Rob G Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 Hi,We are hopefully moving back to the UK in the next three months. In the meantime, our son went back to live with his grandparents from the beginning of September so he could start his new school year in the UK. I have to admit that we never thought about health cover arrangements for him. We are now forced to do so as he is supposed to be going on a school trip to France (!) and has been asked to provide an NHS number and European Health Insurance Card.The situation is this: as far as the French authorities know, he still lives here and is still covered by French health insurance. He did have a European Health Insurance Card which entitled him to obtain care in other EU countries, but unfortunately we've just checked it and it's run out. I can apply for a new one, but it's likely to take 2 weeks to come. In any case, he won't be able to use an EHIC issued in France while he's in France (by definition, it's intended for use in countries other than the issuing country).He must have an NHS number, but we can't find any record of it. I'll make some phone calls on Monday and see whether I can track it down. But does this mean he is covered in the UK? By the UK system? Even if he was, he would presumably then need a European Health Insurance Card issued in the UK in order for his UK cover to extend to France and other UK countries.The school are saying he won't be able to go on the trip if he can't provide an NHS no., EHIC and GP details. My feeling is that the most logical approach at this point is to talk to the school and explain that he is still officially resident in France and therefore covered by my French cover. I can provide them with my French social security number and our French GP's details.Would be interested if anyone had a different take on this situation.Thanks,Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunday Driver Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 [quote user="Rob G"]Hi,In the meantime, our son went back to live with his grandparents from the beginning of September so he could start his new school year in the UK. [/quote]Your son is now resident in the UK, not France....That being so, he is now entitled to full NHS benefits so he needs to be registered with his local GP who will issue him with a medical card containing his new NHS number. Once he has that, you can apply for an EHIC (by telephone) to cover his foreign travel.You don't say when the France trip is planned for, but obtaining the NHS number and EHIC oughtn't to take too long to organise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob G Posted September 26, 2009 Author Share Posted September 26, 2009 Hi,Thanks for your response.[quote user="Sunday Driver"]Your son is now resident in the UK, not France.......You don't say when the France trip is planned for, but obtaining the NHS number and EHIC oughtn't to take too long to organise.[/quote]Well, yes, he is physically resident in the UK, and so could get an NHS number and an EHIC. The problem is that the trip is in less than two weeks, and from a quick bit of Googling yesterday evening, I don't think it will be feasible form him to get an EHIC quickly enough. (Yes, this is entirely our fault for not thinking about the issue sooner – to be honest, with everything else going on it just didn't cross our minds.)Hence the approach I'm suggesting. As far as the French authorities are concerned, he's still resident here and covered by French social security. If he were taken ill while on his trip in France, we could just say that we had temporarily sent him over to the UK and as part of his time there he was accompanying the class on a trip to France. I just need to get the school to accept that he will be covered by my French social security entitlement while in France.Had we thought about the issue earlier, we would have been able to get it sorted out in the way you say. The problem is lack of time – and he is desperately keen to go on this trip, so we really want to find a way to make sure the school is happy that he is covered.Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 As SD says, he is physically resident in Britain, not in France, therefore he needs an EHIC. Even if you don't have an NHS number at present, get him registered with a surgery in Britain, and apply for an EHIC using his National Insurance number. The fastest way to apply is online, this normally takes up to 7 days. However, the applicant has to be 18 or over - no problem if getting cards for the whole family but you won't be eligible for one yourself yet, and your son is presumably a minor. So you need to apply through the helpline (0845 605 0707 or +44 191 212 7500) and explain the situation. If they cannot issue the card in time then they can put a procedure in place to ensure that should he require emergency treatment he will receive it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob G Posted September 26, 2009 Author Share Posted September 26, 2009 Will,Many thanks for your response, and especially for the helpline details. I'll give them a try on Monday morning and explain the situation.I suppose I'm trying to think what our options might be in the eventuality that the process is too slow and no EHIC or valid alternative can be issued before our son (who is indeed a minor) is due to go on his trip.Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 Rob - Like all helplines, there is probably a lottery as to whether you get somebody knowledgeable and helpful or an obstructive jobsworth. But best of luck; I think it's certainly worth a try and you do always have your 'plan B' which looks workable, even if not 100% kosher. I hope the school is cooperative too, no reason why they should not be as long as your son has health cover in place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob G Posted September 26, 2009 Author Share Posted September 26, 2009 Thanks, Will – I'll post and let you know what happens...Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob G Posted October 1, 2009 Author Share Posted October 1, 2009 Hi,An update from those who are interested. I phoned the NHS helpline quoted by Will, and they said that as our son's grandparents are currently his legal guardians, they would need to arrange for him to be covered under their NHS cover. (Apparently you have to be over 16 to have cover in your own right.) He said they needed to register him with their local GP and obtain his NHS number, then call back with that and ask for an EHIC to be issued. As the GP wasn't able to get his NHS number straight away, they said they could register him under his Granddad's number instead. The EHIC takes up to 10 working days to be delivered, but they said he was covered from the time of the call and gave an emergency number to call if treatment is required overseas before the card arrives. Finally, we contacted the school and they were happy – they understood that he is covered and weren't concerned that he may not physically have an EHIC when he leaves for his trip.So the whole process ended up not being too complicated – made much easier by helpful input from this forum. Thanks to all!Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 Glad it worked out OK and was so trouble-free. Sometimes bureaucracy really can come up with the goods. [:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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