Healthcare abroad

abc123456

I receive high mobility and care DLA, and Industrial Injuries Disablement benefit. My wife is my carer and receives Carers Allowance. Prior to my retirement from public service recently at 49 on health grounds, I was fully paid up with 30 years of NI contributions.
My wife has had to give up employment to look after me, but again, had fully contributed NI contributions during her working life.

Amongst other important reasons, we feel that moving abroad (France) to warmer climate would be beneficial.

I realise I would lose the Mobility element of my DLA.

As far as Healthcare is concerned, would we both qualify for French healthcare.

Any have any knowledge in this field?

dmg24

You will qualify for healthcare in France under the EHIC scheme. However, you should be aware that their system may differ from ours - you may have to pay for things that you would not have to here.

You would be best to search for an ex pat forum to get more specific advice.

abc123456

dmg24 wrote: »

You will qualify for healthcare in France under the EHIC scheme. However, you should be aware that their system may differ from ours - you may have to pay for things that you would not have to here.

You would be best to search for an ex pat forum to get more specific advice.

Thank you for posting, but the EHIC card is only for holidays and business trips, it does not cover a permanent move, like we propose.

dmg24

Why do you bother to ask for help when you think you know better? :rolleyes:

The EHIC is not just for holidays. The EHIC will cover you for treatment until you gain status as a French resident.

abc123456

dmg24 wrote: »

Why do you bother to ask for help when you think you know better? :rolleyes:

The EHIC is not just for holidays. The EHIC will cover you for treatment until you gain status as a French resident.

I "bothered" to ask on the assumption that I would receive the correct advice. Yours is wrong, I know that much.:rolleyes:

dmackay41

Yes, you are perfectly correct abc...EHIC not valid in your case. Check out the link
http://www.ehic.uk.com/eligibility.html

Oldernotwiser

Your DLA/IB will qualify you for an E121 (usually associated with retirement) which will get you into the French healthcare system on the same basis as a French resident, ie approximately 70% of healthcare costs reimbursed.

You would then be well advised to take out "top up" insurance to cover the other 30%. This insurance is available to anyone and won't cost you any more because of pre existing conditions.

For further advice on this I suggest you post on one of the many ex pat forums (I recommend https://www.totalfrance.com) although there are also people in this situation on the Over 50s board on MSE.

You do know that much of France isn't any warmer than the UK in winter, don't you?

Edit: I've just checked up on this for you and want to correct my information above. If you get an E121 because you're on IB then your healthcare will be covered 100% in France. What I'm not so sure about is to whether your wife can "piggyback" on your form for her healthcare. I'd suggest that you post this as a query on one of the ex pat forums that I mentioned before.

abc123456

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Your DLA/IB will qualify you for an E121 (usually associated with retirement) which will get you into the French healthcare system on the same basis as a French resident, ie approximately 70% of healthcare costs reimbursed.

You would then be well advised to take out "top up" insurance to cover the other 30%. This insurance is available to anyone and won't cost you any more because of pre existing conditions.

For further advice on this I suggest you post on one of the many ex pat forums (I recommend www.totalfrance.com) although there are also people in this situation on the Over 50s board on MSE.

You do know that much of France isn't any warmer than the UK in winter, don't you?

Edit: I've just checked up on this for you and want to correct my information above. If you get an E121 because you're on IB then your healthcare will be covered 100% in France. What I'm not so sure about is to whether your wife can "piggyback" on your form for her healthcare. I'd suggest that you post this as a query on one of the ex pat forums that I mentioned before.

Thank you Oldernotwiser. All the items on the Internet only refer to IB and not DLA. I cannot find DLA being referred to as a long term IB anywhere...and I do not receive Incapacity benefit.

There is a bit on the DWP website that refers to elegibility for healthcare via DLA (which I receive) and Carers Allowance (which my wife receives), but it does not say anything else other than to contact the DWP.

But, thanks again, I will try the ex-pat forums.

Oldernotwiser

abc123456 wrote: »

Thank you Oldernotwiser. All the items on the Internet only refer to IB and not DLA. I cannot find DLA being referred to as a long term IB anywhere...and I do not receive Incapacity benefit.

There is a bit on the DWP website that refers to elegibility for healthcare via DLA (which I receive) and Carers Allowance (which my wife receives), but it does not say anything else other than to contact the DWP.

But, thanks again, I will try the ex-pat forums.

I'm not sure whether DLA covers this either; I hadn't read your post carefully enough and had assumed you claimed both.

If DLA isn't counted then I'm afraid that there's no way into the French health service unless you're working (self employed will do) or retired; a difficult position to be in with your situation, I'm afraid.

Ruby_Moon

I didn't think you could claim DLA if you moved abroad?
I'm not so sure on that but there was a thread here the other day about someone wanting to go to Europe somewhere but they couldn't carry on getting DLA there.

seven-day-weekend

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Your DLA/IB will qualify you for an E121 (usually associated with retirement) which will get you into the French healthcare system on the same basis as a French resident, ie approximately 70% of healthcare costs reimbursed.

You would then be well advised to take out "top up" insurance to cover the other 30%. This insurance is available to anyone and won't cost you any more because of pre existing conditions.

For further advice on this I suggest you post on one of the many ex pat forums (I recommend www.totalfrance.com) although there are also people in this situation on the Over 50s board on MSE.

You do know that much of France isn't any warmer than the UK in winter, don't you?

Edit: I've just checked up on this for you and want to correct my information above. If you get an E121 because you're on IB then your healthcare will be covered 100% in France. What I'm not so sure about is to whether your wife can "piggyback" on your form for her healthcare. I'd suggest that you post this as a query on one of the ex pat forums that I mentioned before.

My husband is covered on an E121 in Spain because he is on Incapacity Benefit and I am covered too as his dependent, although we are still under State Retirement age and I receive no Benefits. I'm sure it is the same in France.

If you look on the Silver Savers' Board, there is at the very top a long thread called 'Living Abroad Tip and Hints for Moneysavers'.. There are several people there who live in France, who will be able to tell you 'from the horse's mouth'.

(Edited to add: I don't know whethr receiving DLA alone will entitle you to the E121. ).