Thinking of spending your golden years in another country in the European Union?

What will happen to your pension and healthcare coverage

if you’re receiving a state pension from one or more EU countries?

Well, thanks to European Union rules, you can move to any EU country,

plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland,

and carry on receiving the entire amount of your state pension there.

Take Marta, for example:

she is Finnish and has decided to retire in Portugal.

Marta receives a state pension from Finland.

Living in Portugal, Marta continues to receive her pension there.

Remember: Wherever you have worked in the EU,

you will carry on receiving your pension if you move to another EU country.

If you have worked in more than one EU country,

you will carry on receiving pensions from each of these countries.

But what about healthcare?

If you decide to live in a country which is also paying one of your pensions,

whatever the amount,

this country will generally be responsible for your healthcare coverage.

Take the example of Marta,

she is enjoying her retirement in Portugal,

but Portugal isn’t paying her a pension.

Her healthcare coverage is therefore ensured

by the country paying her pension-Finland.

Note that Marta can access healthcare in Portugal.

This is because she asked her Finnish healthcare authority for an ‘S1 form’,

which she registered with the Portuguese authorities.

Therefore, she receives health care under the same conditions

as people insured in Portugal.

Behind the scenes,

Finland reimburses Portugal for the healthcare provided on its behalf.

Finland is also responsible for issuing Marta with a European Health Insurance Card,

which she can use for medically necessary healthcare when travelling in the EU.

Thanks to EU social security coordination,

you can move freely around Europe and not lose out on your social security rights.