so my other half / husband.... has his carte vitale
what's the deal with ME being covered by his card? as a wife - would you get your own card??
x teresa
that's great news Suzanne.... keep it safe now!
actually probably keep it IN a safe
x t
wahoo I finally got my carte vitale - to clarify my position I'm a beneficiare (just like our children) on my husband's assurance maladie RSI Ram Gamex - I don't work but Darren is Auto-Entrepreneur and we're married. I have received my OWN carte vitale. Now just need to get Maisy (our 3rd child) added - further level of complexity as she was born in England...oh what fun!
thanks @ Roz Russell - that's a great phone number...
and thanks to all who offered great if varied advice
i'm clearer now - but still jealous of himself who's done nothing but open the Carte Vitale envelope!
Hi Teresa,
I have a Carte VItale as I am of pension age and my husband is a beneficiary as he hasn't retired yet but he has his own Card and attestation, the number I call is 0811 36 36 46, they are English speaking and very good
we moved to France two and a half years ago....I was added to my husband CV....apparently having worked for 40 years myself..and him..45 years..I could be carried on his card...though not retirement age...all was well...whilst we lived in St Cyprien, Languedoc....though I never claimed...we moved to Dordogne and registered with a GP...apparently all was well....though after a year I returned to the uk and worked and lived there for 9 months..I have now returned...for a few months...and needed dental work...I had no intention of claiming as I will be in the UK for most of every year and will stay with the UK system....but....I was told I wasnt on my husbands card....it appears I dropped off when we moved...no idea why..and nothing to do with me living in the UK for a period...just lack of efficiency......
Wow, you're busy! I taught special needs kids as well a bit and saw how demanding that was. I've always sworn to myself I'd never follow my mum's path either.
Yes, writing educational material is a great idea. I'm always outraged at the horrible 'false' French displayed in many 'learn French' books. Except the ones written by CLE publishers, written by French people, and it shows. I'll recommend these here as they deserve it: "Grammaire en dialogues" ('débutant' or 'intermédiaire', they come with a CD, available on amazon.fr or co.uk) by Claire Miquel. The dialogues are very realistic and full of idioms/expressions we really use in France. The lessons are short and straight forward, very good exercises that always follow the same patterns.
Claire Miquel, if you ever read this, thank you. You're in my life pretty much every day with these books and I make all my students buy them if their level requires it, which is usually the case.
Many thanks Sophie that is very kind.
My youngest by the way at 31 is not on the buy to let ladder yet, but her brother and his partner just a year older, they are on their first. Their eldest sister married into it - her husband some years older already onto his .... no idea.
But funnily enough my children said they would not follow me into teaching because of the hours I spent working on paperwork - guess what my two daughters do now - tutors to Aspergers students and they love it.
But like you I also do a bit of freelancing - writing generally educational resources and training materials - when I can find the time in between working on the BnB and sorting mother.
Thanks for your advice. This is why so many people buy to let. I'd do the same if I could, time will come I think. I'll buy for myself first in the meantime. Now looking.
I understand you don't want to teach anymore. As I said, my mum retired at 60. She spent most of her career teaching special needs children in an IME, special school (former Impro), she was too old for that job then. Neither my sister and I want to teach in our old days either, that's why I've created my agency and she's retraining as a therapist in Lille.
Well done with your business, I know the work involved, even if you're in a different field, you can private message me with details about your B&B, I can certainly share them with clients.
Hi Sophie
No cannot advise - the goal posts as they say, seem to continually move. About 10 to 15 years ago I would have got my UK state pension at aged 60 like all other women. So that is what I planned for. Then around 10 years ago the government decided that for those around my birthdate 1954 it would move to 64 - then about 4 years ago they moved it to 66 so I am told. So how women like myself can plan I have no idea.
I know that my own grown children are putting their money into rentable property - because interest on savings is also very poor.
