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Switching is no problem usually, but if you are able to work but not 'willing' you'll lose your health insurance pretty soon.

not in most eu country's ok recent immigrants may have to have a short period of paying into the system.

When I was out of work in the UK I signed on to keep my NI record up to date as they only account full years

In the UK you lose your unemployment insurance benefits and thus the health insurance after ~30 weeks (source: http://ec.europa.eu/social/BlobServlet?docId=10852&langId=en)

Average for EU countries is ~50 weeks. That's not long if you do not want to work for money for the rest of your life.

In the UK, healthcare is free regardless of employment status. You don't need health insurance.

This is wrong, health care is free at the point of use in the UK, whether you are employed or not.