Hello

I hope I'm not going over old ground but I did some searching and can't really find anything relevant to a few questions we have so hoping you can help!

We are looking to move to France sometime within the next 5 years, I grew up there as a child (my parents moved there when I was 7 and my brother was 2), my parents still live there for 6 months of the year, my in laws live there and my aunt and uncle, we have a decent standard of French and should have around 200k in the kitty with savings and house sale so hopefully we're not going in too blind!

Our main concern is that our daughter (5) has a chronic illness. We're currently under consultant care and she has an IV infusion every fortnight (of a drug which I believe is unlicenced - we've had so many I can't remember what is what anymore!). I just wondered if anyone had any experience of this, or something similar, moving abroad with a pre existing medical condition? Hopefully in time her infusions will get futher and further apart but (although she's made amazing improvements) she's still quite poorly.

I just wondered if moving to France can only be a dream in this situation?
Thanks for any help It's much appreciated xx

Hi
As far as a move to France is concerned, you tick many of the correct boxes.
You speak a good standard of french.
You have previous experience of France.
You have family support in France.
You have enough cash to set yourselves up.
The two boxes you don't tick are:
How you intend to make a living.
Healthcare for your child.
I think that the healhcare issue may make this just a dream for you.
You say that the drug is possibly unlicensed in the UK.
That probably means that it is unlicensed for general use but is available for named patients and possibly only administered by named consultants.
That could mean that if you leave the current consultant then you can no longer obtain the drug. [Unless transferring to another similarly licenced consultant in the NHS ]
In addition, this drug may - or may not - be available in France.
If you leave the UK to permanently reside in another country then you are no longer entitled to healthcare supplied by the NHS.
If you are not earning in another EU country then you would be covered by your existing NI contributions for up to 2.5 years.
If you are earning then you would be eligible for cover under the french system.
In France, you need to have a family "Mutuelle" insurance which pays for any part of the treatment that the state system doesn't cover. You may find it difficult to find such additional cover for such a pre-existing condition or it may be available but more expensive.
I am sorry that I cannot offer you a positive answer but sometimes we just take the service we get in the NHS for granted and in some ways it leaves other countries well behind.
Good luck with your decisions.

Thank you for your reply

I have a (semi) successful online business which I could still do from France and my partner could get a job in a similar company (his work is multi national so the language isn't a huge problem) although we would obviously dream to have our 'good life' life, we know it isn't entirely realistic!

I think it is a stumbling block, it took a while for our PCT to approve funding as she has treatment in another PCT so I never thought it would be easy...
In 5 years time who knows though, she could have improved and not need the drug anymore, but then we have the 'relapse' issue.

I think we are going to plan to move - in the 'save money, clearout stuff' sense and if it's not a realistict option in a few years more money and less stuff is never a bad thing...

I've done a bit more research and have found that the drug is licensed and available in France, sp I guess that makes things a little more possible...

The only thing would be medical insurance I suppose, I think she ends up costing rather a lot to treat :-/

At the moment we receive disability living allowence and I get carers allowence, I am assuming she wouldn't be entitled to these from the UK but does anyone know if France has a similar system? I searched but the only information I could find was for children over 16.

The more I find out the more questions I have!

This forum is excellent and I've learnt so much today, so thank you!

It's ok, I've found that we can take most of it with us...

First post not going well, coming across as a bit stupid lol!!

I'm self employed, but if I run out of work I don't I qualify for any assistance from the govn't. So I don't think you'll qualify for anything. But I'm new to this too so I might be wrong there.

But, it took me nearly a year to get our Carte Vitale and before it arrived we had to pay all medical costs ourselves. We claimed it back (well the 70% you are entitled to) when we got the CV. But you'll need the money to pay for it upfront before the CV arrives.

I agree with Loy Loy. I have been an autoentrepreneur for almost 18 months, but the work has dried up. I don't qualify for any financial help. Just had a letter from the Pole Emploi this morning. Bon courage!

Thank you

Depending on what we spend on a property, we should have enough to live on for over a year and as we can take the care eliment of the DLA and carers allowence with us that shouldn't be a problem provided the cost of the treatment is similar to here, but that's more research!

Plus we can stay with family whilst property hunting

I have to take slight issue with this part of Cyrians otherwise excellent post.

