Should we pay for a mutuelle?

[NormanH]

There is an article in le Figaro here on choosing a Mutuelle for senior citizens (in French)

[Clair]

[quote user="NormanH"]There is an article in le Figaro here on choosing a Mutuelle for senior citizens (in French)[/quote]

The comparison report mentioned in the article above is HERE (in French) and in Google English HERE.

[Owen]

Hello Bubbles,

Even though you are considering putting away a sum of money each month for unforeseen medical expenses I think you would be better of taking out an insurance. if you are in good health and are prepared to pay out of your own pocket for infrequent treatment of minor ailments I still think it would be a good idea to take out an insurance (rather than building a cash reserve) for the potentially expensive stuff such as hospitalisation. The policy is unlikely to actually guarantee covering all "dépassements". However, depending where you live a hospitalisation only plan covering between 200% - 500% of the Tarif de Convention should take care of most of your costs. Even if a surgeon was, for example, planning to charge a 400% "dépassement" the insurer may well negotiate this figure down towards the limit of your plan. For such hospitalisation only policies you will probably obtain better value from an insurer rather than a "mutuelle".

Regards

Owen

[email protected]

[giantpanda]

Hi!

Is your incapacity still permanent?

Then ( what you should have done a long time ago ) you ask ( starting at your médecin traitant ) to have your incapacity recognized. Bring all your records for the doctor - Now that can take time.

After advice of a commission you get your French incapacity level  ( in percentages ).

With that you can qualify to specific aids, and to an extra 1/2 part on your income tax return.

French reference:

http://vosdroits.service-public.fr/particuliers/N12.xhtml

Yours,

giantpanda

[bubbles]

Thank you, Owen.

I will consider just a hospitalisation insurance too (instead of a full mutuelle).

I know someone who just has that and the cost is only 20euros a month.

As you surmise, I am happy to pay for minor things - visits to my medecin traitant and prescriptions, even visits to specialists. And (at the moment) am in good health (my disability will not go away but does not require drugs).

Giantpanda, that is a good idea.

I will definitely go with my old records and chat to my French GP.

Looks like I will be busy when I get back to France.

It's either stay with my head in the sand (tempting but a bit worrying) or else sort out all three big ones: marriage regime, tax returns and health cover.

Each of those three seems to involve one or more of the others.

Very reassuring to know that there are helpful people on this forum willing to advise and give me the benefit of their experiences.