HEALTHCARE

FOR ANYONE INTERESTED I HAVE JUST BEEN ACCEPTED ON THE SPANISH HEALTHCARE SYSTEM (INSS) ALTHOUGH I AM NOT RETIRED.  I HAD TO GET MY OWN S1 FROM UK AS AN EARLY RETIREE.  THEY HAVE A SYSTEM IN UK TO CHECK IF YOU HAVE PAID ENOUGH NATIONAL INSURANCE TO ENTITLE YOU TO FREE CARE, AND I THINK THE CUT OFF AS WITH FULL PENSION IS 35 YEARS.  I AM 64 AND THE UK DWP ADVISED THAT I WAS ENTITLED TO TWO AND A HALF YEARS OF HEALTHCARE IN SPAIN.  AS I AM 64 I ONLY NEED IT FOR 6 MONTHS BEFORE I QUALIFY AS A PENSIONER AT 65.

 It's based on the amount of NI you have paid in the last 2 years before you left UK, not on the amount of contributions you have made over a lifetime.  

Edna, as an aside, I'm not sure where you got your pension cut off figures from. As from 6/4/2010 retiring men and women need 30 years national insurance contributions for a full basic pension, previously it was 44 for men and 39 for women.

EDNA,

You have been accepted in Spain because the UK will be paying £3,500 a year for your cover.  Just like all the rest of us who are 'in the Spanish system'.