As for teaching I feel I am now too tired - I have taken many knocks whilst working for students with severe learning difficulties/severe autism - although I loved that job more than any - I think I would find it difficult to return to work in that sphere.
Apart from which I have built up a successful business here from nothing - renovations, website, links, etc and a returning clientele.
And Anne why should I spend any more time arguing - with a member of parliament - they are paid a humungous amount to do their own jobs - not for me to waste my time doing it for them - I might as well get rid of my business and become a member myself - forgot to say part of my BA degree is in politics. I believe I got what I wanted from the RSI and chambre de commerce, and Mr Sarkozys office replied to me and wrote to the RSI on our behalf - what more success could I want.
All this is for the European Parliament - talk to your local member!
At least, as I said, we are not all fighting one another these days - but still progress to be made.
Hi Keith (but I think you're Keith's wife not Keith),
The retirement thing is scary. I've been freelancing for 10 years full time pretty much in the UK, I'm 35. Surely, I'm going to have - excuse my French- peanuts for retirement money in the UK. How would you prepare retirement money? I want to stay in the UK. Any ideas welcome. It really stresses me out to think I could be a very poor old lady.
My French mum & dad retired at 60. I think they've been quite lucky. My dad said to me last month he gets money (allocation called ?) because he had 4 children (and I said 'had' not 'brought up'). France is such a natalist country compared to the UK.
It's really annoying about the teaching qualification, I'm also qualified to teach in the UK. What I can tell you from my French friends is that you can certainly teach as a teacher in a private French school, but I think the pay is less, which is ironical as parents pay for the school. But 15 years ago, the level of the CAPES was definitely higher than the level of the GTP I did in 2001. When I see how some French people who have done 'grandes écoles' spell, the level's seriously gone downhill in France. Last week, one of the people who's now not working for me anymore said, as an excuse, that there were spelling and grammar mistakes in his email because he wrote it on his phone from his bed (TMI), as if it had something to do with the spelling...The Y generation is worrying me. I must be getting old, ah ah!
Hi Sophie
Yes, you are so right - if we are in Europe then surely wherever you pay your taxes or health should apply. But even the pensions are different both throughout Europe and within each country for instance Keith is 65 in May and receives his UK retirement pension - in France men have been 60 when they receive state pension.
Women in the UK have been 60 upto a few years ago in order to receive their state pension. Because of where my birthday falls I have to work until I am 66 - another 8 years and longer than my husband - although I have worked all my life, even during pregnancy and whilst the children were young.
And you are right about the qualifications too - I am very well qualified as a teacher in the UK - have taught History to degree level (BA Degree in Humanities); taught CDT (PGCE in CDT); taught ESOL (TEFL qualified); and have taught Special Needs - Autism and PMLD - fully requalified in both. Have been a Deputy head and a head teacher of a special school - but am only allowed to work as a teaching assistant here in France.
Hi to each
we were not here with rose coloured specs. I have been travelling since 1968 around Europe - first with parents, albeit on holidays. We had a house in France since 1992 - long before the tv programmes. I do try my best to fit in and speak the language and understand the rules and regs - read into everything I could before Keith and myself moved here and before we set up our BnB - read everything upside down and back to front.
The main problem as I see it is that the rules are not the same throughout France - everywhere is different and the french themselves - including the authorities - do not know the rules and regs. It was poor advice on behalf of a bank manager that provided our problem - which we had previously read into and thought we were right - we were, she was wrong and nearly cost us a lot of money. I think you misunderstood me Anne - we are paying our share here in France through the Auto Entrepreneur system and last year - because our business was fairly successful - they had quite a lot off me.
Unfortunately I have not had time to watch tv - french or english - first in running the BnB, 2nd in having to return to the UK to sort out a problem for my mother - which was instigated by the authorities there - who I nearly had to take to court. That is still ongoing.
As you say have fun!
