Sunshine

Being a holder of an E106 that expires on the 5th with a pre existing condition I am so grateful for your continued efforts on behalf of others in a similar situation to me. Mid December we went into to CPAM and applied for CMU with a letter taken from your website.  Towards the end of the month we went back to check on the progress in a very polite manor.  The lady was really shirty, jumped out of her seat and said she would get our refusal letter immediatley, and told us there is no right of appeal!  5 minutes later she came back to say our case was being looked into but we would here something soon.  Oh and if we wanted to appeal we could!.  This was the first unhelpful person I have met in that department.  We still have not had a reply but this is to be expected with all the festive holidays.  I have just seen your CMU refusal letter - AGAIN- on your website and will certainly use it if I am refused entry.  I will also ask the Marie to support us along with my Dr,  I thought this may add a little more weight should I have to make an appeal. Thank you soooo soo much for your help and support. As I have so many problems with the Living France forum website, I now check your French Health website first.  

Hi I agree with the bois de chauffage outlets and the wood yards.  We pay about 30-40 euros a stere or m3 but this is for metre lengths.  Also try the local land owners, they usually have some to spare.  but sometimes its not just Oak, so ask what type of wood they are selling.  The log widths vary, but they also deliver and stack for that price. We use a woodyard that only sell Oak this has a highercalorific value and leaves little ash.  Mainly from large trunks and they are odd shapes, but last a long time. We pay about 40-50 euros for this, but can be a little difficult to stack.   Being a northerner I love to make the fire!...

[quote user="Marc"] We have just completed a new build and are hoping to let the property for occasional lets (not through an agent, but word of mouth). Is there anybody locally who would  be interested in dealing with our guests and changeovers on an adhoc basis? thanks   Marc Contact details removed by a moderator. Contact the poster by PM or Email please. [/quote] Marc I have just sent you a PM

I am interested, I live here all year round and will send you a PM.

As we are nearly in 2009 please ensure the forms/prescritions etc have the correct year on them.   I went to the doctor in the first week of a new year and he put the previous year on the form in error making it one year old.  CPAM refused to accept this, evan though the receipts for the medication was dated correctly.  

I am still searching for the electric sockets please can any one let me know if they have seen any other types apart from the brushed inox ones  

In a previous life I dealt with medical info for health assurance and life policys. if you have not started the process, choose a few company's and policies that suit you and get quotes from them.  Some companies underwrite a little more leniently than others, so some may be more or less generous with a loading.  Also the more benefits/cover they provide the more detailed medical information will be required.  if you provide them with all the info such as full Dr's and consultant address' and copies of any reports, this will help them spead the process up.  So if the risk to them is small and you and in good health they may not need to ask you to go for a medical examination. if you request a quote for a plan that has two levels and you elect for the cheapest with less benefits the underwriting will be based on this.  if you then decide to go ahead with a more comprehensive policy this may result in more medical information or examinations or speecial questions.  So if there is a possibilty of proceeding with the hihg level of benefits it may be worth you requesting this first to avoid delays.  There are normally set requirements for (standard cases) they can always reduce the cover with no further delays.  Check this with your agent.  Save time! Complete the form IN FULL  this causes delays and may not be able to start the underwriting procees until this is completed!.. Do not forget your weight, check all the ticked boxes and answer every one, sign and date it, failure will mean a signed statement from you - again delays. Call the company ask if they will accept a fax or emailed application to get the ball rolling followed by the original in the post.  Get a contact name and if possible a direct telephone number. Read the small print, the ones that do not need a medical form completed will give a speedy decision but usually means that if you have a condition or symptoms already they will not cover you any way.  When you do may a claim this is were you will find the problem.   I disclosed everything backed up by a statement about recent press coverage declining cover as they had failed to report an unrelated condtion,  In view of this I asked them to seek copies of all my medical records just in case I had forgotten something.    Not sure if it works but I have tried to cover my self. I stated a start date 'to be advised' if you give a start date and complete the Direct debit they may start the plan as soon as a decision is given.  Not providing a completed Direct debit with your application may hold up the issue of the start of the plan.  A method of payment is usually required before they start the plan! When an underwriting decision has been given, and if there has been a delay with your application, some company's may ask for a declaration of good health before starting the plan - again more delays.  This is a business which operates on a commission basis, targets and turnovers and bonus's.  To reach these targets they would want as much business to start asap.  Although the E106's plans will not start until 2008 they still want plans issued.  If you are being pressed to give the go ahead with your plan ask who is pushing and why.  Ask about the last date before a declaration of good health is required ( this will incude the company receiving the DDI)   Keep your top up company informed at all times.  Any refund due will be easier and quicker - hope fully. Sorry but I have to go as I have run out of time. Hope this may be useful to some people.  

