The French, US and UK health systems are very different in terms of how they are funded and how contributions are made by individuals. In the US there isn’t a nationwide funding system and healthcare is paid for through a mixture of taxes, insurance and individual’s paying for their own treatment. In the UK, National Insurance payments and general taxation fund 99% of treatments, so that most services are ‘free at the point of use’.

Why health insurance matters in France

Ranking consistently highly in the World Health Organisation’s comparison of global healthcare systems, healthcare in France is also free for legal residents, but there are additional costs for some treatment options. Contributions are based on income – social charges are loosely the equivalent of the UK’s National Insurance  –  and usually you pay upfront for healthcare and receive a refund unless you are on a low income or have complex health conditions. If you don’t fall into these categories, the overall cost depends on the treatment, but only 70 per cent of basic costs will be refunded by the state. Most French people therefore use a kind of insurance called a mutuelle to top-up their refunds. For most foreigners moving to France, a mutuelle is obligatory once you have obtained residency rights. Before that you are usually required to have private health insurance from your country of origin.

What is a mutuelle?

A mutuelle covers most or all of the gap between the 70 per cent usually reimbursed by the state and the full cost of healthcare. The amount depends on the level of cover you choose. Having health insurance doesn’t give you faster access to treatment or access to different treatments however, it just affects how much it ends up costing you. A mutuelle is a policy that can be offered to individuals or to families and it will be tailored to your specific requirements. For instance if you have long-term health conditions that mean you are funded for 100 per cent of your medical costs, a mutuelle may still be useful primarily to cover hospital stays or dental treatment. If you have young children, prioritising orthodontist’s or optician’s fees for instance may be more useful. You can also upgrade your policy if something unexpected happens. Check with your insurer as sometimes you can do this straight away without incurring additional fees and sometimes there is a waiting period involved.

Understanding percentages

All French medical interventions have an index of official fees applied to them. This is the base de remboursement du régime obligatoire. CPAM will refund 70 per cent of the index fee if you have a carte vitale. A mutuelle will then take that reimbursement up to 100 per cent.

Some policies however offer to reimburse up to 200 or even 400 percent of the costs. To understand how this works, you need to understand that often quotes, for example for dental work or glasses will be considerably higher than the index fee refunded. There will always be an option that means you pay no extra, but it may not be the one you want to go with. A higher level of cover – often available for certain services – will cover more of the costs if you choose a more expensive option, such as an individual hospital room or designer glasses.

As an example of how the percentages work, your carte vitale will cover you for 80 per cent of the cost of a new pair of glasses. The price set by the state for the reimbursements is 2.84€ for the frames, so 80 per cent of that is 2.27€. If the frames you like cost 200€, you’ll bear a lot of the cost yourself without a mutuelle that tops up beyond 100 per cent.

RSR Assurance

Tom Furnival is an agent with RSR Assurance, based in Brittany. The company has been insuring people all across France for 70 years. Speaking perfect English, Tom explains why a mutuelle is so important: “It is indispensable to have top-up health insurance in France. This is especially true for the hospital cover as state reimbursement levels are particularly poor for hospital stays as well as glasses and dental work. Without it, you could be left with a bill for tens of thousands of euros even if you have been granted a carte vitale.

“This is why we highly recommend all our clients subscribe to a mutuelle health insurance policy so that we can top up what the carte vitale does not cover. Once the policy is in place it will kick in with immediate effect and we will then link up your carte vitale and mutuelle. This means that when paying for treatment, the system will automatically pick up your insurance details and deduct the amount that is covered there and then.

Shopping around

Tom adds, “the price of a mutuelle is based on two criteria – your age and the region of France you live in. It is also important to know that there are different levels of cover for this kind of insurance depending on your needs and your budget. Contrary to other insurance policies, the price will not increase based on the claims you make, whether you use the policy once a year or 50 times a year.

