Joe Duggan (Reporter)
EXPAT campaigners have warned thousands of UK pensioners could leave Spain after Brexit.
Bremain In Spain fear ‘a significant proportion’ of the 103,000 British pensioners in Spain could leave.
Sue Wilson, Chair of Bremain in Spain, believes if reciprocal healthcare rights are lost and triple-lock pensions frozen, many retirees may be forced to return to Britain.
Currently, triple-lock pensions rise in line with earnings, inflation or by 2.5%.
Wilson said: “There are serious concerns as to whether returning pensioners would be forced to wait six months before receiving healthcare from the NHS.
“Those remaining in the EU could be asked to prove they have private health insurance: this would be denied to many because of their age or pre-existing conditions.”
She added that under Spanish private health insurance pensioners may have to pay 100% of prescription costs, instead of 10%.
A group spokesperson added that the value of Spanish homes would be insufficient for many pensioners to buy property in the UK.
Bremain in Spain member, Sandra Stretton, who has lived in Spain for nine years, said: “I could be forced to return to the UK, against my will, to live on benefits.
“I would thereby be forfeiting my independence and dignity. All my life choices to date would be taken away from me.”
Bremain In Spain representatives will participate in the March for Europe in London on March 25.
If they have to leave, then so be it. But, they will simply be exchanging the frying pan for the fire.
STAY if you can. Britain will only treat returnees with contempt and penury. Don’t imagine for one moment that a “benefits” cushion awaits you. John Bull sees you as deserters, traitors even, for having the temerity to turn your backs on Britannia.
What planet are you on Stefanjo? If these people are British they’ll get the usual assistance. Seen as traitors? Have you swallowed an out of date dictionary? Half the population in London are foreigners and have never heard the word traitor!
stupid comment
A large proportion of pensioners from the UK that have property in the EU also have a UK address and bank Account. The UK government do not know they are not just on holiday and they just pop back for doctors, hospital etc.
The number of pensioners living in Spain is just over 108,000 (DWP – May 16). There is no doubt that many of these pensioners will be forced to return to the UK if the health and pension rules change as a result of Brexit. Before the UK actually makes their Brexit decisions/negotiations, the Office of Budget Responsibility will have to crunch the numbers and consider the huge cost that returning pensioners will have on the Treasury. Higher pension costs; higher social welfare costs; higher housing costs, higher NHS costs…the list goes on and on. At the moment, around 3,000 pensioners return to the UK each year.
How about some recent, basic State Pension returnees putting in their two-pennorth then? Let us know how cushy it was when sourcing benefits, registering with a G.P. being housed by the state, all the rigmarole involved in reverse migration. How easy was it?
Not talking here about well-off folk with a financial cushion/private pension, but those who could no longer manage financially and/or physically. (Health-wise). It could well be a service to others who may be in the same boat.