which one do you use?

[Rose]

Ok.. I fear I maybe asking the wrong question here but I'm going to do it anyway... cause that's the sort of girl I am!

We're about to buy a family mutuelle... we've seem loads of different sorts and OH has a couple he thinks are better... but I thought I would just ask this great body of information what they use or what they would recommend? 

So... anyone want to start the ball rolling...[:$]

[Polremy]

we dont use one. we put money aside every month and try to keep healthy. so far (6 years +) we are definitely up on the deal.

the mutuelles seemed so expensive and they seem to become more expensive as you get older and more likely to claim.

[Belle]

We have been talking about cutting down on our mutuelle, I keep thinking as we are very healthy, and never go to the doctor, do we need full cover, I rang our insurance to ask about hospital cover only, and could they explain just what would be covered, but just didn't get info that made sense, we have been told that emergency's are covered by cpam, but what about non emeg. stuff, we are just as confused as ever, and what counts as non emeg. a friend of ours gave an example like this, he said, if you have to go into hospital with a badly broken limb, and needed an op to fix it you are looking at a couple thousand euros, if this happened to both of you at  the same time, then any money you have put away to cover medical bills wouldn't be enough, is he right or wrong, our mutuelle was 1,120 last dec, it will be more this year.

[Rose]

mmm you see you both think like us really.  It is a lot of money... OH thinks we should put money aside and I think it's better safe than sorry.  It's taken us a year to get to the point where we feel we want the insurance... this should be simple but it seems so hard.  All in all I think because we have a young son we should opt in.  If we opt in I feel we should compare cover that includes everythingtn and see if we can make it worth our while by using the services?  But then I'm guessing thats what everyone does [8-)]

Thanks for the comments though... it all helps... more opinons welcome [:D]

[Patf]

If we decide to pay into a mutuelle it would be for hospitalisation only.

We've had one example of a large hospital bill which we had to pay. The rules about hospital charges and refunds seem uncertain and variable - some are met 100% and some aren't. Hospital care is expensive, compared to the cost of tests and medicaments etc.

I don't know if the risk of needing hospital care is any greater for a child, than for an older person.

[mint]

Depends on your priority, I suppose.

My husband is elderly and we are both fit as fleas. 

We managed to find a mutuelle last year which was just over half the cost of the one we had the year before.

We still pay considerably more than we claim back.  But, as far as I'm concerned, I treat it like payments into the NHS.  The best case scenario for us would be:  pay the contributions but never need to claim.

I'd rather be healthy than to be quids in claiming lots of dosh from the mutuelle.

I'll rather do without lots of things (such as a second car, which we have) and have peace of mind about health cover.

[Rose]

Sweet... you're like my echo... I said the same to my OH... this is one insurance I hope I never need to use! He's reading this thread I know as he's changing his searches as each comment comes in! 

Thanks for all so far... still happy to hear from more... [:D]

[mint]

Rose & Greyman

I assume that you already pay into some sort of scheme for the children for accidents, etc that happen in school.

Why don't you get a few quotes before you make up your minds?

I know that some companies give concessionary premiums when you have been with them a year or two.

You never know you might be pleasantly surprised. 

Think about giving up just one thing in your lives and paying for a mutuelle.  With the children, my personal opinion is that you'll sleep better at nights if you have some sort of top-up.

We have been so spoilt in the UK, having the NHS there and knowing that when the chips are down the NHS will come up trumps.

Believe me, I have lived in places without any sort of health service other than private ones and I remember the anxiety when anyone in the family is ill. 

As for being hospitalised for any than the shortest period, you can say good-bye to whatever nest egg you might have accumulated. 

