Ninthace

Sure does but it makes the sunsets pretty and the chapel too.

What a dreadful experience and quite unnecessary. We too less than helpful reception from our CPAM in dept 31 but it was nowhere near so hostile - she just laughed at us.  I had prepared all the forms plus the letter of appeal which also seemed to attract no interest.  When our dossier was returned later, with a letter telling us to obtain an E106 extension or to explain why it could not be extended, the appeal letter had been removed.  We put another copy in the file and returned it to the CPAM.  Fortunately, this time the reception was far more understanding but the outcome has been the same.  We have now lodged an appeal with the CPAM mediator. Tom - you have mail

[quote user="Ninthace"] We too have costed some insurers and have produced a comparison based on a 57 yr old couple with no pre-existing conditions paying monthly premiums.  Prices seem to range from 8000€ to 3500€ per annum per couple depending on level of cover. We looked at Secara (AGF via a Dutch association), AGF, April (from 3 sources), Exeter Friendly, ASFE and the Exclusive Healthcare Platine Plans.  While I cannot guarantee its accuracy or accept any liability for the content, I can e-mail a copy of the spreadsheet if anyone wants it.  Interestingly one of the companies appears not to require a medical declaration - I have queried this and they have confirmed it but I have not seen the small print of the policy. [/quote] Given the interest when I published this same information on Total France, I thought fellow E106 holders would appreciate a bump of this thread.  Incidentally, the spreadsheet has grown a bit as I have added other policies.

We have just taken out PHI and found the process very quick if you can use the internet and scan documents.  I am not sure the following will work with all companies but it worked with ours. We downloaded the application forms from the internet (these could have come as e-mail enclosures as well).  Then we filled in the forms using the Mark 1 biro, scanned the completed forms and sent them back via e-mail as PDF enclosures.  This avoided the Christmas mail problem altogether. Of course if you have to see the GP this will add to the delay but at least you avoid the post.

Nah.  The MX-5 is a hairdresser's receptionist's car; especially if it is red!

Haute Pyrenees are good as is bottom end of Haute Garonne.  I have 3 ski stations within 1 hr (Le Mourtis, Super Bagneres and Peyragudes) and a large one in Spain (Bacquiera Beret) that can be reached in under 90mins.  Summers are usuually warm but not oppressive and as I type I can see a snow capped mountain at the end of the valley but at the same time there is sufficient heat in the sun to warm up the house using the greenhouse effect of our verandah.  If you want to know more PM me.

[quote user="cooperlola"] [quote user="hester"]Please could you tell me where I can find the spreadsheet that Ninthace has done? Thanks, Hester.[/quote] For technical reasons, we could not publish this on the site, but you can either e-mail me, or the site (or the good Ninthace!) and we'll forward it to you. [email protected] [/quote] I confirm I am happy to oblige anyone who e-mails me.  Obviously I cannot accept responsibility for the accuracy of the information, particularly the prices as some are 2008 and some are 2007.  People are advised to check out policies for themselves but the spreadsheet does provide a comparison of costs and benefits as a starting point.

We are here too - still waiting and hoping. In the interim, we have conducted an analysis of a range of insurance policies in terms of cost and benefits and have just purchased a policy with the agreed caveat that, should things move in our favour. we can cancel it. Can I add I'm getting slighty peeved by the "looks like we may be able to stay in the CMU so don't rock the boat posts" from those who either got here ahead of us or paid less NI than we did; or to put it bluntly in Jackspeak, the <<s*d you, I'm inboard>> approach.

Can I suggest you do not discount the bottom end of Dept 31 - the Haut Garonne appendix that dips down as far as the Spanish border.  Good scenery and properties not over priced - handy for the slopes too.

I am beginning to understand why farce is such a popular art form in France

We too have costed some insurers and have produced a comparison based on a 57 yr old couple with no pre-existing conditions paying monthly premiums.  Prices seem to range from 8000€ to 3500€ per annum per couple depending on level of cover. We looked at Secara (AGF via a Dutch association), AGF, April (from 3 sources), Exeter Friendly, ASFE and the Exclusive Healthcare Platine Plans.  While I cannot guarantee its accuracy or accept any liability for the content, I can e-mail a copy of the spreadsheet if anyone wants it.  Interestingly one of the companies appears not to require a medical declaration - I have queried this and they have confirmed it but I have not seen the small print of the policy.

