Spanish girl learns English (but claims benefits) in Edinburgh
May 20th 2010, 7:36 pm
#76
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 145
Re: Spanish girl learns English (but claims benefits) in Edinburgh
Here´s couple of links which pretty much confirm what has said by other posters above;
http://www.elpais.com/articulo/socie...lpepusoc_9/Tes
Firstly, the situation of retired EU residents in Spain.
En este caso, como explicó Jiménez, España recibe de sus países de origen una cantidad mensual por cada uno (300 euros), independientemente de que usen los servicios sanitarios o no. Estos supone unos 3.600 euros anuales por persona. El balance es beneficioso para el Estado español, ya que el gasto medio en Sanidad está alrededor de 1.500 euros.
As the Spanish Health Minister (Trinidad Jiminéz) acknowledges the net balance of income vs costs is benefical to Spain to the amout of 2100 euros per person. In addition, as residents the pensioners also pay indirect taxes which help fund the health service. Spain benefits.
Secondly, tourists receiving healthcare whilst on holiday thru the European Health card system
http://www.rtve.es/noticias/20090924...s/293621.shtml
The point is clearly made in the article that Spain is reimbursed for each bill by the tourists home country. The balace again is favourable to Spain to the amount of 25 million euros. Also worth pointing out that that tourists spend a lot of money in Spain which in turn generates indirect taxes. Other than a visit to AE, I don´t see them being much of drain on the public purse. If Spain does have a disadvantage in this respect, it down to inability of the administrative systems to effectively bill for all healthcare costs. Maybe a bit harsh but really that isn´t that down to Spain to sought its beaurocracy ?
Thirdly, early retirees resident in Spain
Any EU citizen resident in the UK receives full free health care as of right. EU citizens resident in Spain by and large have to pay either thru private medical insurance or through afiliation to the Security System. As residents they also pay taxes which help pay for the health services. Again, an arrangment that benefits Spain.
Fourthly, health tourists
Despite all that has appeared in the Spanish media and forums about this issue, I´d be interested to see some actual numbers. I agree it is an abuse of the Spanish health system, but then again Spain is not alone in suffering from this phenomemon. If the health tourist is covered under the EHIC arrangments the country of origin picks up the bill. Where this may not be the case (eg. cases of elective surgery ?) I don´t think you´d hear too many protests if Spain rightly sent them back to UK to take their place on the waiting list like everyone else.
http://www.elpais.com/articulo/socie...lpepusoc_9/Tes
Firstly, the situation of retired EU residents in Spain.
En este caso, como explicó Jiménez, España recibe de sus países de origen una cantidad mensual por cada uno (300 euros), independientemente de que usen los servicios sanitarios o no. Estos supone unos 3.600 euros anuales por persona. El balance es beneficioso para el Estado español, ya que el gasto medio en Sanidad está alrededor de 1.500 euros.
As the Spanish Health Minister (Trinidad Jiminéz) acknowledges the net balance of income vs costs is benefical to Spain to the amout of 2100 euros per person. In addition, as residents the pensioners also pay indirect taxes which help fund the health service. Spain benefits.
Secondly, tourists receiving healthcare whilst on holiday thru the European Health card system
http://www.rtve.es/noticias/20090924...s/293621.shtml
The point is clearly made in the article that Spain is reimbursed for each bill by the tourists home country. The balace again is favourable to Spain to the amount of 25 million euros. Also worth pointing out that that tourists spend a lot of money in Spain which in turn generates indirect taxes. Other than a visit to AE, I don´t see them being much of drain on the public purse. If Spain does have a disadvantage in this respect, it down to inability of the administrative systems to effectively bill for all healthcare costs. Maybe a bit harsh but really that isn´t that down to Spain to sought its beaurocracy ?
Thirdly, early retirees resident in Spain
Any EU citizen resident in the UK receives full free health care as of right. EU citizens resident in Spain by and large have to pay either thru private medical insurance or through afiliation to the Security System. As residents they also pay taxes which help pay for the health services. Again, an arrangment that benefits Spain.
Fourthly, health tourists
Despite all that has appeared in the Spanish media and forums about this issue, I´d be interested to see some actual numbers. I agree it is an abuse of the Spanish health system, but then again Spain is not alone in suffering from this phenomemon. If the health tourist is covered under the EHIC arrangments the country of origin picks up the bill. Where this may not be the case (eg. cases of elective surgery ?) I don´t think you´d hear too many protests if Spain rightly sent them back to UK to take their place on the waiting list like everyone else.
Last edited by LittleWeed; May 20th 2010 at 7:38 pm.
May 20th 2010, 9:52 pm
#77
Banned
Joined: Dec 2006
Location: Living in a good place
Posts: 8,824
Re: Spanish girl learns English (but claims benefits) in Edinburgh
I just cannot see people from the UK being "health tourists" to Spain. Firstly the language problem, even many pensioners elect to return to the UK for treatment. Secondly the waiting time for operations in Andalucia has had a big increase over the last few years. The spanish health service are not daft, they know how to differentiate from a real emergency and a health tourist.
Someone who we knew lived here and only used the EHIC no problem until he was diagnosed as having gall-stones. The hospital told him because it was not a dire emergency he would have to return to his own country for treatment.
Someone who we knew lived here and only used the EHIC no problem until he was diagnosed as having gall-stones. The hospital told him because it was not a dire emergency he would have to return to his own country for treatment.
