Hubber

Hello I'm currently living in France and am looking for a travel insurance policy, preferably for annual cover.  Unfortunately I have a pre existing medical condition (diabetes).  I've tried a few searches on the internet for specialist insurers in France but can't seem to find any.  I would be able to get insurance with a normal insurer but these exclude medical treatment arising from my diabetes.  Whilst living in the UK there were a number of insurers who would cover me in full (obviously with a higher premium).  Would anyone be able to suggest/recommend a specialist insurer for someone living in France with a pre existing medical condition please? Thanks Hubber

Hello Ive been looking into receiving Sky tv whilst I'm living in Paris. I've read through the various posts regarding receiving Sky tv on the forum and just wondered whether I could double check something. I understand that I can purchase a digibox in the UK and then obtain a Sky card using an address in the UK (which is no problem as I can use my parents' address, which is also my credit card billing address), and that the card then needs to be activated by phoning Sky. However I gather from the previous posts that its quite risky to phone from a french telephone number as then Sky will figure out that I'm not in the UK. Is it the case that someone else (family member say) can pretend to be me and activate the card in the UK whilst I'm in France or is it the type of thing where you actually need to be sitting in front of the box and pressing things? And if it is the latter perhaps conference calling is an option?! Any advice gratefullly received - thank you very much. Hubber

Thank you very much for all the replies.  MJW, do you think that there is anything I can do to improve my chances of renting if I go along to an "open house", eg bringing references from employer and previous landlady (translated into french)? Would it be better for me to use a relocation agent? I'm reluctant to pay for such a service if possible but if its going to make life a lot easier I'm definitely willing to consider it! I had been thinking that as I am a single, non smoking girl who looks reasonably presentable it would be relatively easy to find somewhere but your experiences suggest otherwise!

Hello I'm moving to Paris shortly and wanted to rent a furnished one bedroom flat.  I've previously lived in Paris before for six months so have a good idea of where i want to live (14th/15th/16th) but that was in a flat arranged by my company so I didn't have to find it myself.  Does anyone have any good websites they could suggest please? I know about pap.fr but was looking for something a bit more helpful ie with pictures.  Any useful advice about renting in Paris would also be much appreciated (eg current rental market, whether landlords mind renting to foreigners etc). Thank you very much. Hubber. 

Thank you very very much for all the helpful replies - this is really useful!

Thank you very much for all the helpful replies.  I guess the next question is whether my uk ni contributions would entitle me to the carte vitale? I understand that i will get an e106 so does this entitle me to the carte vitale? Sorry about all the questions but I get the impression that my company doesn't really know what the situation will be (I am the first employee they are sending to france; they are currently acquiring a business in france and i am being sent over for approx 2-3 years to help with the integration) and so I thought it would be a good idea to try and find out what exactly the situation would be myself.  The diabetes is treated with insulin injections so I think would qualify for any exemptions for medications (I get free prescriptions in the UK).  I'm not worried about any emergency treatment (eg heart attack, car crash) as this will be covered by the health insurance I will be given, so its really just the day to day treatment.  the health insurance is an international policy obtained by the company, which covers healthcare in all countries.  However there's an excess of £100 (payable by the employee) each time a claim is made so I obviously don't want to use this for day to day care.  The alternative suggestion which I've been given is just to use an address in the UK with a doctors and collect prescriptions in the UK every six months or so although this seems like a lot of hassle.  Thanks very much again for the helpful replies. Hubber. 

Hello Thanks for your reply - if I could get 100% reimbursement that would be great! I'll be paying tax in France but ni contributions in the UK. Thanks Hubber

Hello I'm moving to France next month to work for an english company.  I am looking at the option as regards health care.  I will have some health insurance (international health insurance) but this is not apparently "mutuelle".  I'm trying to consider whether I should take out a mutuelle on top of this or simply pay the extra for my health care needs on a day to day level (on the basis that if anything serious happens I can claim on the insurance provided by my company). I have diabetes and need quite a lot of prescription drugs for that but no other health conditions.  I understand that 70% of these costs will be met but then I will need to either pay the extra myself or get a mutuelle - I assume that the mutuelle will be quite expensive in view of my condition and I am therefore likely to be better off effectively "self insuring".  Any advice would be much appreciated.   thank you very much. Hubber.