If you understand the question, why didn`t you answer it ?

I know JDR is more than capable of answering for himself - but I think yes, you might be thick or at least missing the point.
I think his point is why are the UK government not prepared to pay for the healthcare of people (who have contributed via their NI payments) whilst they are resident in another EU member state. The mechanism for spain or any other country in the EU to claim this money back is already in place via the E111.
Sorry JDR if I have misinterpreted your point.

perhaps you didn't understand my answer ? I T I S T H E L A W !

Spot on , I dont think he understands that the problem is the UK government and nothing to do with the Spanish system.

Looked very similar to areas of West London where property is sold very quickly at prices upward of £400,000.

Your answer is fair enough, but the problem they are moaning about is the fact that they have paid into the system in the UK all their life and are getting no health cover in another EU country.

Yes , E111 for tourists , you get free Spanish NHS for 2 years . you have taken the choice to leave UK and stop paying in to the system .

If you cancelled your house insurance then your house burnt down , how likely do you think you are to get paid out .

He is also generalising!!! Certain provinces (Valencia for one) do offer free health care after 2 years.

Pero es mucha mejor hablar la idioma

but it is also better, in any language, to come up with solutions rather than to rant!!!

Cheers Gadget

This is where I believe you are entirely WRONG, from the info given in the programme - in the first 2 years the UK reimburse Spain the cost of any care provided - it doesn't cost Spain a penny!!

My main point is , no matter where you are living if you have chosen to leave the system you have cancelled your insurance .

If you are in Spain either pay in to the spanish system or pay in to the UK system , that way no one , not even me could argue agiainst receiving benefits .

As you may of noticed from my name West london is very close to my heart , (may be for not much longer !) , have seen a number of building sites around Fulham but not too many arid rolling hills, still did see plenty of donkeys at stamford bridge sunday but they were from nottingham !

JDR. Just remember your signature.

QED

Them Forest lot don't like you Rams , kind of see their point !

Soon be up with you lot again

But those featured on the programme HADN'T been paying into the UK system all their life - that was the problem - they had chosen to take "early retirement". If they were of retirement age and therefore HAD been paying into the system all their life they would have been entitled to state health care here in Spain.

I do sympathise with anyone who finds their life blighted by ill-health but I cannot believe that these people didn't do their homework - there is surely enough info out there these days - the DWP, the internet, forums like this one, books etc to be able to find out that (Valencia excepted...for now!) unless you are paying Spanish social security you are not entitled to free health care (except maybe for the first 2 years) before retirement age. I know it seems unfair when anyone is entitled to free NHS care in the UK (unless you are a returning expat!) but that's the way it is at the moment.

Also how many of them admitted that part of the problem was that they still didn't speak Spanish adequately...