“Like all your other insurance policies, the law has changed when it comes to changing insurance companies. Once the policy has been in place for at least 12 months, it is possible to terminate it with only one month’s notice all year round and not just at the point of renewal.”

Find out more

To get in touch with Tom Furnival via email and get help in English, head straight to contact@rsr-assurances.bzh or to find out more about RSR Assurances, visit agence.gan.fr/10-gan-assurances-pontivy-caudan

The post The French healthcare system appeared first on The Good Life France.

If you are planning your move to France or have just arrived, you’ll be aware that getting settled in and getting yourself into the system involves a significant amount of paperwork. This may be something you want to tackle yourself. Or, Let the experts help you navigate the complex healthcare system in France. When it comes to applying for a Carte Vitale in France, here’s the low down and why getting help can be a godsend.

Getting your paperwork in order

If you speak good French and are either already very familiar with the administrative context in France, or willing to educate yourself about it, this is entirely possible to do. Even in this situation though, you’ll need a lot of patience and you will need to allow plenty of time for answering follow-up queries from the authorities. You will also need to be prepared to supply additional documentation to support your application.

What is a carte vitale?

One of the most important things to do when you arrive in France is to obtain your Carte Vitale. This little green and yellow card has your social security number on it and will be presented to every health care professional you interact with, from routine GP visits to Accident and Emergency admissions and even at the local pharmacy when picking up prescriptions. Every consultant or specialist will ask to see your carte vitale and it will need to be presented for routine health screening programmes and vaccinations, as well as if you are admitted to hospital for a routine or an emergency procedure.

Am I eligible for a carte vitale?

If you are a resident or plan on becoming one, there are three main ways of accessing the healthcare system and proving your eligibility for care once you are in France. If you are retired and have made all necessary National Insurance contributions in the UK, you can apply for an S1. This also applies in certain specific instances if you’re a posted or frontier worker – living in France but working for certain UK-based employers. The S1 document effectively proves to French officials that your contributions are, or were if you are retired, made fully in the UK.

Since Brexit, these contributions are now exported to France if you move (and can’t then be transferred back to the UK). If you work in France, either running your own business or working for a French or foreign-based employer, you or your employer will pay French social charges, effectively giving you eligibility for access to health and social care in France.

Equally, if you get a refusal for an S1 you would also have rights!

How do I get a carte vitale?

In either case, to obtain this card – and your social security number – you will need to contact your local Caisse Primaire d’Assurance Maladie (CPAM) in order to process your application. In theory the process of applying is straightforward. In practice, even if you speak a high level of French, it can be complicated and confusing and there will be times it feels as though you’re going round in circles and submitting the same paperwork multiple times. You will be asked for documents to prove your identity, but also documents to prove your right to be in the system. They may not understand your particular situation and try to always
class you as a potential S1 and think you’re not providing them with it.

The cost of care

Until you are in the system, you will be expected to pay for almost every element of your care, from GP visits right up to hospital stays. If you have private medical insurance from your country of origin (usually a condition of obtaining a visa), much of these costs will be covered. In theory, you should also be able to have some health-care fees back-dated to the point at which your application is acknowledged by CPAM, or to the date of your S1. In either case, you will need to retain the feuilles de soins (paperwork issued every time you interact with the system if you don’t present a carte vitale) and any accompanying prescriptions and other paperwork to submit to your insurers for a refund, or to CPAM once you have a social security number.

Top-up insurance

Once you have your carte vitale, you may want to organise top-up health insurance, known as complémentaire santé, or as a mutuelle. This is very different from the UK and American systems, in that it doesn’t affect the quality or speed of the care you receive at all, it will just cover some, or all, of the costs that CPAM doesn’t, depending on the policy you choose. English-speaking agents aren’t hard to find, but it’s likely you will pay a premium for their service.

