Spain to treat sick expats!

[frank]

http://www.expatica.com/source/site_art ... ck+expats+

[Bongtrees]

http://www.expatica.com/source/site_art ... ck+expats+

That was certainly a very interesting article Frank.

I wonder why the German health authority were not asked to foot the bill and why she had to seek treatment in Switzerland and if it was or was not available in Spain or Germany.

Mike

[silver]

Cound not read the article but sounds like very good news.

[silver]

No other country in Europe has had to cope with such a large influx in such a short time, placing a huge strain on public services.
The strain is made worse by the large number of tourists — 55 million each year.

just read the report..quite interesting.

[sunkissed]

What it doesn't say is the huge fiscal benefit Spain has received with all the espats living here. Every £1000 of UK pension transfered to Spain and spent here on food and other living costs is exactly the same as a Spanish company exporting £1000 of good overseas. Compare that with every £1000 of state pension they have to pay to their own retired population straight out of current tax.

I also thought they could claim the health costs back from the persons EU nationality country??

I read somewhere that within 12 years countries wil be competing with each other to attract permanent overseas residents. They need to ramp up the health system for sure but the costs have to be balanced against the benefits. If all the expats left tomorrow the economy would collapse

[katy]

Sunkissed you are correct, Spain receives a fixed sum for every pensioner from another EC country they also pay for the care received under the E-111. This is something that the spanish authorities do not tell their citizens when they are complaining that foreigners are hogging state hospital beds. I posted about this recently on a spanish forum and I was called a liar!

[Bongtrees]

If all the expats left tomorrow the economy would collapse

Thats an unbelievable statement.
Can you back it up and tell us the numbers involved re the population of Spain and number of expats living here.

Maybe you are only refering to Marbella.............

Mike

[frank]

In 2000, there were about 900,000 immigrants registered as living in Spain. Now there are 3.5 million.

It is an increase of almost 400%, and that number could be much higher.

Amnesty

Hundreds of thousands of Europeans and illegal immigrants living here do not register with the authorities. But it is the increase that is dramatic, not the actual number of foreigners living here.

Officially, immigrants now represent 8% of the country's population of nearly 44m people. That percentage is nothing out of the ordinary in the European Union.

[silver]

Every £1000 of UK pension transfered to Spain

Not all transfer to Spain.

and spent here on food and other living costs

Some of what they spend goes on Imported goods..
So Its NOT

EXACTLY the same as a Spanish company exporting £1000 of good overseas.

[silver]

If all the expats left tomorrow

If they leave as they found it.....

[sunkissed]

I may have exaggerated I tiinge about the economy collapse and some food is imported but nevertherless it cannot be denied that the economy has benefited hugely from the the influx of self sufficient people and resifentail tourism from other parts of Europe which must outway the health costs. A lot also use private medical insurance

[silver]

it cannot be denied that the economy has benefited hugely

Too true... not and never denied this..just like to keep the balance right as many only see one side of things.. other things I would also point out are..the rent money for flats in spain thats recieved in england..the good brought over..the tax thats not payed by those who should..but thats enough.
I think if you look at things from a money point of view then Spain has gained a lot...but money aint everything

[Guest]

""medical tourists"

oh dear that article was terrible. I hope to god the other EU states don't end up like that what would make it even worse would be if the lady was from a non EU state like Africa or Asia.