Firstly in the sense that 'need' implies compulsory you do not have a mutuelle. It is entirely optional although it is generally good advice to have one.

Secondly a mutuelle, or top up insurance as it is commonly known, is not based on the applicants medical condition or history but purely on age, this is one of the basic tenets of the system to ensure that nobody is excluded. You do not need to fill in any medical questionnaires when applying. I am not personally aware of 'family' mutuelles, normally each person has their own policy and cover.

The care component of DLA is exportable and because of that your daughter should be entitled to an E121(S1) from DWP which will entitle her to care in France but would not extend to you as you are not her dependents.

In addition it maybe that your daughters chronic condition would be covered 100% under the ALD rules (Affections Longues Durées) and the French health system is generally more forthcoming with what in the UK might be termed 'post code lottery' drugs and treatment.

This is not the most up to date nor most exhaustive list of ALD's but it gives you the flavour.

List of 30 disorders Long Duration (ALD 30) that give rise to exemption from the co-payment (Article D-322-1 CSS)

L’article D-322-1 du code de la sécurité sociale précise la liste de ces affections “ comportant un traitement prolongé et une thérapeutique particulièrement coûteuse susceptibles d’ouvrir droit à la suppression de la participation des assurés sociaux aux tarifs servant de base aux calculs des prestations en nature de l’assurance maladie ”. Article D-322-1 of the Social Security Code specifies the list of these conditions "with a prolonged and costly therapeutic particularly likely to be eligible for the removal of the involvement of the social tariffs to be used as a basis for Calculations of benefits in kind of health insurance. "

Cette liste est établie après avis du HCMSS. This list is drawn up after consulting the HCMSS.

En regard de cette liste, le HCMSS élabore des Recommandations à l’intention des médecins traitants et des médecins conseils des services de l’assurance maladie dans le but de donner des indications précises sur les conditions d’exonération. In light of this list, the HCMSS develops Recommendations for treating physicians and doctors advice service health insurance in order to provide clear guidance on the conditions of exemption. Après aval du Ministre ces Recommandations font l’objet d’une publication par l’UCANSS à l’intention des Professionnels. After approval by the Minister of these recommendations are subject to a publication by the UCANSS à l'intention des Professionnels.

Liste des Affections Longues Durées : List of Diseases Long Running time:
(Pour obtenir les recommandations du HCMSS, cliquer sur l'ALD de votre choix) (For recommendations HCMSS, click on your choice of ALD)

