Where will they all go and live ???

But most of the people who back to their own country will be young, those returning will be old, so I ask who will do the caring?

Ellianne when you have worked all your life in the UK and have a state pension the UK is defined as your "competent state". This means that in a country where there is a reciprocal S1 agreement the UK remains responsible for your health cover through a sum paid to the host state. S1 holders have a UK issued EHIC card and remain fully entitled to treatment under the NHS.

I'm interested in what you say Jura, I thought the NHS was a residence based health care system so British retirees abroad shouldn't really be accessing the system. How can they receive treatment in the UK without being referred by a GP?

Joelsnan 'Most I know of retain a UK address and return to UK for treatment anyway.'

try that is you have a nasty accident, a stroke, or heart attack or virulent cancer, etc...

ooops, he won't have the right to ...

Just one small but important point to make - we haven't yet escaped the EU's clutches and as the PM is thwarted at every turn in his attempt to get us out, this discussion could well be immaterial.

I have a horrible feeling we will never escape, but I hope I am wrong.
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Sorry re the 30E- that was to Urmstong, not Merlot.

As for British retirees in the EU returning for treatment in the UK currently- this is perfectly legal.

jennyluck 'I’m not sure why people who choose to live abroad, expect the UK to still look after them and their health. They’ve moved away to have a better life, and that’s fair enough. But it’s like having your cake and eating it. ?'

the S1 form allows British retirees in the EU- who have paid into the system ALL THEIR LIFE, on UK pensions in Sterling alone (no other income) to have health treatment in the EU where they currently live. That was one of the many reciprocal agreements bewtween all EU countries, for Brits retired in the EU, and EU retired in UK. Totally fair- and people had planned very carefully with that in mind.

They could not ever have planned for this to be dropped at any time. No-one could imagine the UK to choose to leave the EU WITHOUT a deal.

I think growstuff that if migrant pensioners in France and Spain are still entitled to cover as third country nationals that would be the majority of those affected. I think I have read that Portugal and Italy? would be ok too. I suspect that the people who will be in trouble are those who have chosen to live under the radar and nor register for taxation etc. I don't have a lot of sympathy for them tbh.
I think journalists have looked at the government statement on S1 and not considered what the stated position of the host nation is. I don't doubt that there will be difficulties for some people in some countries of the EU27, but it is complex and nuanced.
I am fascinated by the people who think that anyone who choses to work or live in another country is some kind of traitor. They presumably would have disapproved of the founders of Empire?
We live in France because we love it and the life here suits us. Our children are spread out across Europe. We still like the UK as well. ? (And I am still obliged to pay tax there as well as here, which I do willingly).

Ellianne: 'What did occur to me ,however, was your comment that they bought up what they thought was a "bargain" when none of the French wanted such properties. In that respect they didn't really do their homework so maybe they will just have to sell at rock bottom prices in order to get back to the UK. '

no, they did their homework very very carefully- they bought in wonderful areas where prices were low- because too far from business centres.When they very carefully did their homework- being a member of the EU, with all the reciprocal rights and agreements included- they came to 100% logical and sensible conclusions- and could not possibly envisage the UK would ever choose to Leave the EU, and without a Deal at that. How could they have ever planned for this???

Merlot - 30 Euros to pay for supplies per week, that is fine. But your friend will NOT be able to get resident permit on that basis. He will have to prove, that he has 100% health insurance coverage for all eventualities, medical conditions, pre-existing or not, and accident. Without it- he want have the right to continue to live there.

growstuff I think maybe some of the attitudes are grown from jealousy!!

Mamie I read somewhere that it does indeed depend in which country people are living and their residency status. A few people are, of course, stinking rich and will be able to afford private healthcare and others are insured by employers. Off the top of my head, I read that it's estimated about 75,000 people will be affected. They're mainly elderly and rely on reciprocal healthcare. I'm afraid I didn't really take in all the details, but I'll see if I can find the link I was reading.

