E121 & Retired

[Tony F Dordogne]

He already has Russethouse and for the life of me, I can't understand why he started the thread if he was so opposed to the insurance, just all seems a bit pointless.

[Patf]

"Everything that is life threatening....is 100% free".    Not necessarily. Two years ago I was unlucky enough to have 2 spells in hospital. The first, for a hip replacement, was covered 100%, except for b&b. The second , for a cardiac emergency and intensive care, was only covered 70% and nearly €2000 was to be paid by me. Still don't understand why.

[Sunday Driver]

Runningdog - I think your approach to your healthcare is quite selfish.

OK, you may avoid having to pay out a few euros, but when the unexpected happens and you're lying in a coma in hospital, it's your wife who'll be worrying about how the excess hospital fees are going to be paid.

[quote user="runningdog"]

In 72 years I have never had a broken bone or serious illness in my life .......

[/quote]

Your body's been saving it all up until now.......

 

 

 

[Will]

The 100% reimbursement for long-term etc conditions is NOT automatic. Even if the condition is one of the 30 or so on the list of afflictions long durées - which you will note only covers long term conditions, not all life-threatening conditions may be considered long term - the 100% has to be recommended by your medicin traitant (i.e. nominated GP or specialist) and approved by your caisse primaire (e.g. the local CPAM).

 

[KathyF]

[quote user="runningdog"]  In 72 years I have never had a broken bone or serious illness in my life apart from my heart which has 100% cover.  My wife is similarly healthy except for thyroid problems for which the prescription charges are €1.40 per month.  The jury is still out on this one because €150 per month buys a lot of healthcare which in all probability we shall not need.[/quote]

David, I'd want to add to what you've written the words "so far".  Just because you've been healthy up til now does NOT mean that this happy state will continue. In fact as you get older and your body starts to wear out, it sadly won't.  None of us knows what lies around the corner. I've had breast cancer twice, at 52 and 59, and would have called myself very healthy before I was diagnosed.  It came out of the blue and I certainly wouldn't have wanted to have to worry about the possibility of facing a big bill for part of my treatment. The tablets I'm on now cost the NHS almost £1000 a year and I'm on them indefinitely, hopefully to prevent the cancer coming back yet again.  And as Russethouse has pointed out, accidents happen to the best of us and cannot be foreseen.....

Doing without top-up insurance sounds like a false economy to me.

[runningdog]

Hi Tony F

I started the thead because I wanted to get peoples views on what I was entitled to as opinions elsewhere were very conflicting and I couldn't seem to find anything definitive on the web.  That aspect was clarified very well.  It then seemed to drift to insurance which I consider excessively expensive and directed towards an aspect of life that neither I nor my wife have previously had much need for.

David

[runningdog]

Hi Will

I think that you have hit upon a major problem with the French health service in that the doctors have a high degree of personal discretion which may or may not be beneficial.  It could be that some doctors are not particularly sympathetic to English immigrants and this may imply that we could be better served with those doctors who do speak English.

[Tony F Dordogne]

Very straight forward David .  You're entitled to 65/70% of care here on your E121 100% is discretionary and not always given.

Your need for an English speaking doctor means nothing - after the extensive experience I've had with the French medical system, the ability to speak English means nothing and does not guarantee favourable treatment, though all the treatment I've had has been first class from Francophones and those who have some/speak good English.

With your level of income, I hope that you don't ever get a serious medical condition - whilst you're waiting to get the 100% which you'll only get signed off after three months and it may take even longer, your short-sightedness could well cost you a great deal of money up front which you may get back in the future or may not ..........

But by then you may well be dead if it's really serious and you wont have to worry about paying the bills will you? 

[runningdog]

Hi Sunday Driver

I may be selfish by your standards but to debate this would turn it into a philosophical issue.  My decision lies in getting the best possible quality of life for my family, while living in France, on a modest income.  It appears that many English ex-pats are 'well fixed' financially, popping back to UK when the fancy takes them, going on holiday, building swimming pools etc - the list is endless - and, in saying this I am not implying that all who advocate insurance on this thread are in this position.  My point is that if an income is sufficient that paying the extra insurance does not impinge upon quality of life then the decision is easy but when one has to prioritise outgoings it is well to consider any major expenditure wisely.

David

[runningdog]

Hi Russethouse

I don't do guilt, but I will shop around.

 

To All - Thank you all for your contributions, you have clarified things [mostly] for me and I appreciate your opinions.  As some people are getting a little heated over this issue I think that it is time to close the thread.  Again, many thanks.

David

[Russethouse]

Part of the equation it may be worth considering is how you fund health care yourself. It you are planning digging into an existing  investments it may be worth considering that once gone, and with the finances you describe, it may affect your income and way of life going forward, it may not be possible to replace those monies for the 'next time' Of course if its all pension that is a different matter.

Good luck with your research.[:D]

 

[Benjamin]

One other point to consider if your budget is a problem.

Have you considered which one of you may be at risk medically and just buying cover for that one?

[Helen]

'I have a problem with insurance - psychologically that is - in that insurance companies are there to make money out of people'

Why not consider a assurance from a 'mutuelle' rather than a commercial insurance company? They work on a co-operative rather than profit for shareholders principal.

[Weedon]

An observation based upon my own experience.  For anybody moving permanently to France and to actually make the decision not to take out top-up health insurance would be foolish in the extreme.  Like all insurances they are a complete and utter waste of money, right up to the day you need them, then they are worth very penny.  For house insurance, fair enough if you decide you could survive with the house burning down and not be covered by insurance.  But god forbid that any of your family becomes unexpectedly sick, because you would be astonished at the amount of some of the bills.