Andrea50

Gosh, got another question now!

When we come over first week of August, we will officially be "tourists" for about two to three months whilst property searching etc, so do we just need normal travel insurance to cover us for accidents/health problems, teeth, etc or do we need something else?

When I was living in France before, because we still owned a house in England we both had a blue plastic card - European Union health card or something, is there an equivalent now and if so, how do I get us both one? We will both be keeping a "registered address" in England to start with, with our respective mothers - then consider becoming "French" after about a year or so. Does this sound the sort of thing people do?

Thanks guys.

Andy

TinaBee

If you are just visiting France you will need a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) which will cover you for emergencies only and you will be entitled to the same cover as French residents. This is usually around 65% to 70% of the actual cost of any healthcare.

You can apply for a card at the Post Office or on-line:

http://www.nhs.uk/Healthcareabroad/P...areabroad.aspx

You might want to consider getting a top-up insurance for your healthcare in case you need hospital treatment.

Once you are full-time residents, whether you can join the French healthcare system or need full private health insurance will depend on your circumstances, i.e. whether you are working, receiving UK state pension, etc.

You can find all the latest info on healthcare cover here:

http://www.frenchhealthissues.eu/

Andrea50

Thanks Tina, that's a useful site. I got the new EHIC cards through yesterday morning - really fast, I only applied on-line on Thursday! When we first get there for the first (at least) six months or so we will be visitors. After that, and once my partner decides he definitely likes it, we will look into "becoming French" as I don't want to go to all the bother of that if he ends up not wanting to stay long-term.

Happy Sunday to all!
Andy

jdr

I would still get holiday insurance in case there is a major problem and you have to be repatriated to the UK as your card won`t cover you for that.

Andrea50

Yes, good idea, I have a list of companies to ring about it - firstly Lloyds TSB who are my bank and they do it so will get a quote from them, but I wonder how long holiday insurance can be for, and whether we may need to renew it if we decide to stay longer but not "become French" immediately. Must remember to check this.

I am in receipt of Long term incapacity benefit so I might be a special case (still investigating this bit), but my partner will definitely need private health care policy when he is there permanently.

Thanks to everyone for help.

Andy

val50

Not sure if you have come across this webpage, might give you some useful information, especially regarding incapacity benefit.
http://www.nhs.uk/Healthcareabroad/P...areabroad.aspx

TinaBee

There are companies who specialise in top-up insurace for EHIC specifically for France - like this one

http://www.privatehealth.co.uk/healt...althcare/ehic/

Andrea50

Thanks Val, that's really useful. I am awaiting a Personal Capability Assessment due on Thursday - they usually happen once a year.

We still don't know if the move to France will become permanent - my partner has been to France many times but the north and driving through on the way to Switzerland. He certainly seems comitted and excited, but one never knows until one is actually there and living, so we will probably treat the French house as a "holiday home" for the first six months or so, and then when he is absolutely sure he wants to live there permanently, we will make the necessary arrangements to become "French" and that will probably be the best time to organise the paperwork for my incap benefit.

Thanks to everyone for helpful suggestions.

Andy