mazandcol Posted November 29, 2012 Share Posted November 29, 2012 I waswondering if anyone else has had problems with obtaining new EHICs followingtheir move to France. Here’s our tale sofar...My wife and Iretired to France 25 May 2011. We knew that once we had registered with theFrench health system (via S1 form) we then needed to change our EHICs, eventhough they still had to be issued by UK, we needed to change them. Straight forward we thought.In earlyAugust 2011 I phoned UK to check what was happening and was told there was ahuge backlog, but I could push things forward by faxing a copy of the S1. I was given a specific fax number and toldwhat to put on the coversheet. Thisrequired obtaining a copy via the local CPAM office, but this took only twodays, so the form was duly faxed in early August.No responsefor months, and impossible to get through on the telephone.Ten monthslater, in late June 2012 we received in the post acknowledgement of receipt ofthe S1, our change of address and transfer of health care to France. The letteralso included an application form to apply for renewal of our EHICs. The completed form was posted 4 July 2012.No response,and still impossible to get through on the telephone, despite frequent waits ‘inthe queue’ of up to 30 minutes.Finally, on20 November 2012 I e-mailed UK asking for information on our application and attachinga copy of the form posted in July (I’ve been here long enough now, to scaneverything before posting). I received areply three days later informing me we had been sent the wrong form (after overa year!) and that new forms were being posted to us. I replied immediately expressing our concernsand disappointment in the delay, and in the fact that had I not e-mailed wewould probably never have been told about the wrong form. Six dayslater we still have not even received any new forms to complete.I also askedabout our situation regarding emergency health care in the UK when we returnfor Christmas, as we know the EHIC should be used on any visit outside ofFrance (within the EU of course). Apparently, we need a “Provisional Replacement Certificate (PRC)obtainable by telephoning the Overseas Healthcare Team”. The same team I’ve been trying to ring forthe last six weeks!For anybodyold enough to remember Flanders and Swan – “T’was on a Monday morning the gasman came to call....”Sorry about the length of this posting! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybanana Posted November 29, 2012 Share Posted November 29, 2012 New EHICs take over a year to issue, but they do say that is you need emergency health care in UK just tell the hosto or whatever to contact them. But anyway, emergency health care is automatic in UK isnt it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mazandcol Posted November 29, 2012 Author Share Posted November 29, 2012 Emergency care is only 'automatic' in so far as they will treat you, but without the relevant EHIC or the Provisional Certificate you'll probably get sent the bill - especially nowadays!Also, Newcastle have told me the new cards only take 20 days - once they have the correct forms, of course! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickP Posted November 29, 2012 Share Posted November 29, 2012 [quote user="woolybanana"]New EHICs take over a year to issue, but they do say that is you need emergency health care in UK just tell the hosto or whatever to contact them. But anyway, emergency health care is automatic in UK isnt it?[/quote]Emergency health care is automatic all over Europe. Only in America do the ambulance men go through your pockets before treating you. [:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powerdesal Posted November 29, 2012 Share Posted November 29, 2012 ''Emergency health care is automatic all over Europe.''It's true that emergency treatment will not be with held but.............it's also billed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickP Posted November 29, 2012 Share Posted November 29, 2012 [quote user="powerdesal"]''Emergency health care is automatic all over Europe.'' It's true that emergency treatment will not be with held but.............it's also billed.[/quote]Not always. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idun Posted November 29, 2012 Share Posted November 29, 2012 If it's any consolation, took us that amount of time, maybe more to get ours from France....... trouble is that if they don't issue one for a full year, they are only valid for a year anyway. Thankyou for posting this though, we need to try and renew ours now, as they expire soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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