Palma.—Thousands of British expatriates who have taken early retirement in Spain will now have to get private health insurance following the UK government’s decision to scrap free access to their local Spanish health care system.
The change in legislation, set to be implemented on 1 April 1, will affect only those who have not already completed a Social Security residual form S1 before leaving the UK.
Jobless expatriates
However, once their current form comes to an end, jobless UK expatriates in Spain are likely to also be obliged to buy private medical insurance.