Since April 2012 almost 900,000 people have lost their health service coverage because they no longer contribute the Seguridad Social.
This is a result of the new law (RDL) that was brought into being two years ago to guarantee the Public Health System and to improve its quality… supposedly.
A total of 73 social, scientific and professional organisations published a manifesto including this startling figure on this second anniversary of the new law.
“With the introduction of the RDL, medical assistance ceased to be a right for all and became a service linked to being administratively covered,” read the manifesto, meaning that if you are not paying your social security because you are out of work, you lose your access to the public health service.
The manifesto also pointed out that even though a citizen might not be able to pay his social security, he is still paying tax every time he makes a purchase (IVA), for example.
Moving on, the Catholic Church charity, Cáritas, had some grim news in its annual report summing up 2013: they are now providing aid to 2.5m Spaniards, which is 600,000 more than in 2012.
Editorial Comment: In the meantime the Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy and his Ministers continue to bleat that the crisis is over and the economy improving. Really, Mariano, for whom?
(News: Spain)
I find the article a bit misleading, and may confuse people particularly those who live in the Valencia community. I moved to Spain in April 2003 aged 50 years old, and retired, and about 2004/2005 I got state health cover. In 2009 I was informed that I could no longer receive state health care free of charge, and would have to pay 270 euros a quarter to keep my cover. This I did, but in 2013 I became aware of a document, which said that if you had residencia on or before 20 April 2012, which I did you were entitled to free health care. I contacted my solicitor, and with the necessary documentation obtained a full SIP card, and NO longer make any contributions. Regards Trevor Williams.