REPORT ON THE WORKSHOPS AT THE BRITISH EMBASSY IN MADRID ON 19 SEPT 2019 - Page 2

Latest update from U.K. Govt on Healthcare for S1 holders (mainly U.K. pensioners).

Issued 23.9.19, this again says that state healthcare for those of us in Spain continues until Dec 2020, it seems that the ‘just six months more after a No Deal’ was a generic application for all EU countries until April 2020 but that U.K.-Spain have a reciprocal arrangement that lasts 8 months longer. But we need to keep watching developments closely ...

“If there is a deal and you are resident in Spain, your current rights on access to healthcare in Spain will remain the same as long as you remain a resident in Spain.

“If there’s no deal, the UK and Spain have each taken steps to ensure that people living in each country can continue to access healthcare as they do now until at least 31 December 2020. This means that if you are currently living in Spain and the UK currently pays for your healthcare, for example you are an S1 form holder, your healthcare access will remain the same after 31 October 2019 until at least December 2020.

“UK-issued European Health Insurance Care (EHIC) holders in Spain, such as tourists, students and some workers, will also be able to continue to access healthcare in the same way until at least 31 December 2020.

“If you are an S1 holder your UK-issued EHIC may not be valid for travel to other European member states. In either case, you must ensure you have comprehensive travel insurance.”

Thanks again for keeping us informed Chris

Thank you Chrissie very help

Further update just now - 24.9.19 - from Brexpats in Spain.

Further to our conversations today with the British Embassy Madrid following the UK's announcement re our access to state healthcare post-Brexit, below is their reply:

PART ONE:

“Today’s El País article and the UK government’s announcement about transitional healthcare arrangements this morning have caused some confusion and concern amongst UK nationals in Spain.  I’m therefore writing to you now to provide some clarification on these points and would be grateful if you can share these with your members.

Article in El País:

• The Secretary of State Stephen Barclay met with the Spanish Foreign Minister, Josep Borrell, as part of his visit.  Both sides agree that protecting the rights of citizens remains a priority for both governments.  Technical discussions will continue between the UK and Spain to ensure that the UK and Spanish offers will work together in practice – see below for more information about healthcare specifically.

• The British Embassy feels that certain parts of the El País article are misleading.  For example, during the meeting, the Secretary of State reiterated the UK government’s commitment to protecting the rights of EU citizens in the UK.  The UK has a different legal system to that of Spain.  Rather than passing one no deal law, the UK has legislated for the no deal guarantee to EU citizens through existing primary and secondary legislation.  The EU Settlement Scheme is already live and other rights have been legislated for and are ready to enter into force once the UK leaves the EU.  The rights of EU citizens are therefore provided for by UK law.

PART TWO:

Healthcare access in a no deal – announcement by the UK government on transitional arrangements:

• UK nationals in Spain may have seen the announcement from the Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, that the UK will cover healthcare costs of UK nationals living in the EU for 6 months if there is no deal. It seems there has been some confusion about what this means for UK nationals in Spain.

• The UK government is today announcing that if there’s no deal, and if arrangements have not been finalised with member states, the UK government will cover the cost of healthcare access for anyone who currently has their healthcare paid for by the UK, such as S1 holders, for a period of 6 months.  This is a general announcement which applies to UK nationals living throughout the EU.

• However, the UK government does NOT anticipate UK nationals in Spain needing to access this offer (though it may be an important development for UK nationals living in other member states).

• This is because, as has been updated on the NHS pages, the Living in Spain guide and the gov.uk announcement, the UK government is also confirming TODAY that it will continue to fund the healthcare of any UK nationals who are living in Spain and who currently have their healthcare paid for by the UK, such as S1 holders, until the end of December 2020.

• As has been widely reported, the Spanish government has published a Royal Decree which enables healthcare access for UK nationals living in or visiting Spain to continue after Brexit.  This is provided the UK does the same for Spanish nationals in the UK and continues to reimburse Spain for healthcare costs as now.

• The UK government is today reassuring UK nationals living in or visiting Spain and Spanish nationals living in or visiting the UK that they will be able to access healthcare as they do now until at least December 2020, whatever the Brexit scenario.

• The necessary legal steps have been taken in the UK to ensure both the conditions set out in the Spanish Royal Decree are met if there’s no deal.

• Technical discussions will continue between UK and Spanish officials to ensure that, on a practical level, the reciprocal healthcare arrangements continue to work as seamlessly as they do now between the two countries.

• All S1 holders who live in Spain will shortly receive a letter from the Department of Health and Social Care explaining the above update.  We will share a copy of this letter with you when we have the final version.

Healthcare after 2020 if there’s no deal:

• If there’s no deal, the UK government will use the period between 31 October 2019 and 31 December 2020 to explore longer term options with the EU, including the funding of pensioners, other S1 holders and EHICs.

Anne & Richard

All sounds like blind panic to me no sense in worrying about want the UK parliament will do, it does not no and has not known for months now. Just lay back and enjoy your life here and try not worry about she said, he said and what if and nots. Be happy please.

Which is nice, Alan, however it behooves us to know what to expect so that we can make plans accordingly to continue to enjoy our lives here.  Whatever else happens, the one certainty that must be faced is that if / when Brexit occurs, it means changes for each and every one of us living here

“Just lay back and enjoy your life here and try not worry“?

If only! Some of us rely on continuing health care being available. This is not guaranteed. Presumably you are alright Jack. Good for you. Not for the 20% of U.K. residents in Spain that are state pensioners with an S1 healthcare passport.

No I am one of those who relies on the S1 system. But I cannot afford to worry about things we have no control over. The reason we left UK was not to worry, but hey oh if we have go home we have to go home.

Which I think illustrates the main difference.

You see, for me, here IS home.  UK is just a place where some friends and family live.  Being forced to go back to the UK would not be “going home” - it would be leaving home