for Expats in the EU who voted remain, to be relly upset and angry at neighbours and 'friends' who have voted to leave?

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Anyone from abroad who is working and paying tax in the UK is entitled to NHS care. Anyone at all, whatever nationality, is entitled to free NHS emergency care. The rest are free loaders, we buy insurance in order to travel in other countries, so should visitors to the UK.

If people actively choose to go and live in another country long-term, presumably because they prefer it, I don’t understand why they don’t take citizenship, assuming that they’re able to. It’s not as if Brits can’t have dual nationality - I know someone with 3 perfectly legal foreign passports.
Though I dare say it may often be a case of not wanting or bothering to learn the language well enough.

A Swedish friend who lived here for many years took out UK nationality when she thought it might be needed later.

As for driving abroad then people simply have to obtain the correct paperwork. Years ago, when travelling to Europe we had to obtain a ‘Green Card.’ Remember that? I do. It wasn’t a problem. If some people decide to live abroad, then they need to satisfy the legal requirements of that country in order to drive there. It’s not rocket science!

Ha thank you Castillmon that’s reassured me somewhat. You can be my first witness for the Defence!

I must rush out and buy a copy to wave at the judge as proof!

Yes in our case, it has been a combination of Swiss Franc going up concurrently with Sterling going down- so about 50% loss of income

maddyone - I would love to buy travel insurance, as we always used to from the UK. You obviously have not been following the thread- you can't buy a product which does not exist where you live- as clearly explained. Until Dec. 2020 we will be covered by EHIC, and REGA, Swiss helicopter rescue- which would repatriate us if necessary. Then - we won't be covered in EU at all apart from REGA, and so far- no insurance available here for that purpose. So can you call us foolish- if we were previously covered, but no longer will soon- with no alternative to buy into. A bit unfair, no?

Of course we we go shopping locally in France, or when we go walking, xcountry skiing, etc- a few km from the border- we will just take that chance, and ask friend to pick me up, or ambulance to take me to border ... of course. But shall we accept that we can no longer drive to UK to stay at our holiday place or see GCs. Give up our trips to Italy. Never go and visit sil and bil in Portugal, or drive through to Austria, or ...?

We are in discussion with our insurers who are being great, but the British Embassy in Bern has not got a clue. And neither has the State insurance staff. Probably, as said, we are just a handful finding ourselves in that situation. All the retiree expats I know here have been working here for years, and are not affected.

Incidentally, in reply to the OP, yes it is unreasonable.

maddyone- we have exchanged our UK licences for Swiss ones- as per the Law- so driving is not the issue. Personal insurance is - if we have a crash on the way, even if totally innocent and faultless- we would not be covered for healthcare post Dec 2020. We always drive as we have a dog that cannot be left.

For info- I have changed licence twice, In 1970, pre EU, I had to retake my driving licence in full, practical and oral (by side of the road- in English) - as this was the Rules then. I had taken my Swiss licence the year before.

Seems I have dyslexia too this morning Callistemon.

I’m going for a lie-down.
??

But shall we accept that we can no longer drive to UK to stay at our holiday place or see GCs. Give up our trips to Italy. Never go and visit sil and bil in Portugal, or drive through to Austria, or ...?

No, but (like other people) you have to decide what you are willing to pay for.
You are not exactly being sequestered behind an Iron Curtain or the Berlin Wall.

Witzend, I took British nationality in 73- OH took Swiss nationality 6 years ago. So both dual nationals- it makes no difference whatsoever to the situation we now have. We are totally dependent on UK pensions.

maddyone Eligibilit for NHS is based on residency, which means that people living abroad aren't always entitled to free NHS care, even if they pay UK tax. People from abroad aren't entitled to most NHS care either. After this week, EU citizens will have to pay a not insignificant amount of money for the NHS. My understanding is that people working in the NHS won't have to pay, but others, including teachers, will.

Well if we could buy holiday insurance- I can assure you we would- but it does not exist. And no, not quite - but in practice... how can we travel without cover, except REGA frôr repatriation in some cases (only if they are not happy re the treatment given where you are and it is deemed necessary for health reasons).

Witzend many people have taken citizenship.
It doesn't have anything to do with what is being discussed here, which is about people who have moved to another EU country after retirement and the impact of Brexit on their pensions and their health cover.
FWIW we speak the language fluently, have very little contact with other people from the UK and are very much a part of our local community. We are not French and have enjoyed the right to live here as EU members, shortly to become third country nationals.
My French friends have no problem understanding this concept at all. They would still be French wherever they lived.

growstuff- we are definittely allowed to use the NHS in the UK- as we are not EU citizens, but Brits with UK pensions.
A totally different story.

