Until last December I was living in Australia but returned to UK with the express intention of coming to live in Brittany. Unfortunately, my funds were depleted by the Aussie dollar dropping dramatically but, conversely, so are house prices in France. My life has been further complicated by a flare-up of Crohn's Disease. Now I am reading lots of stuff on here about the problems and expense of health cover in France. I thought we were part of the EU!!!! As, with this health condition, it's almost impossible to work if I could be so lucky enough to find work. Also my state pension doesn't kick-in until July 2015. Now I'm really depressed that my dream of living in Brittany is evaporating.
Hi Michael, thanks for this. I'm contacting the DWP and assume that they will decide what my status is. Thanks for this because it's not an angle I'd considered before.
I think that it is probably correct that you would have to come here from being a permanent residant of the UK for at least a while. Mutuelle insurance is not as expensive as you might think and they didn’t ask for previous in my case. Doctor visits are only 23 euros. The problem comes with serious stuff, hospital stays, operations etc. It’s becoming much more tightly controlled, and that’s because there has been abuse. You can get world cover off some insurers but maybe not for everything, and at a cost.
Ginette, you will have to find out what your status is within the UK, are you considered fiscally resident there or still Aus, if you are not considered fiscally resident within the UK, then you will be considered outside the EU and will have no rights under EU law to freely move within Europe, even if you have a Brit passport you will have to prove the Habitual residence test! and be normally resident for at least 3 months before you receive any benefits eg JSA, Once you satisfy that criteria and can receive state benefits only then can you exercise your right to move within the EU. Best wishes