When I go back to the UK to vist my parents and siblings, I always err on the side of safety and buy travel/health insurance (it's only about 20-30 euros).
CSF has many volunteers and I know lots in my region (Hérault). If you'd like to talk to someone on the phone, I am sure I can recommend someone here as I know them personally so could vouch for their kindness and discretion. Feel free to email me nicolehammond1@gmail.com if you'd like me to put you in touch with someone. I know what it's like to need to talk about something with other people going through the same thing. Hugs x
Norah, Britain now does issue EHIC’s to British retirees in possession of a valid S1. When we first came to France they were issued by France, but that has now changed. If you need one you must speak to the Overseas team of the Pensions Department in Newcastle. It was very straightforward for us.
Whoever told you that information was wrong.
Following this reply Glen, I now have something to really be concerned about!!! In fact I feel positively depressed!! ;)
I think it is a very useful part of SFN. And agree Maureen, it has served me well over the years. And the support that I have had from the "cat people" on SFN has been wonderful.
There's German efficiency for you Jane!! But it does seem that there is quite a bit of confusion on this point. I am told the French will not offer EHICs to Brits, but the UK won't either?? So does that mean only Brits are ineligible for treatment anywhere within the EC if they are on holiday? Doesn't seem fair to me.
Hi Diana, no I don't think it's really just a 'man thing'. My ladyfriend is 59 and though in pretty good health has some issues with things like Fibromyalgia. She gets tired relatively quickly at times and refuses to accept she can't do as she did say ten years ago. It's frustrating for her and the more I tell her 'it's normal' the more frustrated she becomes.
Thanks, Jane, that is encouraging and I am so pleased that you are still clear after such a long time.
I don't know if it's a man thing - no doubt plenty of men on here will let me know - but I think my husband has found it hard to accept that he is not Superman after all (although for me he always will be!) and that he may never get back to the state of health he had ten years ago. I tell him it's because he's ten years older.......
Yes, I agree Norah. SFN has been invaluable to me over the years and I have had contact with a company that advertised and was very happy with the meeting.
Hello Diana. Yes it was CUH and I must admit that, after an initial panic, I was pretty impressed that they picked up the charge rule. There is some problem with repayment from France as, I think, it is mostly "mickey mouse" money. That is to say no actual cash changes hands, and that makes the whole thing difficult to enforce between EU members. I believe the rules actually state that any EU members citizens MUST receive the same care as a local would. In the case of the UK that means free. So I am told it is very hard to enforce a payment system such as that we have to pay in France. All very confusing and even though I am a retired Civil Servant, I would not wish to try and sort out the red tape involved in that!! I do know that Royal Marsden operate in a very different way to the normal NHS system. For example they will take patients from way outside their NHS Trust operating area - for example from Devon or Cornwall.
Our house is in East Croydon, where we lived for 30 years. We are now based in the far south of The Mayenne, department 53. Love it here but will eventually return to the UK when we are in our dotage and need to speak our native language whilst wandering around the street in our nightwear!! Its not fair to impose that on the French, lol.
We hired a van from Leclerc to move sand from local quarry. Got one and a half tonnes in a busy day (in the rain)
I'm a Croydon native, too. Phil had cataracts done privately at Shirley Oaks because we knew we were no longer entitled to NHS treatment, but when I pushed him to the GP during one UK visit and he was diagnosed with diabetes and cancer we made it clear to all concerned that we have French cover but were never asked to pay. Royal Marsden were perfectly happy to conduct phone consultations after radiotherapy rather than make him travel to the UK, they are quite used to it, apparently. The general conclusion seemed to be that as his French care is charged to the UK (at least in theory) there was no point insisting he had it in France. Marsden also wanted him for a trial of treatment, which may have helped. I know lots of rules exist,but they are applied in a patchy fashion. In a way, I'm glad to hear that Croydon (presumably CUH?) have a charging structure, but I think there are other candidates who should be paying before picking on ex-pats!
Btw, Phil grew up in Mitcham, I in Norbury and we lived 30 years in South Croydon - where are you based, Norah?
Norah, I was visiting my daughter in Munich when I got an infection over a weekend which resulted in my visiting the emergency department. I had to fill in a form and state my reason for being in Munich to prove that I wasn’t there for health tourism!
Agree with all that David. I think Cameron has been clever with the timing. The 'feel good' factor will be vital hence the early summer date with hopefully decent weather and reasonable figures on the economy etc. The Stay In groups need to be clever and let the 'Outers' dig their own grave to some extent.
People may indeed settle for the 'comfort' of what they already know rather than the leap into the relative unknown...
Thats absolutely correct. I hear a continual stream of people complaining that all this bickering is getting in the way of the 'facts' on an exit. People want more truth on what will happen.
But in reality there aren't many facts on an exit. Nobody knows, how it will work, and nobody can know.
I think that in the end, that alone will drive many people to vote to stay in. I might disagree with that, but it's certainly understandable.
I should think SFN have to do this Shirley. Its that or we all pay an annual fee surely?
Not strictly an answer to your question James (though I guess Brexit is the biggest challenge for us too) but I would like to know what hospitals all these people are attending FREE? My husband broke his leg whilst in the UK a couple of years ago. We were staying in OUR house in Croydon, where we are on the voting list, etc. When he was admitted we had all sorts of pressures because of admitting to living in France. The Chief Nurse was really worried and said that strictly speaking he should be billing us for my husband's treatment - we ended up having to pay for the ambulance that took him home from the hospital. But they really wanted him out or into a private room. They DO have facilities for payment trust me!!
Exactly that Catherine, and also it gives me some reassurance in the future.
Simon Armstrong has one front and back.
It seems that is so easy to make an accusation and despite the triviality of it, it has to be followed up.
The ‘damage’ was just under 300 euros, probably their forfait.
I was the unlucky one.
Dominic I was accused of causing the damage. If I had the camera it would have been easier to refute. The gendarme told us that the damage on the car did not match my vehicle, but they still managed to find a witness who said it was me.
The owner of t.he car filled out her insuance claim despite never having seen my car!
As Sarah said, ah yes, those with connections!
Why 'confused' Dominic? Surely a dashcam would have proved that she hadn't left the scene of an accident?