So if we fly to UK- we will be covered- but if we drive over, we won't for the duration of the journey. I suppose we could put the dog down, so we can fly. But as we saved her 2 years ago from being put down by owners for very selfish reasons- I just could not.

Jura, as you lived in the UK for many years, surely you could buy insurance from the UK? I don’t know, maybe the cost is too high.
I have dipped in and out of the thread so not read it all.
It sounds as if you have a very good life style in Switzerland. You say you moved there to take care of elderly parents, but you are British, so you have the option to base yourself here again now your parents are no longer alive. You will be entitled to receive NHS care as you lived here and paid tax here.

"We are totally dependent on UK pensions."
As we are, and all other pensioners in the UK.
We can't be sure that our automatic annual increase will continue post Brexit. Some say they can't do that, it's against the law! But when needs, must. Look at the postponing of OAP age limit. Macron trying to do the same in France.
Or for my LG pension which depends on foreign investments which could easily dry up.
All these things beyond our control so make the best of it and stop panicking.

Thank you growstuff, I didn’t know that. I thought all will remain the same till the end of the transition period. Why is it changing this week?
Incidentally, when our three children worked abroad during gap years, or our daughter’s elective (medical course) we bought insurance for all three of them to cover any medical needs. It seemed sensible to protect them. For this reason I don’t have a problem with people buying their own medical insurance.
Incidentally an American family I knew years ago who lived and worked in Britain, were eligible and used NHS care, because the husband worked and paid tax here.Do you know when this situation changed?

I'd just like to point out that life throws spanners in the works in other ways - not just Brexit induced.

When spanners have been thrown into our lives we have adapted, found solutions and lived within our means to keep things on track.

DH has two brothers who live abroad. They have both seen their financial situations change due to Brexit - they have had to change their expectations. As I said above, tough!

Lots of things in life are tough - not being able to get cheap, or free, health cover is just another thing and not that tough in the great scheme of things.

My friend's husband is on dialysis which curtails his holiday options quite considerably - that's tough too!

Dh has a few medical issues that have forced us to re-evaluate our holiday thoughts but we are more than happy to explore this beautiful country and not to moan about it.

Adapt and survive.

I suppose we could put the dog down, so we can fly. But as we saved her 2 years ago from being put down by owners for very selfish reasons- I just could not

Now you are just being melodramatic.
There are dog sitters (look for them) boarding kennels (again, look) friends who will house sit and look after dogs etc etc
What do you think happens to Hattie when I am on granny duty in London?
That sort of emotional blackmail carries no weight .
OP, you have chosen your lifestyle, why bleat because you have to adapt to changes?

maddyone, you can't buy Health Insurance from the UK if you are not resident there, I can assure you. If only...

And yes, we can move back to UK and always thought we would at some point- the reason why we made sure we kept a small property there, just in case. As much as we love the UK- what I loved about it seems to be going and perhaps gone... so not attractive at all for us at the mo.

Yes, of course, Kitty- we will adapt and survive - always have, always will. But it is hard, the older you get, and especially just getting over a major health care. But we will ...

We have many friends in France who arrived in last 2 years and are very scared as they still do not have permanent residency- some were counting on being able to have S1 as their partner was older, but now have been widowed - and find themselves distrought by the loss, and scared witless about their future situation.

And they are, indeed, very upset with neighbours and acquaintances in their communities, where expats are very numerous- and who voted for this- especially those who are now constantly moaning about the consequences. This thread was about them- as I have read many of their comments recently on Forums dedicated to them- some who cannot bear to talk, visit or be visited by family and friends from the UK who have voted for this, and even less for those near them who also did so. I do not believe they are AIBU to feel that way, well ATBU.

jura sorry but I think you’ve shot your bolt on this issue my dear. You have made your choices in life. You could reverse them but don’t choose to.

I also think what you fear is 11 months yet down the line (No Deal Brexit) which might never happen. Try to relax and enjoy your life until then.

My late father in law used to say ‘save tomorrow’s worries for tomorrow ‘ ‼️

Sorry , I must be a bit thick this morning, Jura2 if you can’t buy Travel Insurance in the U.K. because you don’t live here and you can’t buy it in Switzerland because it doesn’t exist, how have you obtained Insurance in the past to get you across Europe and into the U.K.?

Oh , hold on! Sorry you’ve been using the Card which enables you to get health cover? And then claiming it against the UKs NHS?

As I said a bit slow this morning........