Just about to lay a new oak floor and want to put 2 sockets with covers so that I can have a lamp in the middle of the room.  I have found a brushed inox one in 2 electrical stores CEGB ( or something like that) and a another local store, but both do not have any other options.  I do know there is a brass one available. Can any one tell me where to find any other coloured or brass sockets with a cover to place in oak floorboards.    

My husband and I will have no cover from 5 jan 08 too, I have an appointment with my consultant on wednesday and I will ask hm to do the same.  I think the more I read the more I seem to get weighed down, nothing is clear, ie pre existing conditions before moving to france not covered, insurance companies not offering a  policy if they can not quote 'comprehensive' as they do not meet the new rules.  What is comprehensive insurance another good question by another forum member.  Sometimes I wish I was an ostrich and I would find the biggest pile of sand I could find.  Cat how about another one of your ditti's as I need a pick me up  

Thank you Cat for the poem, is was a ray of sunshine in a dismal day. It reminds me of the orchestra playing as the Titanic went down.  Any other poems or ditty's out there?

Thank you for all those that posted a reply.  It has been sometime since I saw a UK annual and guessing the age group of these against the age of a child is a mind field.  Not a problem when mine were children. The Transformers Annual is the one I have chosen.  Many thanks for all the help in this and other matters from the Forum readers.  

Like many E106's who will be with out cover from january I am trying not to bury my head in the sand and I am clutching at straws.  However if you are one of the lucky ones who have had extentions have you got any unusual circumstances that make you different from the norm, or is it just luck of the draw.  I will pop to see CPAM tomorrow so any scrap of information would be help full.  

I am looking to buy an annual for a boy of nine who lives in the UK but I do not know which one to choose.  Hpw about  the Dandy, Beano, Marvel heroes or the Transformer annual. I am a bit out of touch so can any one recommend one for me.  

I think I have missed something as I have been waiting for an update which finalised the changes to the french health care, 2 days ago, but not able to find it. I read on the FHI that a letter from that website re expiry of E106' s at the end of 2007 was reviewed by CPAM in Brittany an an extention was granted til march 08 when they would be allowed to join CMU.  As follows:- The following item may well shortly be overtaken by the long-awaited government announcement. However, it does indicate that pursuing our arguments at local level may achieve positive results in at least some cases. Some encouragement for E106 holders! We have this morning received an email from E106 holders in Brittany who say they delivered by hand a copy of our E106 letter yesterday - and the officer's response was that the points were well argued. They were then advised that if they can produce written confirmation from the UK authorities that the E106 could not be extended then they could be admitted to the CMU until 30/3/08 and commence payments for that period. This is the first 'crack' in the CPAM/CMU standard shrug and response of 'we are acting on instructions' that we have heard of, and we think it should give all E106 holders encouragement to go and try the same tack. At the very least phone Newcastle if you have not already done so, (do not write because you will never get a response in time), argue for an E106 extension, (always worth a try!), but if you do not get one then ask for confirmation of rejection (in French) in writing. This will not stop FHI arguing with Newcastle that it is them that should be currently extending all E106's to at least the end of March. Good Luck - and please feed back to us immediately any more chinks of success! ......................................... I do not want to rock the boat for these lucky people but if this is true can any one tell me the name or branch that they visited as a reference.    

