Reforms to health care for EU expats -

I have just read an article in Murcia Today which explains the implications for EU ex-pats living in Spain very clearly and it would seem that anyone who is resident (in Spain for more than 3 months) can access state health care (NHS)  if they are pensioners (i.e state retirement pension age and drawing RP) or working legally (employed or self -employed) People who are below state pension age and are not working or working illegally will now be required to prove that they either have private health care insurance or sufficient income or savings to provide for private health care. Anyone now applying for residence or renewal of residence documentation "may" be required to provide appropriate evidence of means to provide for health care for themselves and families.

The 'renewal' of so called 'residencia' ,but in fact the certificate of registration on the list of permanent resident foreigners , is not  required ever by permanent residents from another EU state But only by non-eu family members where it is required to be renewed every 10 years ( this is because non-eu family members have a card which requires the photo updatin & no other reason ) This renewal is AUTOMATIC & no paperwork of any description can be asked for except an updated photo.

This was also pointed out to me , although (I already knew, this morning in a reply from the EU on an associated matter.

The part in question;

Right of permanent residence

Union citizens acquire the right of permanent residence in the host Member State after a five-year period of uninterrupted legal residence, provided that an expulsion decision has not been enforced against them. This right of permanent residence is no longer subject to any conditions. The same rule applies to family members who are not nationals of a Member State and who have lived with a Union citizen for five years. The right of permanent residence is lost only in the event of more than two successive years' absence from the host Member State.

From here;

http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/internal_market/living_and_working_in_the_internal_market/l33152_en.htm

Hope this helps.

 " People who are below state pension age and are not working or working illegally will now be required to prove that they either haveprivate health care insurance or sufficient income or savings to provide for private health care."

However from the official spanish documentation i have seen on this matter, it seems if you are unemployed and receiving benefits here in Spain or your benefits have expired but youre still registered as unemployed you can still obtain health cover.

The EU registry certificate does seem to have catch 22s!, What would happen if you are denied one due to not meeting current requirements and need to get a Spanish driving license for example. Trafico insist on "residencia" paperwork, therefore no license?