Health care questions

Health care questions

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Prolex-UK

Original Poster:

3,010 posts

207 months

Sunday 15th May 2016
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Looking to move to France for good next April.

Will be "inactifs" and living off savings and pensions

I understand after 3 months we can join the state healthcare system if our income is over 9400 euros which it will be.

We also have to buy top up insurance and I was wondering if anyone had any real life experience of this ?

Monthly cost/cover etc

Mrs Prolex and I are are, touch wood, healthy with maybe 3/4 visits a year to the doctor for aches & pains. Mrs Prolex would need dentist cover as she has the odd tooth issue.

Thanks in advance for any advice given

zbc

849 posts

150 months

Sunday 15th May 2016
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I've just bought mine for about €50 a month, wife and 3 kids already had it for about €120 but it was slightly more complex for me as I've just started my own business. The state system covers most costs for most things so if you can get into it(and I don't know how easy it is for inactifs I feel that might be the bigger problem) and really only have the odd doctors visit then you may not even really need it. It's also worth noting that they don't require you to declare pre-existing conditions and won't bump up your premiums if you have any. Any specific questions let me know.

Terryg4

233 posts

97 months

Sunday 15th May 2016
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Regarding the top up, unless you pay for an all singing and dancing version you are always slightly out of pocket.
We pay 75€ per month for family of 4. We did consider a couple of years ago not having the full top up and having hospital cover only but the difference in cost was what we had claimed so came to the conclusion that we would be better with it.

On the surface it does seem more than the UK but you do get dentist check ups / some work and some pescription drugs included.

Prolex-UK

Original Poster:

3,010 posts

207 months

Sunday 15th May 2016
quotequote all
Thanks for the replies so far.

Any companies you can recomend ?

Russwhitehouse

962 posts

130 months

Sunday 15th May 2016
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I'm with Generali who cost 62 euros per month.Not the cheapest but i can't be arsed to shop around and change for the sake of a few euros.

Vintage Racer

619 posts

144 months

Monday 16th May 2016
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Assuming that you are/will be 'in the system' (have your 'Carte Vital'), top up Insurance is not compulsory, so you can choose to 'gamble' if you want to.

I have lived here for 12 years and have not taken the top up option as yet.

However, as we get older and the 'odds' of needing treatment increase, it is probably more worthwhile.

A decent insurance for two of us (varying types of cover are available) would have cost around 2000 euros per annum (24,000 euros for us after 12 years).

However, we have both had major operations in that time and if we include the cost of everything (including separate minor issues) we have so far only been billed for less than 5000 euros. - That's a saving of around 19k!!

So.......you pay your money, or take your chance!!

It is worth remembering that anything 'life threatening' or 'totally debilitating' is covered 100%

As we are now 60+, we are starting to consider insurance, but be careful, as 100% cover is not what it seems as some specialists/consultants are allowed to charge up to 400% on charges, which could still leave you with a bill. - Make sure you fully understand what you are getting.

WELCOME TO FRANCE!

ps: In our experience, the French healthcare system is BRILLIANT!!

Edited by Vintage Racer on Monday 16th May 16:44

Perik Omo

1,883 posts

147 months

Monday 16th May 2016
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We've been with Harmonie Mutuelle for about 10 years, it started off at €800 pa and has gradually crept up to €1200 pa for the two of us (now late 60's). I've had two fairly major ops in the last 4 years and had to pay an extra €90 for my choice of surgeon on the second one but everything else was covered. Last op was in a very modern hospital and my room had a screen on a gimble that was my radio/TV/Internet/Games/and patient records system. None of that paperwork when tempertures and blood pressures were taken as it was all plugged into that monitor system and recorded automatically.
Have to agree with the above the the healthcare has been superlative all the way from the GP to the hospital surgeon and after care at home with visits fron the local Croix Rouge.

Perik Omo

1,883 posts

147 months

Monday 16th May 2016
quotequote all
We've been with Harmonie Mutuelle for about 10 years, it started off at €800 pa and has gradually crept up to €1200 pa for the two of us (now late 60's). I've had two fairly major ops in the last 4 years and had to pay an extra €90 for my choice of surgeon on the second one but everything else was covered. Last op was in a very modern hospital and my room had a screen on a gimble that was my radio/TV/Internet/Games/and patient records system. None of that paperwork when tempertures and blood pressures were taken as it was all plugged into that monitor system and recorded automatically.
Have to agree with the above the the healthcare has been superlative all the way from the GP to the hospital surgeon and after care at home with visits fron the local Croix Rouge.

elster

17,517 posts

209 months

Monday 20th June 2016
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Dave, where abouts in France are you thinking of coming to?

