and petrol etc. The big contribution Brits (and other North Europeans) make though is through by buying property, particularly new builds where over well 20% of value goes in taxes (IVA, building licenses). For example, the purchase of a 200K euro villa represents a one off "present" to the Spanish authorities of 40-50K - not bad particularly since retired and early retired people tend to be fairly light users of services (other than perhaps healthcare). It would take roughly 15-20 years for the Govt to squeeze that much out of the average Spanish "mileurista" in income tax (IPRF .
That Spanish politicos/ property developers have been churning out urbanizations on an industrial scale for the last few years and promoting them to North European buyers, indicates that they recognize that themselves.
We all pay taxes here since it´s vitually impossible not to - IVA, IBI, road tax, special taxes on alcohol, fags and petrol etc. The big contribution Brits (and other North Europeans) make though is through by buying property, particularly new builds where over well 20% of value goes in taxes (IVA, building licenses). For example, the purchase of a 200K euro villa represents a one off "present" to the Spanish authorities of 40-50K - not bad particularly since retired and early retired people tend to be fairly light users of services (other than perhaps healthcare). It would take roughly 15-20 years for the Govt to squeeze that much out of the average Spanish "mileurista" in income tax (IPRF .
That Spanish politicos/ property developers have been churning out urbanizations on an industrial scale for the last few years and promoting them to North European buyers, indicates that they recognize that themselves.
May 20th 2010, 1:06 pm
#52
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Re: Spanish girl learns English (but claims benefits) in Edinburgh
just googled "Spain Medical Tourism", check this link out: http://www.discovermedicaltourism.com/spain/
"The UK Government pays a fixed sum per year for every British pensioner registered in Spain.(Fact)" - I'm afraid not.
Actually, I have carried a small research in the internet and apparently it is a hot topic at the moment. The current scheme make the host country pay for all the sanitary costs of a foreign resident/tourist. But this is going to be changed soon (although the UK is the main oppositor to the change). You can find it here (it is in Spanish, though: http://www.lavanguardia.es/ciudadano...de-origen.html)
For the UK the current situation is just great: Spain is paying for the health costs of over 1,000,000 British retired people. (Fact) Which we are happy to do. But please, do not criticise the system if you are, too, taking advantage of it.
"The UK Government pays a fixed sum per year for every British pensioner registered in Spain.(Fact)" - I'm afraid not.
Actually, I have carried a small research in the internet and apparently it is a hot topic at the moment. The current scheme make the host country pay for all the sanitary costs of a foreign resident/tourist. But this is going to be changed soon (although the UK is the main oppositor to the change). You can find it here (it is in Spanish, though: http://www.lavanguardia.es/ciudadano...de-origen.html)
For the UK the current situation is just great: Spain is paying for the health costs of over 1,000,000 British retired people. (Fact) Which we are happy to do. But please, do not criticise the system if you are, too, taking advantage of it.
May 20th 2010, 1:53 pm
#53
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Re: Spanish girl learns English (but claims benefits) in Edinburgh
Of course I am not talking about healthcare granted to those who pay their taxes in Spain. It is out of the question that those who pay taxes in a place are entitled to heathcare in that place, but there are two problems:
- Spain IS NOT reimboursed their health expenses by the UK Government, but by the EU. And according to European calculations, that reimboursements do not even cover a 30% of the total amount of expenses.
- THOUSANDS of tourists come to Spain and force an emergency surgical intervention which is not covered by the NHS (or the system in their country). And we do not receive any compensation in such cases
Again, I am not saying we should not bear with that, even more when tourism is our main source of income. I am just saying that we should not be blamed when we trick the system when you do, too.
This article gives quite an objective view on the subject I believe
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/expat/a...much-of-spain/
- Spain IS NOT reimboursed their health expenses by the UK Government, but by the EU. And according to European calculations, that reimboursements do not even cover a 30% of the total amount of expenses.
- THOUSANDS of tourists come to Spain and force an emergency surgical intervention which is not covered by the NHS (or the system in their country). And we do not receive any compensation in such cases
Again, I am not saying we should not bear with that, even more when tourism is our main source of income. I am just saying that we should not be blamed when we trick the system when you do, too.
This article gives quite an objective view on the subject I believe
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/expat/a...much-of-spain/
May 20th 2010, 2:06 pm
#54
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Re: Spanish girl learns English (but claims benefits) in Edinburgh
And BTW, the girl in the "scandal video" is not Spanish but south American (you can clearly tell by her accent)
May 20th 2010, 2:09 pm
#55
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Re: Spanish girl learns English (but claims benefits) in Edinburgh
[QUOTE=LittleWeed;8578303]The British Government reimburses the cost of healthcare treatment for tourist through a covernant. "
As long as the intervention is actually covered by the NHS. If it is not, but it is covered by Spanish health system (which is, many times, the case, the tourist can force an "emergency" surgycal intervention by which the Spanish health system won't be reimboursed a penny.
It happens aaaaall the time.
Of course I am not saying that if you pay tax in spain you do not have the right to get healthcare in Spain. But that is not the case I've just mentioned.
As long as the intervention is actually covered by the NHS. If it is not, but it is covered by Spanish health system (which is, many times, the case, the tourist can force an "emergency" surgycal intervention by which the Spanish health system won't be reimboursed a penny.
It happens aaaaall the time.
Of course I am not saying that if you pay tax in spain you do not have the right to get healthcare in Spain. But that is not the case I've just mentioned.
Last edited by JohnnieWLK; May 20th 2010 at 2:13 pm.
May 20th 2010, 2:15 pm
#56
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Re: Spanish girl learns English (but claims benefits) in Edinburgh
The bottom line is Spain would be in an even worse economic state without foriegn residents , legal or illegal they all spend money and every thing has tax on it , the IVA revenue alone collected from tourists will far out weigh the cost of any health care bill.
May 20th 2010, 2:18 pm
#57
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Re: Spanish girl learns English (but claims benefits) in Edinburgh
I agree with the rest of your post: tourism is a big business. But it is for London as well (which receives 20 million visitors a year).
May 20th 2010, 2:29 pm
#58
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Re: Spanish girl learns English (but claims benefits) in Edinburgh
I've said before that tourism makes up roughly an equal proportion of London's revenue as Spain's, but noone on this site would believe me. I think they are too blinkered playing the good colonialists who drag the natives out of poverty by shouting at them in English
Btw, yes the girl was Latin American, you can tell by her accent and the way she looks! But later on in the video there are young Spanish people who appear, so think they were doing it too.
May 20th 2010, 2:57 pm
#59
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Re: Spanish girl learns English (but claims benefits) in Edinburgh
Not off your hotel, car hire, resturant ,phone , internet bills ,etc just goods that you are taking with you and for most tourists thats a straw donkey and a dose of the clap!
May 20th 2010, 3:10 pm
#60
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Re: Spanish girl learns English (but claims benefits) in Edinburgh
I thought if you lived in an EU country you had to be registered for VAT and have a number in order to get a refund