My oh my! I've come across xenophobia directed at foreigners, but is there a word for attitudes towards British people accused of abandoning the beloved isles to live somewhere else?

jennyluck You say that people who leave the UK to live abroad should not expect the UK to cover their health care. I am not entirely clued up on all the ins and outs of the EU rules but I believe that, as members of the EU, there was a reciprocal arrangement for people leaving the UK for other EU countries and for people coming to the UK from other countries to receive health care.

I think it's a bit unfair to say that those who left the UK should have been prepared to sort out their own health arrangements. Surely, the point is they were under the impression that they were covered under EU rules. How could they have predicted that everything would change?

The foreigners which will repatriate back to there home country ,which will leave a large housing stock for expats returning . We have to remember that these people turned there back on the UK to live there life in the sun . It a shame that there lifes in paradise has to come to an end , but England needs to rule its own country . Why should us in England put up with s##t , so they can continuing living there lavish lives abroad .

Semantics Saggi it’s just shorthand. We all know what is meant by ‘ex pats’ immediately. No offence is meant.

PC world again ....

Thank you growstuff for excellent post , and for calling them ‘returning emigrants’..... which indeed is what they are . NOT ex-pats! Why oh why do we call people coming into this country immigrants but people leaving it ‘ex-pats’ there’s discrimination for you. Nothing patriotic about these folk is there. Notice where they all head when the s••• hits the fan!

The position is actually more complicated than the simple "six months" headline. There is no doubt that a "no deal" Brexit will make our lives as migrant pensioners in the EU more complicated and poor treatment of EU migrants in the UK would not help. We have already lost 20% of our income because of the decline of the pound since the Brexit vote and this is a major worry for many.
However it isn't as simple as "six months cover health cover and then you have to go back".
If a no deal Brexit happens we will become "third country nationals" of the member state in which we are resident, subject to the same rules as other non EU countries.
For those of us in France, who are living here in a "regular fashion" and paying taxes as full time residents, continued health cover will be relatively straightforward. We will enter the part of the health service known as PUMA. This may involve a small tax on any investment income, but otherwise will only involve the payment of the top-up insurance that we already pay. The health cover that we have here is excellent and I have never met anyone who chose to return to the UK for treatment.
I cannot speak for migrant pensioners in other countries, but I understand that Spain has said that that UK pensioners will have continued access to health cover.
We are all worried by what is happening, but as ever, the headlines are over-simplified, hysterical and frequently wrong.

That's good to hear.

The lady neighbour in Malaga that I mentioned upthread visited her son in Yorkshire in July this year. She was concerned about a warty growth on her cheek. Could it be cancerous?

Her son took her to his local walk in centre. He gave his home address. She was seen by a nurse and reassured.

She returned to Spain. On arrival there was a letter waiting for her. Please photocopy your EHIC card (both sides) and send it to this department in the enclosed envelope. Or email said photograph to us at this address.

As she doesn’t ‘do’ emails I did it for her, stating this was on behalf of Mrs. ....

An email came back, thanking her for the prompt response and reassuring her that as she held an S1 certificate no charge was applicable.

I think the days of sleeping on someone’s sofa and just putting down an address at A&E or the GP surgery are dwindling. Technology is able to track individuals better and claim payments (where necessary).

I haven't a clue why individuals leave the UK, but maybe it's not a question of the UK "not being good enough". Why wouldn't somebody go and live somewhere with cheaper property and better weather? Maybe they have friends and relatives abroad.

They're British - that's why we are responsible.

It's this kind of issue which a withdrawal deal would have negotiated, which is why one is needed. Until there is a deal, nobody can say with any certainty whether there will be a reciprocal arrangement. Until then, people are in limbo.

If they left the UK of their own accord, it’s up to them to sort their future. If the UK was not good enough to live in, why should we be responsible for them now,

Used to be involved in elderly care. For years ex pats even though saying they would never live in UK again have, at the first sign of needing health care managed to find the UK a great place. Even coming back for free eye, dental checks. They just use a relatives, friends address, some do this whilst living in a travel lodge kind of accommodation. If there is a very big expensive health issue needing treatment they rent accommodation short term. Yes, the sun, cheap lifestyle is great until money is needed for health care then all of a sudden that residency in Spain etc isn't quite so good.

Not all Leavers are that daft Grannyrebel