No more free healthcare to the Britons living in Costa Blanca
Posted by Administrator (admin) on Jul 07 2008
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No more free healthcare to the Britons living in Costa Blanca

The provincial government of Valencia offered free healthcare to all European residents living in the region, back in 2002. Among those some 500.000 Britons whom mostly are over 50. And at the time it seemed like a good plan to attract the “wealthy” northerners to the region and investing in the booming property market.

Now the same government has removed this concession!

Mostly due to a collapsed property market and an extra annual health cost of € 1bn putting a great strain on the system.

Property sales in the region is believed to have fallen almost 40% this last year and with the economy slowing down the healthcare resources has been drained and this decision has been necessary.

Healthcare centres have been overrun with phone calls from worried expats. Many with long-term illnesses and most who originally moved to the region because of the free healthcare incentive. Now these people are forced to either move home or take out private insurances to ensure continued treatment.  Living on their pensions and with a weaker pound this could prove to be a real disaster.

Written by:  Niels Kristian Holm

Last changed: Jul 08 2008 at 2:31 PM