My husband and I need a good quality PHI if any one has one to recommend for 45-50 can you PM me. Also remember that if the PHI company need copys of your medical details before an offer is made this can take some time, so bare this in mind.  If you are currant having investigations into a certain condition this may also delay the final quote, but do not delay still make as many applications as you can now.  Some offers may have a limited time scale so check this out. I personally will not take up any offer until the last minute allowing for the new legislation to be come clear.  But I will get the ball rolling. Does any one know of someone taking up the cause of behalf of X military personnel Inactifs?    

We now have over 44 pages on the subject which makes it impossible for any new commer to keep up with the changes.  Could we start a new posting on the subject and keep to the facts as we do stray a little. Ok I am ready for the flack!

I have sent you  a PM  

Sorry but I can not open the link to your poisonous mushroom link. For a few euros we became members of our village mushroom association who have just cancelled their talk (by our local pharmacy) and lunch, because there are no, or few,  mushrooms around at the moment.  They are great for offering support and identification, but the best sites for finding mushrooms are a closely guarded secret!..  We took the produce of our first mushroom hunt to a member of our association for clarification.  Join these groups they are a source of information and very helpful.  I prefer the umberella mushroom, it is white and about 1 foot or more in height, and looks like an umberella hence the name, and the cap is like a flat plate, it is very nutty and not slithery when cooked. If you are not sure what you are picking go to your pharmacy with them, often they have a picture board in the window.  Beware, there is a mushroom that looks just like a cepe but is poisonous, once it has been handled it starts to bruise and the area turns a silver blue colour. Its great fun and something that can be enjoyed, if well supervised, by all the family. As a Yorkshire lass I would say 'If in doubt do nowt'. Happy mushroom hunting

Our E 106 expires in Jan 2008.  Can any one confirm the 60 hours rule which qualifys entitlement to the French Health Care system.  If I work 60 hours in November or December will this cover me for 12 months CMU or only until the end of this year.    

May be a little late but the Champion store in Gourdon sell their own brand and they are very good, and reasonably priced  I have already bought my Xmas stock before the rush.

Hi Pat Thank you.  My hanging baskets are just turning and there are few flowers left and the top is starting to die.  Its this time of the year when I have to come to terms with taking them down.  But I am off to the green house NOW with renewed vigour. Cheers    

I have a number of apple trees and 2 trees with the same gree variety of apples were just like yours.  I had looked after the orchard well, spraying and using glue on the trunk etc., and they were laidened with fruit.  Not sure what happened, but like you when peeled they looked normal and the taste was not affected.  No one noticed when they were cooked!

I have been told that cuttings from trailing geraniums are not possible. Is this true. I take seeds from my petunias and cuttings from the normal geraniums but never tried the trailing varietys. I also planted tagettes around my tomatoe plants in a raised bed (they prevent black fly ect) they did the job and looked like a huge flower bed!...  they looked fabulous. I also planted the black russian truffle variety and they were very tasty, unfortunatley after planting I forgot to take the packet out of my jeans and found it in a soggy mess in the washing machine.  I have dried them out and hoping they will grow next year!

Insurance is sometimes a mind field in the Uk not to mention France.  However; they do like to see evidence of each year you are claiming NCB.  Do you have a copy of your renewal notices and or insurance policies.  If not can your old company confirm, in writing, the date you started with them, year by year, the end date, and no claims against the policy.  Your new insurance company may except this.  Sometimes because of the language problems they do not always understand what you are providing as evidence which can sometimes swings in your favour!. Don't let them get you down, have a glass or two and think of it as an opportunity! Have you tried Groupama I think they have a car insurance deal going on.

I sadly think there is no way round it and will try to find a health policy that will cover me.  I have gone through the panic stage, and feel defeated.  May be clutching at straws but how about a MEP taking up the gauntlet. But there is no way am I going back to cold, miserable and tax happy blighty!