[Rose]

H Sweets... we do have the school insurance so we'll check out that route... thanks!  As for giving something up, well, I gave up smoking a few months ago so that should more than cover any cost... [:D]

[tuppence]

Hi,

I have been checking out several companies with regard to the levels of care you get for your money. As a 'senior person' I am only too aware that my age usually means that at some time I may need this care. So I have had a mutuelle from the time I moved here  (just over a year). But I know it is likely to increase for 2009. I have decided to go with the basic hospitalisation plan which will save me almost 20€ a month but still gives me peace of mind should I need to be hospitalised. Earlier this year I also changed companies for my car and house insurance resulting in a overall saving across the 3 insurances of 507.24€[:D].

Now if only the euro/pound rate could be better, I would be a happy lady[:)]

tuppence

[suein56]

[quote user="tuppence"]

I have decided to go with the basic hospitalisation plan which will save me almost 20€ a month but still gives me peace of mind should I need to be hospitalised. [/quote]

Our hospitilisation plan also covers x-rays, blood tests, any other kind of  test really but not visits to the doctor or specialist and not medicines.

Sue

[JohnRoss]

We went to Swiss life through the English speaking insurance brokers Soficas http://www.soficas.fr/. You can fill in an on-line form to get a quote. The cost to us is 1,773 euros a year currently and my wife is 61 and I am 64 with a permanent medical condition that has required major surgery since we have been living in France and minor surgery on two other occasions. We could maybe reduce the cost by shoping around but have found that Swiss life has presented no problems for us. We have the middle range of cover which has been sufficient apart from the more expensive dental work like bridges and crowns and a limited cover for glasses. The top up for consultations, medications and investigations is covered and the drugs I am on do not get an automatic 100% payout from the CPAM. I hate to think how much the hospital stay with an individual room and two specialist surgeons would have cost for nearly three weeks stay even with the contribution from the CPAM. You never know what is around the corner but then I never was much of a risk taker................................................................JR

[Jotty]

I pay about 60 euros a month to my Mutuelle  Force Sud.

I am happy with their service, and of course it means I never pay anything else (except if I wanted luxury items like expensive crowns etc).

It usually means that I also have the benefit of 'tiers payant' , that is to say I don't have to pay anything up front at clinics or hospitals, I just show my Mutuelle card, although I  still have to pay Doctors who no longer are allowed to use that system (Goodness knows why it was changed).

I also have the daily costs of a hospital stay covered.  I have spent about 60 days in hospitals and clinics over a long time, and never had to pay, even for an individual room.

They also pick up the bill for things that are reimbursed at less that 70%. I believe that the way the Health reforms in France are going more and

more will be pushed over to the Mutuelles to pay, and less and less

will be paid from the CPAM

I know that there is an argument that this insurance is poor value for money.

I have probably paid in more than I have taken out, but that is the principle of a Mutuelle..some pay in and some take out.

One day it could well be me.

[Rose]

Just catching up on this post and wanted to say thanks for the replies.  Greyman is in the UK at the moment but we'll go through the options next week and get something sorted.  It's good to get a few recommendations so thanks for the suggestions and advice! [:)]

[mint]

[quote user="Jotty"]I pay about 60 euros a month to my Mutuelle  Force Sud.

I am happy with their service, and of course it means I never pay anything else (except if I wanted luxury items like expensive crowns etc).
It usually means that I also have the benefit of 'tiers payant' , that is to say I don't have to pay anything up front at clinics or hospitals, I just show my Mutuelle card, although I  still have to pay Doctors who no longer are allowed to use that system (Goodness knows why it was changed).
I also have the daily costs of a hospital stay covered.  I have spent about 60 days in hospitals and clinics over a long time, and never had to pay, even for an individual room.
They also pick up the bill for things that are reimbursed at less that 70%. I believe that the way the Health reforms in France are going more and more will be pushed over to the Mutuelles to pay, and less and less will be paid from the CPAM
I know that there is an argument that this insurance is poor value for money.
I have probably paid in more than I have taken out, but that is the principle of a Mutuelle..some pay in and some take out.
One day it could well be me.






[/quote]

Excellent post, Jotty.

This is also my philosopy.  Pay for peace of mind and, with luck, you won't have to claim.  And, when you do, you'd be glad others are paying more than they take out!