1 - Accident vasculaire cérébral invalidant ; 1 - Stroke disabling;
2 - Insuffisances médullaires et autres cytopénies chroniques ; 2 - Deficiencies in bone marrow and other cytopenias chronic;
3 - Artériopathies chroniques avec manifestations ischémiques ; 3 - Artériopathies with chronic ischemic events;
4 - Bilharziose compliquée ; 4 - Bilharzia complicated;
5 - Insuffisance cardiaque grave, troubles du rythme graves, cardiopathies valvulaires graves ; cardiopathies congénitales graves ; 5 - severe heart failure, arrhythmias serious, serious valvular heart disease, congenital heart disease severe;
6 - Maladies chroniques actives du foie et cirrhoses ; 6 - Chronic Diseases and active liver cirrhosis;
7 - Déficit immunitaire primitif grave nécessitant un traitement prolongé, infection par le virus de l'immuno-déficience humaine ; 7 - primitive severe immune deficiency requiring prolonged treatment, virus infection of human immunodeficiency;
8 - Diabète de type 1 et diabète de type 2 ; 8 - Diabetes Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes;
9 - Forme grave des affections neurologiques et musculaires (dont myopathie), épilepsie grave ; 9 - severe form of neurological and muscular (myopathy), severe epilepsy;
10 - Hémoglobinopathies, hémolyses, chroniques constitutionnelles et acquises sévères ; 10 - hemoglobinopathies, hémolyses, chronic severe constitutional and acquired;
11 - Hémophilies et affections constitutionnelles de l'hémostase graves ; 11 - Hémophilies and constitutional disorders of hemostasis serious;
12 - Hypertension artérielle sévère ; 12 - Severe Hypertension;
13 - Maladie coronaire ; 13 - coronary artery disease;
14 - Insuffisance respiratoire chronique grave ; 14 - severe chronic respiratory insufficiency;
15 - Lèpre ; 15 - Leprosy;
16 - Maladie de Parkinson ; 16 - Parkinson's Disease;
17 - Maladies métaboliques héréditaires nécessitant un traitement prolongé spécialisé ; 17 - Inherited Metabolic Diseases requiring prolonged treatment specialist;
18 - Mucoviscidose ; 18 - Cystic fibrosis;
19 - Néphropathie chronique grave et syndrome néphrotique primitif ; 19 - nephropathy serious and chronic nephrotic syndrome primitive;
20 - Paraplégie ; 20 - paraplegia;
21 - Périartérite noueuse, lupus érythémateux aigu disséminé, sclérodermie généralisée évolutive ; 21 - Périartérite Nodosa, systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma widespread evolutionary;
22 - Polyarthrite rhumatoïde évolutive grave ; 22 - Rheumatoid arthritis evolutionary serious;
23 - Psychose, trouble grave de la personnalité, arriération mentale ; 23 - psychosis, severe disorder of the personality, mental retardation;
24 - Rectocolite hémorragique et maladie de Crohn évolutives ; 24 - Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease scalable;
25 - Sclérose en plaques ; 25 - Multiple sclerosis;
26 - Scoliose structurale évolutive (dont l'angle est égal ou supérieur à 25 degrés) jusqu'à maturation rachidienne ; 26 - Scoliosis structural evolutionary (including the angle is greater than or equal to 25 degrees) until spinal maturation;
27 - Spondylarthrite ankylosante grave ; 27 - serious Ankylosing spondylitis;
28 - Suites de transplantation d'organe ; 28 - Suites organ transplantation;
29 - Tuberculose active ; 29 - Tuberculosis active;
30 - Tumeur maligne, affection maligne du tissu lymphatique ou hématopoïétique. 30 - A malignant tumor, malignant disease of the lymphatic and hematopoietic tissue.

[QUOTE=Im_and_Er;10220928] I am not personally aware of 'family' mutuelles, normally each person has their own policy and cover.

Our Mutuelle covered OH, myself and two daughters at the time. When the latter left the nest, we removed their names and the Mutuelle only covers OH and myself now.

Hi again! Can't your parents or other family enquire on your behalf on the spot? As family they can give the medical info to their G.P., who can tell them whether your daughter could be treated, with 100% cover or not, and what Care could be provided by the Social Security.
In the end it's the French G.P. who'll know or who'll refer you to a hospital specialist, and they will apply to the CPAM Doctor for ALD status if applicable.
If you are only thinking of coming to live here within the next 5 years, why not make an appointment for your daughter with your parents' G.P. the next time you're over? He/she'll direct you to the appropriate professionals and you can find out all the administrative procedures for yourself, and this may help you make your decision....
Hope this helps, it's a difficult decision for you to make...

P.S. The thought has just occurred to me - does your family live near a Hospital? I just mention this as a factor to take into account.

A massive thank you for all the replies! Making an appointment with the local GP is a brilliant idea, and thank you for all of the information, it's really helpful and I'd never have been able to find it all on my own!

My partner has decided to look for a new job which means we'll be able to save money without selling our house here also, which means we'd get some income from renting it out :-)

Oh and we currently travel over 2 hours to hospital in this country so we're prepared if it needs to be a long journey! Hopefully Toulouse can meet our needs if there were none closer x

I work as a paramedic in the UK and abroad.
I have seen so many families with patients who have this challenge.

My answer to you would be to identify all the specialist consultant in the field of care which covers the illness concerned.
Locate where they practice and then contact them to ask if they would e prepared to accept the patient onto their books with the treatment regime required.
if you find one that will then look for properties within a reasonable timeframe of the care centre (less than 1/2 and hour if possible). To be an hour or more away from definitive care in the case of an emergency is setting the stage for disaster I'm afraid.

Bottom line - re-locate to where the specialists are.

best of luck
Mike

As soon as the French authorities have checked your papers and agreed your entitlement you should be issued with an 'attestation', this should arrive within a couple of weeks at most. The 'attestation' is the important document that proves your entitlement to healthcare, you can show this to the chemist etc and it and contains all the info needed to claim your refund.

The Carte Vitale is simply a smartcard that makes it easier to process refunds as it can be swiped etc.