Humira

[L.t.d]

Hi,

My wife and I are planning to move to France, she is in receipt of the state pension so I would qualify as a dependant when we move for the French health service as I understand.

My question is I suffer with a form of Rheumatic disease called Ankylosing Spondylitis, in my case causing stiffness in the upper spine. For this I inject a drug called Humira (Adalimumad). This drug is quite expensive and I wondered if any members out there either take this drug and are receiving it through the French health service with no extra costs and if so is it straight forward enough to get onto it on arrival in France.

Thanks L.t.d

[woolybanana]

If the disease is classed as an Affliction Longue Duree, then the treatment would be free. Others on here might be able to tell you if it is.

However, a question to a French doctor might give you and answer, though there might be a list of ALD's somewhere.

One for Norman, perhaps?

[Clair]

Hello L.t.d,

I've done a quick search for this drug and it's on the "exceptional" list in France, presumably because of its cost. It's also on the "restricted" list, which means it has to be prescribed by a hospital in the first instance.

This means it's unlikely to be prescribed without a lot  - and this means a lot - of medical hoops being cleared first.

The current cost for a pack of two 0.8 ml syringes is 943,74 €, of which 65% (613.431 €) would be refunded by the French health service.

If it were ever prescribed, you would have to fund the 35% balance (330.309 €) either yourself or via a mutuelle.

[L.t.d]

Thanks for the information woolybanana,more searching and yes a chat with a french doctor could help.

Cheers

[L.t.d]

Thankyou Clair for your help,

I know the cost in the Uk was about 12000 pounds a year, but it enabled me to carry on working. I would perhaps get some more information from our DWP office?

[NormanH]

The criteria for being accepted with this as an ALD are quite complex as Clair indicated

http://www.polyarthrite.org/download/Les_criteres_admission_en_ALD.pdf

You would need a French GP to refer you to  a specialist in Rheumatologie who would then make a diagnosis and prescribe a treatment.

You would then go back to the GP who applies for your case to be considered as an ALD and thus reimbursed at 100% . This is not automatic in this case and would only cover you for this particular illness if it is given.

It is known as Spondylarthrite ankylosante in French

http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spondylarthrite_ankylosante

It would take a long time to get all that accepted, and in the meantime until it is you would be responsible for at least the 35% of the cost, supposing a French specialist did decide to prescribe this drug.

In fact if you have cover under your wife's entitlement to an S1 as someone in receipt of a UK pension it would be the UK that pays in the end but to get to this point you can expect many months of administrative hassle

There is also the long term future of reciprocal health arrangements to consider if the UK leaves the EU, since the S1 is an internal  European system.

[EuroTrash]

It's a Catch22 because you won't know until you've arrived here and jumped through all the hoops what the decision will be, and if at the end of it you don't end up with the prescription covered on ALD, then what?

It's only after you've left the UK, that you realise how exceptional the NHS is in providing so much for such low contributions and at zero cost at point of delivery.

[L.t.d]

Thankyou Norman H and Eurotrash for all the points you have made, so it seems really a holiday home and non permanent residency in France is really our best plan and stay with the NHS as I had thought may be the case.

I have as many do appreciated the help I have had from the NHS over the years as I have said without it I could have spent the last 30 years on benefits and not working as I have.

Thanks again.

[NormanH]

Should have wished you good luck for what I know is an extremely painful and debilitating condition.

[L.t.d]

Thankyou NormanH