I pay €43 a month for 400% insurance for me, wife and baby daughter. WE get a reduced price because we have a baby.

That is with Allianz.

The way insurance works is your social security pay x%, 100% top up covers you up to 100% of what the state say the procedure should cost so can leave you still paying and we have 400% cover which means we 'should' be covered for everything.

Oh also this is Thom Wiseman. Feel free to message me on facebook.

Le Vette

4,492 posts

233 months

Tuesday 21st June 2016
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We have top-up, about €100pm but we're nearly 60 and that includes hospital, dental and opticians.

I risked not having it for about six years, but was concerned about car accidents which could well be somebody else's fault but result in time in hospital costing many €€€€€€'s. Equally, some non life-threatening illnesses or other problems could become very expensive. Having said that i had need of an ambulance late last year (before we started top up) and because our doctor called for it (rather than me, I think) it only cost me about €60.

Top up insurance is quite expensive, but it's a gamble not having it. You pays your money and you takes your choice. Do you feel lucky?

Edited by Le Vette on Tuesday 21st June 16:16

rdjohn

6,135 posts

194 months

Thursday 23rd June 2016
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We are with with Pacifica Credit Mutual. Both 65 and paying about (EFA) €100 / month. It covers teeth and glasses.

I agree that the French system is excellent, but then they do pay something like €2400 / person with the U.K. more like €1700.

A recent example was, I was having shoulder pain, saw doctor immediately and X-ray and MRI were organised within 20-days as I was returning to UK for 10days. A Consultant is there to diagnose any problem immediately.

Edited by rdjohn on Thursday 23 June 13:03

Prolex-UK

Original Poster:

3,010 posts

207 months

Friday 24th June 2016
quotequote all
Bit moot now :-(

Thanks for all the replies.

Need to see what happens with pensions currency etc....

Prolex-UK

Original Poster:

3,010 posts

207 months

Sunday 15th January 2017
quotequote all
Well...after a lot of fannying around have decided to do it ....

Off for a visit end of Feb to Charente region to look at a few properties

Plan is to sell up in the UK move to rented for 3/6 months while we look and buy our home.


smifffymoto

4,527 posts

204 months

Sunday 15th January 2017
quotequote all
Were you scared off by all the brexit scare stories? Once your front door is shut it doesn't matter where in the world you are.

Russwhitehouse

962 posts

130 months

Monday 16th January 2017
quotequote all
Prolex-UK said:
Well...after a lot of fannying around have decided to do it ....

Off for a visit end of Feb to Charente region to look at a few properties

Plan is to sell up in the UK move to rented for 3/6 months while we look and buy our home.
My place is on the market, 20mins from Angouleme. PM me if you would like some details.

smifffymoto

4,527 posts

204 months

Monday 16th January 2017
quotequote all
You calling it quits Russ or just moving?

Frexit

33 posts

86 months

Wednesday 18th January 2017
quotequote all
Wise move to rent before you buy. There are many different ways to make the move, some integrating wholly and others living as ex pats in areas with lots of brits. Neither one is right or wrong. The health system is fairly straightforward compared with some other aspects of life here such as tax returns etc

Russwhitehouse

962 posts

130 months

Friday 20th January 2017
quotequote all
smifffymoto said:
You calling it quits Russ or just moving?
No, just downsizing. We still intend to stay here.

Prolex-UK

Original Poster:

3,010 posts

207 months

Friday 20th January 2017
quotequote all
Frexit said:
Wise move to rent before you buy. There are many different ways to make the move, some integrating wholly and others living as ex pats in areas with lots of brits. Neither one is right or wrong. The health system is fairly straightforward compared with some other aspects of life here such as tax returns etc
The tax side is what worries me. I will be living off investments until I start to draw my state pension and "big" private pensions so envisage some pain completing them

smifffymoto

4,527 posts

204 months

Friday 20th January 2017
quotequote all
As always my first piece of advice to people is speak to an accountant.When you do move over,don't muddle through,get somebody who knows the system to get you in the system.There is no lateral thinking with fonctionnaires,the box has to ticked.