They want a concession allowing early retirees free access to the public health system to remain in place

Many British protesters were amongst the close to 200 European residents of the Costa Blanca who marched in Alicante on Thursday morning against the Valencia government’s decision to withdraw their access to free healthcare. The demonstrators marched from the British Consulate to the Generalitat building, in demand of their claim that they should not now be obliged to pay a fee if they want to continue to use Valencia’s public health service.

They carried two cardboard coffins draped with the flags of Europe and Spain, which La Verdad newspaper reports aimed to symbolise the death of the relationship between the two regions.

The measure brought in by the Valencia government affects those who have taken early retirement and are not otherwise eligible for free public health care in the region. A concession in place since 2003 allowing them access to free healthcare has now been withdrawn and a quarterly fee has been set at 270 €. The protesters believe the concession should remain in place (Via Original Article)

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