Hi all,
I am moving to France in a week with my 3 children. My husband has applied for an S1 and we awaiting the verdict! Does anyone have any advice of which health are company I could use to put cover in place whilst we await the decision?
Many thanks
Rose
You are right, DLA is not contrib based benefit - it was the IPC who suggested contacting DLA as a route to obtaining S1 health cover
Thanks Paul & Carole that is very useful. I called DWP INT office today to confirm as I’d been lead to believe the other day by HMRC that as I had paid in full I’d qualify for an S1 and I was surprised by that as I’d heard about it disappearing. Just shows don’t rung HMRC when they are on strike as you get the wrong info! Thanks once again for making it a bit clearer!
Hello Alan,
email: enquiries@exclusivehealthcare.com
website: www.exclusivehealthcare.com
Tel: +33(0)4 94 40 31 45
Bonne chance.
Hello Melvyn
Do you have contact details, I'm hoping to move in a few months time?
Hello Rose,
After some 10 years or so of living in France, I can heartily recommend Exclusive Healthcare, who will freel give all the advice you need, in English, and whose policies are excellent value. I decided on them after analysing policies offered by about 50 other companies, and have not regretted that decision.
Helen, that is the exception I referred to above - in your precise circumstances, it is my understanding that the S1 will continue to be issued: where the dependent family is in one country but the main wage earner is in another. From the wording of Rose Holt's op, it is possible she is - or will be - in the same position.
In effect - for those that have been here long enough to remember - E106s have been abolished (formerly issued for early retirees or inactives) but workers' S1s - the old E109? - will continue to be issued. As the generic S1 arrived to replace all the various E forms, it's a little confusing.
Interesting as I spoke to the HMRC last week explaining our situation and they have sent me the forms for an S1. My husband will be working in UK while myself & 2 children will be in France.
There are several more similar sites and a lot of other information on the Useful Links page under Health. Link at top of page.
Yes, this is correct but was due to be changed on July 1 as per the following. However, this may NOT affect working S1's as the DOH statement does talk about "early retirees" -
“Written Ministerial Statement , DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH: European healthcare payments
Wednesday 30 April 2014
The Government has taken the decision to cease certain payments that the UK is not obliged to make under the European Regulations governing healthcare entitlements, effective from 1 July 2014. These are payments made to UK citizens who may be visiting or residing in another Member State, and removing these entitlements could save up to £7m.
Residual S1 forms are currently issued to early retirees moving to another EEA country and not taking up employment, providing a temporary period of healthcare cover for maximum period of 30 months, dependent upon the individual’s recent national insurance contribution record in the UK. Applications for residual S1 forms will no longer be accepted after 1 July 2014. This change does not affect current holders of residual S1s or the right of UK state pensioners to access healthcare when they retire to another EEA country.
These payments are not required under EU law, so the UK is currently going over and above its European obligations. These proposals were outlined in the consultation in July 2013 on migrant access to the NHS and then in the subsequent government response, published in December 2013. “
You are correct. re workers S1 - IF you have worked and paid sufficient NI contribs in the last 2 years you will be covered for a period of time that will not exceed 2 years. You will be told what this period of time is and your dependants will also be covered. This is the case when you are all moving over including the wage earner.
When this time ends you are in no mans land. Unless you become employed, pay healthcare insurance or have auto entrepeneur status (there are changes around for this though)
IF you are on any UK benefits you will need to see if these are exportable benefits, not all are. IF you are on DLA then you need to apply to DLA and explain your situation - caution this MAY trigger a change of circs and you may be called into the PIP regeime. If DLA accept your situation, you MAY get health cover in your own right and this in turn would then cover your dependants.
This is how DWP pensions explained it to me !There's a French comparison site that may give you a start.
If you become an Auto Entrepreneur and start a business of any kind, you will qualify to join the Health System without the need for an S1
S1 certificates - they have been abolished for early retirees or those planning not to work immediately on their arrival in France. However, I believe that the "workers' S1" (former E109?) - where the main wage earner is remaining and working in the UK but the family will be resident in France - will still be issued. I am very open to correction on that point, though.
If relying on an EHIC during your early days in France (and putting any (non-)eligibility based on residency facts aside) bear in mind that the EHIC only entitles the holder to urgent medical care equivalent to that received by residents of the country. In other words, for illnesses that are not life-threatening (as a rule of thumb) only 65-70% of your treatment will be covered by your EHIC. Any balance will need to be settled by you or by any additional insurance you may have.
http://www.french-property.com/news/french_health/s1_certificates_e...
If you are on regular medication, check whether your EHIC will cover you for repeat prescriptions in France and any doctor appointments required.
The EHIC is for temporary visitors to France and you lose (or should lose) all rights to use this once you become resident here. If someone applies for an S1 it alerts the UK Government that you intend to live in France and not just going on holiday. This might be useful - www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcareabroad/countryguide/Pages/EEAcountries.aspx
I believe the UK Government withdrew the S1 from 1st July so you may just have missed the boat but I hope not for your sake ! If this is the case, however, you will need to find another way to stay here and one option may be for you to have to buy private medical insurance. You should seek advice and there are a number of good commentators on this site who can possibly provide solutions but if you need to look at the short or long term insurance route, a site such as www.worldwide-medical-insurance.com will give you some options, including I believe, 2 children under 10 free for one year. Good luck !