Living abroad tips and hints for money savers

EdInvestor

bgwuser wrote: »

If you have been resident in Spain and return to UK, we have found that we are not entitled to use the UK NHS for 6 months.!!/qyoite]

If you are returning to live here permanently then you are entitled to NHS treatment immediately.But there are a lot of Brits apparently who are resident in Europe but think they can pop back to the UK for medical care, which is not allowed.

Now that France and Spain have ended free treatment to expats under pension age, requiring purchase of private health insurance, it seems likely this might increase.

So perhaps the UK is now imposing a 6 month evidence of residency requirement on such folk, which might not apply to people returning from more far-flung parts.

donny-gal

missile wrote: »

Sorry I did not realise and good for you. I got a chart showing names for parts of the body. It was really useful as a learning aid and I still refer to it occasionally when I forget.

No offence taken missile - I completely agree with you, it really embarrasses me here if with residents who have not even mastered a basic greeting, manners, and their own shoe and clothes sizes in Spanish. Shopkeepers/Market Traders accept it as they want the trade, but IMHO its downright rude!

I may never be totally fluent, but I will always try and if they smile/laugh but help me I don't mind, so how many times do we smile when we hear someone trying English, not at them but in sympathy with them.
DG

droopsnout

In my experience, those little-Englanders who don't make the effort to learn the language of the people who have been kind enough to accept them into their country are also often amongst the first to criticise newcomers to the UK who can't speak English fluently.

EdInvestor, what is happening in France regarding health cover for early retirees is not entirely clear yet, though, as you say, whatever the final outcome, some people may be hit hard.

One small aspect of the withdrawal of health cover is the problem of how to get a EHIC card (ex-E111). Since such folks won't belong to either UK or host-country systems, they can't get a EHIC, meaning that the insurance they buy (if they can afford it) will have to include treatment anywhere in the EU, or else they will have to buy additional travel insurance.

I am covered by an E121, but out of curiosity I got a quotation from the BUPA site the other day. It would cost 583€ a month to cover my wife and me. Out of the question - that's over one-third of our income!

People concerned about the changes of cover in France might like to look at the campaigning site recently established: https://www.frenchhealthissues.eu. Latest news is generally posted there.

The newspaper "The Connexion" also has the latest news at http://www.connexionfrance.com/expatriate-news-article.php?art=51, where the five-year residency rule is claimed to be on course for acceptance.

wkt54

I am spending 5 months a year in France, 7 in the UK.

If I need to visit the doctor or dentist in France, am I covered by the EHIC?

Do I also need to take out travel insurance, or will the EHIC be sufficient for medical treatment?

Tks

droopsnout

You are covered for emergency type treatment. However, it's not totally straightforward.

For each episode of treatment, you will need a "feuille des soins", which you have to remit to your nearest Caisse Primaire d'Assurance Maladie. They will issue you with a refund for that part of the bill for which they are responsible - typically 65%, IIRC. You are liable for the rest. And, of course, they will make their refund to you in euros ...

A visit to a GP in most areas will cost you 22€. Of this, 14,40€ is reimbursable by the CPAM. Dental treatment can, of course, be horrendously expensive, depending on what work is done. A recent bill for work on Mrs DS's gnashers resulted in a bill for just over 117€, of which the CPAM refunded 79€.

All in all, it's better for you to obtain some proper travel insurance, I think.

I think that's right, but I'm happy to be corrected.

wkt54

Thanks Droops

So if you have travel insurance, you are able to claim back all the expenses of a visit to the doctor or dental treatment?

droopsnout

I believe so, providing you keep your receipts. The obvious caveat applies about checking your policy, etc., etc. Check before purchase!

Your main need is presumably to cover expenses in the event of hospitalisation, which could cost you a fortune, so that's the part of the cover I would be concentrating on.

Since you are spending a long time each year in France, I think it probably worthwhile getting specimen copies of actual policies before purchasing, to make sure that the cover is as good as you can get or as good as you want.

missile

wkt54 wrote: »

Thanks Droops

So if you have travel insurance, you are able to claim back all the expenses of a visit to the doctor or dental treatment?

A visit to the doctor or dentist is likely to be less than the excess on the policy. Most have a limit on the duration of your stay. As droopsnoot says, travel insurance is best regarded as cover for emergencies.

wkt54

Thanks.

I have always taken out travel insurance when I come to France, and always will, but a lot at the campsite where I stay, say it is not necessary.

A guy broke 2 ribs last week and went to hospital. He said they only asked for the EHIC, did not mention travel insurance, and he said he will not have to pay anything.

Droops, I thought the CPAM was the French Healthcare system, and was only for French residents.

As I am not spending over 6 months a year in France, I will not be declaring myself as a French resident.

droopsnout

Well, I'm pretty sure I'm right, because I've just checked!!

If you'd like to go to the Department of Health's website here, you will see exactly what you are covered for by EHIC, and what you have to pay for, and how you go about it. To quote:

• Doctors, dentists and prescriptions: make sure the doctor or dentist you consult is 'conventionné' - i.e. they work within the French health system. After treatment, obtain a signed statement of the treatment given (a 'feuille de soins') - you can't claim a refund without it. You will be charged for the treatment you receive, as well as for any prescribed medicines, and the amount(s) should be shown on the feuille de soins.
• Around 70 per cent of standard doctors' and dentists' fees are refunded, and between 35 and 65 per cent of the cost of most prescribed medicines. The cost of common remedies and items such as bandages are refunded at the lower rate. The cost of medicines marked with a [symbol of white triangle] vignette or N.R. is not recoverable.
• Hospital treatment: you must pay for out-patient treatment and then claim a partial refund from the local Sickness Insurance Office (Caisse Primaire d'Assurance-Maladie or CPAM). If you are treated as an in-patient in an approved hospital and show your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), the office will pay 75 per cent or more of the cost direct to the hospital. You pay the balance. You must also pay a fixed daily hospital charge ('forfait journalier'). The 25 per cent balance and the forfait journalier are non-refundable.

I strongly recommend you ignore campsite gossip. After twenty years camping and caravanning in the UK and abroad, I heard some complete tosh from time to time! I never fail to be amazed by people who ignore all the advice given by the DoH, by the caravanning press and by the camping and caravanning clubs, and think that their medical treatment in France will be free.

The EHIC entitles the holder only to the same treatment and cover as a resident in the country of treatment would receive.

In France, that means paying, and, generally, reclaiming what you pay from the CPAM and/or your own travel insurance company. Some companies offer a reduction in premium if you have an EHIC.

The CPAM is the local health authority which will deal with your paperwork, whether you're a French resident or not.

I quote again:

Send your application for a refund (the feuille de soins and any prescriptions) to the nearest Sickness Insurance Office while you are still in France. The refund will be sent to your home address later, but it may be subject to a bank charge. Before sending the money order, the French authorities will send you an itemised statement of the amount to be refunded. This refund process normally takes around two months.

If you prefer a paper version of the details, you can get one, I think, from your post office (ask for Form T7.1), or download a pdf file for printing here (486Kb).

Please spread the word amongst the camping/caravanning community!