Living abroad tips and hints for money savers

wkt54

Thanks again Droops.

I will never be able to spread the word at the campsite as they are so sure all they need is the EHIC.

Sorry for asking you to repeat yourself, but could you explain to me again the difference between having only the EHIC, or like me, if you have travel insurance.

If I have to visit the doctor or dentist, with travel insurance, and get treatment - am I covered?

But someone with only the EHIC - what is the advantage I will get, with travel insurance, that they will not get.

Applologies but I still haven't grasped the advantage.

I know you have tried to explain.

droopsnout

OK, no probs!

Everyone should obtain the EHIC. It's your right. It entitles you to the health cover that nationals of the country you're visiting have.

In France, that means that you get a PARTIAL reimbursement of your medical and dental expenditure.

If you take out the usual travel insurance (and check out Martin's advice on getting the best deals, if you haven't already), then you should be able to claim back THE REST of your expenditure - barring, of course, the excess that our friend Missile referred to. (Different policies will have different excesses. Up to each individual to choose what s/he is happy with).

I gather that many people don't bother trying to get back their expenditure from the foreign authorities (CPAM in France) but just claim the whole lot (less excess) from their insurers.

Either way, you do really need the travel insurance. Other things are covered (usually) by insurance, like repatriation of your body, should the very worst happen; or maybe an air ambulance to take you back to the UK for treatment; or cover for your closest relatives to visit you in the foreign hospital.

Again, you should check the benefits of different policies to find the one which best suits your needs. For instance, if you are camping in a mountainous area, you would need to ensure that your insurance is sufficient to cover rescue by mountain helicopter.

OK, so EHIC really covers you only for emergency treatment, so that covers doctors and dentists - but only for that PARTIAL refund of expenses.

As for any attempt to convince your campsite buddies, keep a Form T7.1 in your caravan! Show it to them!

Now a sort of "Yebbut" regarding the French ...

Sometimes they do not follow the rules in some places, especially if following the rules means lots of paperwork. It is possible that some people may have been treated on the strength of an EHIC alone.

However, in my relatively short time here (five years), and only infrequent contact with hospitals, I know that it is equally possible that they could give any necessary treatment without giving a bill on the spot. But that is probably because everything has to go through the hospital accounts department, and the patient may find that s/he receives a bill later on.

The travel insurance ensures that you have both belt and braces.

Hope all is clear, but if not, shout!

ManAtHome

The biggie healthwise for travel insurance is repatriation - dunno what the EHIC covers if you need an extended stay in hospital, your normal travel insurance would get you home to a UK hospital (not sure whether that's a good move...).

EdInvestor

ManAtHome wrote: »

The biggie healthwise for travel insurance is repatriation - dunno what the EHIC covers if you need an extended stay in hospital, your normal travel insurance would get you home to a UK hospital (not sure whether that's a good move...).

Quite so. :)

Personally I think it might be safer to stay put.:(

It's also worth noting that health costs in Europe are much cheaper than private medical costs here, so stumping up for 20% of a bill might not actually be that damaging.

EdInvestor

Apply for EHIC here:

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Policyandguidance/Healthadvicefortravellers/Gettingtreatmentaroundtheworld/EEAandSwitzerland/DH_4114793

droopsnout

ManAtHome wrote: »

The biggie healthwise for travel insurance is repatriation

I did mention an air ambulance, and it could be considered the major benefit. Depends on your circumstances. I, too, would generally rate my chances of survival better in a foreign hospital!

But I have not forgotten having to take part in sponsored activities to cover the rescue of a school pupil who had had to be plucked from the side of a mountain by a helicopter. The standard schools organised trip insurance had been taken out, but it didn't meet the cost of the chopper.

For every kind of stay, choose the most appropriate policy.

Fortunately, for most of us, a pretty standard one is fine.

droopsnout

EdInvestor wrote: »

It's also worth noting that health costs in Europe are much cheaper than private medical costs here, so stumping up for 20% of a bill might not actually be that damaging.

First bit very true! I was shocked that I was billed for a massive 8 euros odd for a full mouth x-ray for Mrs DS! Bargain!!

Not sure where your 20% comes from, though, as regards France.

If we're talking hospital bills, you've got 25% to pay for, plus extras.

seven-day-weekend

We live in Spain and are covered for our health costs in Spain.

However, we have to get an EHIC to cover us for costs in England, because as Spanish residents we cannot access the British NHS.

As far as I am aware, the EHIC only covers you for emergency treatment in the country you are visiting. Therefore a long stay in hospital may not be covered at all. In other words, you may be covered to have your appendix out suddenly, but not the hospital stay afterwards. We always take out travel insurance too when we come to the UK.

This is what I heard, hope it's correct, but to the OP, I would agree, get travel insurance too.

EdInvestor

Useful article on the effect of the new French rules on expat residents who don't work.Basically they will have to take out private insurance as of next April unless they have been French residents for 5 years.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/global/main.jhtml?xml=/global/2007/10/02/frenchhealth.xml&page=1

droopsnout

It does look that way, but there will be certain exemptions.

As I replied to you in post #412, EdInvestor, the final situation is still unclear, and we are awaiting an official paper to be circulated by the government in Paris to all the CPAMs.

Anyone interested, or potentially affected, may like to read newspaper articles from "The Connexion" at these links:

Health Changes 01, 05/11/2007
Health Changes 02, 05/11/2007
Health Changes 03, 05/11/2007
Health Changes 04, 06/11/2007

These articles mainly tell the same story as the Telegraph piece.

However, the Telegraph (and others) report that insurance companies will not take on people with existing chronic conditions. This is not necessarily the case. Most companies providing "top-up"insurance are "mutuelles", meaning that they ask no questions about previous health, or even about health at time of joining. If that philosophy is carried through to full-cost policies, existing conditions would be covered.

But this is all speculation, and until the government spells things out to the CPAMs, nothing - not even the statements issued by the government spokesman - means a thing.