Unfortunately in our department, Carte Vitales appear not to be issued until the E106 expires,  However, encouraged by the recent developments in Britanny, we took our application to join the CMU de Base to the St Gaudens CPAM (Dept 31) today.  The lady behind the desk was not encouraging, saying she would put in our dossier but we would probably be refused.  I explained that I was inactif because my former job had a mandatory retirement age of 55 and that I was in receipt of a government pension, but it cut no ice.  I added a letter of appeal, courtesy of the French Healthcare Issues site, which we had modified to include reference to the ongoing etude juridique announced yesterday.  She read it carefully and seemed unimpressed but said she would add it anyway.  Then she discovered that while we had provided copies of our avis d'impots, we had foolishly ommitted a P60 as well so could we come back with completed questionnaires and a copy of my last P60. We went back this afternoon with completed application forms and the P60 and talked to her colleague who was more sympathetic and agreed that something had to be done to sort this mess out, especially for those with ongoing medical problems.  While waiting I ran into a French friend who works in the CPAM.  He had heard that another announcement was due and said that he too had heard the rumours of an extension to March for E106 holders.  Unfortunately that was all he could tell me.

Hi Lightning As another ex RAF inactif, I did send a message to the Veterans Agency and the RAFA explaining the problem for veterans in France but I got no response at all.

As far as I can tell, this page is unchanged from some time ago.  I suspect the date at the top of the page changes daily so I would not set too much credednce in this being current information - sorry

Link is in second column of home page of secu site entitled L'actualite   Direction de la sécurité sociale :   Point d'information : Affiliation à la CMU pour les ressortissants britanniques inactifs. (19/09/07)  

[quote user="Russethouse"]I must be looking in the wrong place, where on that site is it mentioned ?[/quote]   http://blogs.fco.gov.uk/blogs/jim_murphy/archive/2007/10/11.aspx  click on comments

[quote user="Russethouse"]YES - just got 'on topic' !!!!![:D][/quote]   And off it and away as fast as he can with no more information added to that in his Blog.  Chocolate teapots come to mind!

[quote user="Tony F Dordogne"]Pre asked and pre answered I think for most of the first batch of questions - still, I've sent mine![/quote] No question about it - look at the Turkey theme. Given that; why is he so slow to cut and paste?

and me - 2 of them.  1645 BST has been and gone but its all gone quiet over there!

Cooperlola, I think you may be missing a trick by thinking you are in "not badly affected bracket".  Like you, I may be able to get through next year with a bit of belt tightening but what if sometime next year I have a medical problem?  First of all I will hesitate to go to the doctor because of the potential impact of any treatment on the following year's premium.  Secondly, if it is something serious, could I continue to get insurance?  In either case this could radically affect my position and force my return to UK.  As result, I may end up shelling out the premium for a policy that I am reluctant to use just so I can stay in France.  I am now off to join the lobby!  

I was right, there is a internet cafe called Simply Clik at the junction of Avenue Marechal du Foch and the ring road in the Boulvard Eugene Azemar.  The other internet cafe, Cyberbase, that BJSLIV told you about, is also on the ring road just after the junction with Avenue General Leclerc.  Searching for either of these on www.pagesjaunes.fr will enable you to bring up a map showing the precise location.

I believe there is one on the ring road near where the Avenue Marechal Foch comes in.  I will have a look next time I am in town and let you know.

[quote user="sandt"] flies are a fact of life in the country in the southwest of france in the summer. i don,t know about other areas. its just a matter of putting up with them outside and buying fly screens for the windows. or carry a flyswat with you permanently [/quote] I prefer one of those electric fly bats, the crack when you get a fly in mid air is most satisfying.  Friends of ours presented one to our local cafe and the resident fly population is much reduced as a result.

I have just had new European headlights fitted to my 9 year old std diesel Cherokee.  I used a local garage near St Gaudens (dept 31) that specialises in 4x4 vehicles.  he acquired and fitted them in 7 working days (12 really but he had a week off in the middle).  Total cost 215 Euros.

Having owned for 2 yrs have just moved in full time to Sauveterre de Comminges in dept 31 between Ariege and Haute Pyrenees 12 km S of St Gaudens.