@Keith: I think us Brits and French should be fully covered in both countries, after all, we've paid taxes in both countries in the past and pay taxes now in at least one of these countries. What is the UE for afer all? I still prefer to pay 'plein pot' in France and rely on specialists I've known for years who are very competent than doing no checks and relying on 'we'll see what happens'. What really worries me is the future, as both systems, the French one for sure, will be worse than now. The French have really seen it for the last 5 years. Lots of medicines and RV are not reimbursed anymore. When I see how much there is in my dad's medecine cabinet that he doesn't use (so why take them, just because it's free?), it makes me angry.
@Anne: I try to watch a bit of French télé when I can on the net (je n'ai pas de télé) and when I hear about good programmes. Which one are you refering to? I can't watch Envoyé spécial because it has a geography blocker, they told me. It's not fair. I love this programme.
You're completely right about British people who think France is (going to be) paradise, I teach a lot of people who have une résidence secondaire or preparing a move to France. And then, regularly, students ask me to ring 'La compagnie des eaux', 'les impôts' because bills aren't received, the water is cut, my client wants an explanation about the tax bill. Or problems with car and la sous-préfecture. It made me realise many things are easier in England, on a admin point of view.
Yes, the 'diplôme équivalence' lack of recognition is a nightmare in France, I have acquaintances from Africa or Holland who were qualified doctors or lawyers who were not able to 'pratiquer' because of that. And lives are destroyed. It takes years to retake all the exams in France. Can you imagine if Marine Le Pen was elected? Life would be a lot worse for foreigners. Un cauchemar.
www.rue89.com is interesting reading.
'Liberté, égalité et fraternité' is great, but when people's CVs go to the bin in France because of non-French sounding names, that's the reality of France. I was shocked recently in London when a few French people I was interviewing had the same (fake) address on their CV. I had to explain that I didn't care what part of London they lived in, that it had no influence about my decision, but their French bad grammar or spelling have, if they want to teach French..
Following the discussion about the Carte Vitale, I am seeing bit of "have your cake and eat it"- or "you have made your bed so you lay in it". (same in French)
Do you watch French Tele? TF1 are doing a programme about French who go to Thailand, Senegal and other countries for retirement. Everything to them seems paradise - and France seems paradise to English folk who have had wonderful holidays and think it is always like that. France has problems with immigration, unemployment, slums, drugs, paying for social care, people who cheat on taxes, just as GB. I have a friend who comes from Casablanca, she works hard in a children's nursery, her degree is not recognised here. (Qualifications are difficult to bring into line).
If you emigrate (wherever) you have to understand that it is your choice, your decision and you look at all the consequences before you do so. Forgive me if you think this is harsh but it is reality - Europe is certainly better now than the continual fighting in the last century. Welcome to France - but play your part as well in your new country, paying your contributions and helping the less well off. Remember Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité!
Have fun!
Hi Sophie
As we are in Europe and Keith has paid into the UK system for over 40 years (now being 65) surely the UK should be paying for him over here - afterall if he was ill in the UK they would have to pay.
Keith, I'm not surprised. With Sarkozy & Géant in power, trying to limit and get rid of foreigners to the maximum, life is only going to get tougher for foreigners on France. Let's see who gets elected next. I've read terrible stories on www.rue89.fr (or .com)
When I read these stories, I think, what if the same thing happened to me in the UK? It's disguting that people like Americans, Moroccans etc are asked to leave although they have good jobs, pay taxes and don't bother anyone, except the ones who prefer French people living in France.
Hi Hilary,
Did I understand right that I could be reimbursed for my gynecologist/dermatologist/homeopath in France? I'm covering in the UK. One of my French friends also living in the UK said it only works with French GP visits, which I never need.
Yes, I'm indeed considered as a private patient. I don't exist in France anymore in that regards. They look at me like an alien when I say I can't give them a carte vitale because I don't have one. They almost have a heart attack when I say I'm paying cash for the whole thing. I think the UE has some improvement to do in this regard.