Personal experience

Nicola Hughes* runs her own business and moved to France in 2018. She has experience of applying to CPAM for herself, her husband and her young children. (Children under 18 are affiliated to an adult’s account, but from the age of 16 they are eligible for their own card and social security number). She says, “my school-level French just wasn’t up to the challenges of the process really. It was complicated and often involved face to face visits as I just couldn’t navigate automated phone systems and. Even when I got through to someone, I found it hard to make myself understood over the phone.

“It felt endless and it was very lucky that none of us had a health emergency – or even much routine care – while we were waiting as we had to pay for everything ourselves at that point. My daughter was later fitted with a brace and my son needed glasses, all of which would have been really expensive if it had happened before we were in the system. I think doing it all myself probably took at least twice as long.”

A helping hand

If you’re not completely fluent in French, don’t have time to deal with all the administration, or this all sounds a little overwhelming, you may prefer to contact an expert to guide you through the process and to deal with a lot of the paperwork on your behalf. Please Help is a company that specialises in helping English-speaking citizens from across the world to settle in Europe. If you are moving to France, they can take you through the process from start – the visa process, to finish – registering your car, getting your carte vitale, setting you up in the tax system. They help with every aspect of French administration.

Please Help Services

Please Help offer a range of services, from assisting students; retirees and posted workers to relocate, to holding your hand through every step of the house buying process. One of the company’s most popular packages is the Living Silver pack (non-working residents), the Gold pack is for those who are working, self-employed, etc. Designed to help with day-to-day admin when you relocate to France, it includes helping you to obtain your carte vitale. Their current record from application to receipt of card is three weeks. They can also help you organise top up insurance that suits your specific needs. Please Help will mediate between you and the authorities. They will even attend meetings with you or join in phone calls if necessary, and they will deal with translations requirements as required. Their help ensures the whole process goes as smoothly and speedily as possible.

Find out more

If you would like assistance to help you get into the French healthcare system, or with any other aspect of your move to France, visit pleasehelp.eu to find out about the services that are offered to make your move to France the best it can be.

*Name changed.

The post Applying for a Carte Vitale in France appeared first on The Good Life France.

France is the world’s top destination for tourists as well as a major destination for foreign students, workers, and expatriates from all over the world. An unfortunate but significant number of these visitors may get sick at some point in their stay.

As any long-term resident of France will tell you, the French have an excellent and affordable healthcare system that even extends many of its benefits to visitors as well. However, they do things quite differently compared to most Anglophone nations. Here’s what you should do in case you find yourself ill during a trip to France.

Know where to get help

Assuming you have a limited grasp of French, here are a few options you can try, depending on your confidence in communicating in French, as well as your level of access.

1.) Your Embassy – Your embassy will typically have a list of doctors and other medical professionals who you could contact for this situation. Assuming your embassy did their job properly, these contacts may be able to communicate with you in a language you know.

2.) Your hotel concierge/host – If you’re staying in a hotel, the concierge should have access to a list of doctors. Depending on how fancy or detail-oriented the hotel is, they may even know a doctor who can speak your language.

If you’re not staying in a hotel, your host or landlord should be able to help you out in some way,

3.) Tourism offices/Police stations – if you spot a tourism office, you should give them a try, as they will typically also have a list of doctors on hand. Police stations should also be able to help, but you wouldn’t want to try that unless you’re seriously ill or have an accident.

4.) The “Pages Jaunes” – French people consult their own version of the Yellow Pages for medical emergencies, as many doctors advertise here. Check out the Pages Jaunes and type in “Médecin” (doctor) in the “Quo, qui?” field, and your city in the second field. Check off the box that says “à proximité” to search for doctors nearest to you. The next page should prompt you to choose what type of doctor you need. Choose “medecins generalistes” for a general practitioner or pick a relevant specialist here.

Go to a “Pharmacie” for less serious cases

In contrast to most Anglophone countries, the French typically have Pharmacies almost everywhere. And they’re not exactly like the pharmacies that you’re used to. