Pensioners in Spain

[peterehargrave]

From EXPATICA 16 Feb 2011

EU tells Spain: give foreign retirees free medicine
The European Commission took Spain to court Wednesday for refusing to grant pensioners from other EU countries who live temporarily in the country access to free medication.

European Union legislation gives pensioners who live temporarily in another EU country the same access to health care as retirees from their host country, if they present a European health insurance card.

The EU's executive arm accused Spain of discriminating against foreign pensioners by not granting them equal access to free medication, a right for retirees under Spanish law.

The commission decided to bring its case to the Luxembourg-based European Court of Justice, which could force Spain to modify its law.

"The Commission takes the view that Spanish rules are not in line with EU law as they discriminate against pensioners from other EU member states," the commission said in a statement.

Anybody out there want to write to their Euro MP or are we all happy to pay?

:confused::confused::confused:

[jay01]

It will be interesting to see the out come and as to whether Spain complies (doubt it, still one rule for one etc).

As my mother takes a positive cocktail of daily medications she has had to do some serious homework as to availability and cost of the drugs out here.

It would be nice to think that Spain will step up to the plate but then again all cash strapped countries are tightening their belts it just that most apart from the UK are becoming more protectionist where as the UK seems to favour all and sundry apart from the Brits.