Cancelling a Mutuelle medical policy
Aug 5th 2011, 7:21 am
#1
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2007
Location: near Chambéry
Posts: 48
Cancelling a Mutuelle medical policy
When we moved to France we had an E106, which entitled us to a Carte Vitale. We also bought a Mutuelle through Swiss Life.
Our E106 expired at the end of December last year, but the CPAM still sent us new cards for 2011. In May they realised their mistake, blocked the card and wrote to us, asking us to send them back.
I did this, and phoned up Swiss Life to explain the situation. As I expected, we were no longer entitled to Mutuelle cover without the Carte Vitale. They said we would have to send in copies of the letters from the CPAM in order for them to cancel the cover. I did this, but a month later they sent us a renewal schedule, so I rang them up. They had "no record" of my letter, although the woman on the phone remembered my original call. She asked me to resend the paperwork by recorded delivery, which I did.
Swiss Life is now saying that they will cancel the policy at the end of August, which is its anniversary.
Is this legal? Since they are aware we have no Carte Vitale and so are not enitled to recover anything from them under the policy, do they still have the right to take premiums? We cannot stop them, as it s paid by direct debit, which can only be cancelled by them.
Normally the Loi Chatel applies to insurance - i.e. you can only cancel on the anniversary, but surely this does not apply in this case?
Our E106 expired at the end of December last year, but the CPAM still sent us new cards for 2011. In May they realised their mistake, blocked the card and wrote to us, asking us to send them back.
I did this, and phoned up Swiss Life to explain the situation. As I expected, we were no longer entitled to Mutuelle cover without the Carte Vitale. They said we would have to send in copies of the letters from the CPAM in order for them to cancel the cover. I did this, but a month later they sent us a renewal schedule, so I rang them up. They had "no record" of my letter, although the woman on the phone remembered my original call. She asked me to resend the paperwork by recorded delivery, which I did.
Swiss Life is now saying that they will cancel the policy at the end of August, which is its anniversary.
Is this legal? Since they are aware we have no Carte Vitale and so are not enitled to recover anything from them under the policy, do they still have the right to take premiums? We cannot stop them, as it s paid by direct debit, which can only be cancelled by them.
Normally the Loi Chatel applies to insurance - i.e. you can only cancel on the anniversary, but surely this does not apply in this case?
Aug 5th 2011, 7:57 am
#2
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Joined: Apr 2008
Location: Hérault (34)
Posts: 8,890
Re: Cancelling a Mutuelle medical policy
When we moved to France we had an E106, which entitled us to a Carte Vitale. We also bought a Mutuelle through Swiss Life.
Our E106 expired at the end of December last year, but the CPAM still sent us new cards for 2011. In May they realised their mistake, blocked the card and wrote to us, asking us to send them back.
I did this, and phoned up Swiss Life to explain the situation. As I expected, we were no longer entitled to Mutuelle cover without the Carte Vitale. They said we would have to send in copies of the letters from the CPAM in order for them to cancel the cover. I did this, but a month later they sent us a renewal schedule, so I rang them up. They had "no record" of my letter, although the woman on the phone remembered my original call. She asked me to resend the paperwork by recorded delivery, which I did.
Swiss Life is now saying that they will cancel the policy at the end of August, which is its anniversary.
Is this legal? Since they are aware we have no Carte Vitale and so are not enitled to recover anything from them under the policy, do they still have the right to take premiums? We cannot stop them, as it s paid by direct debit, which can only be cancelled by them.
Normally the Loi Chatel applies to insurance - i.e. you can only cancel on the anniversary, but surely this does not apply in this case?
Our E106 expired at the end of December last year, but the CPAM still sent us new cards for 2011. In May they realised their mistake, blocked the card and wrote to us, asking us to send them back.
I did this, and phoned up Swiss Life to explain the situation. As I expected, we were no longer entitled to Mutuelle cover without the Carte Vitale. They said we would have to send in copies of the letters from the CPAM in order for them to cancel the cover. I did this, but a month later they sent us a renewal schedule, so I rang them up. They had "no record" of my letter, although the woman on the phone remembered my original call. She asked me to resend the paperwork by recorded delivery, which I did.
Swiss Life is now saying that they will cancel the policy at the end of August, which is its anniversary.
Is this legal? Since they are aware we have no Carte Vitale and so are not enitled to recover anything from them under the policy, do they still have the right to take premiums? We cannot stop them, as it s paid by direct debit, which can only be cancelled by them.
Normally the Loi Chatel applies to insurance - i.e. you can only cancel on the anniversary, but surely this does not apply in this case?
One of the clauses in the contract should state how much notice you have to give and, in fact, you're lucky that the anniversary is at the end of this month! But I admit it's infuriating to pay out for nothing....
Aug 5th 2011, 8:11 am
#3
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2007
Location: near Chambéry
Posts: 48
Re: Cancelling a Mutuelle medical policy
Well we seem to have got it sorted. (I hope I am not speaking too soon...). We managed to get past the numpties in the call centre and speak to a manager. She is cancelling the policy with effect from 1st January.
Aug 18th 2011, 5:33 pm
#5
Just Joined
Joined: Aug 2011
Location: aillas
Posts: 6
Re: Cancelling a Mutuelle medical policy
When we moved to France we had an E106, which entitled us to a Carte Vitale. We also bought a Mutuelle through Swiss Life.
Our E106 expired at the end of December last year, but the CPAM still sent us new cards for 2011. In May they realised their mistake, blocked the card and wrote to us, asking us to send them back.
I did this, and phoned up Swiss Life to explain the situation. As I expected, we were no longer entitled to Mutuelle cover without the Carte Vitale. They said we would have to send in copies of the letters from the CPAM in order for them to cancel the cover. I did this, but a month later they sent us a renewal schedule, so I rang them up. They had "no record" of my letter, although the woman on the phone remembered my original call. She asked me to resend the paperwork by recorded delivery, which I did.
Swiss Life is now saying that they will cancel the policy at the end of August, which is its anniversary.
Is this legal? Since they are aware we have no Carte Vitale and so are not enitled to recover anything from them under the policy, do they still have the right to take premiums? We cannot stop them, as it s paid by direct debit, which can only be cancelled by them.
Normally the Loi Chatel applies to insurance - i.e. you can only cancel on the anniversary, but surely this does not apply in this case?
Our E106 expired at the end of December last year, but the CPAM still sent us new cards for 2011. In May they realised their mistake, blocked the card and wrote to us, asking us to send them back.
I did this, and phoned up Swiss Life to explain the situation. As I expected, we were no longer entitled to Mutuelle cover without the Carte Vitale. They said we would have to send in copies of the letters from the CPAM in order for them to cancel the cover. I did this, but a month later they sent us a renewal schedule, so I rang them up. They had "no record" of my letter, although the woman on the phone remembered my original call. She asked me to resend the paperwork by recorded delivery, which I did.
Swiss Life is now saying that they will cancel the policy at the end of August, which is its anniversary.
Is this legal? Since they are aware we have no Carte Vitale and so are not enitled to recover anything from them under the policy, do they still have the right to take premiums? We cannot stop them, as it s paid by direct debit, which can only be cancelled by them.
Normally the Loi Chatel applies to insurance - i.e. you can only cancel on the anniversary, but surely this does not apply in this case?
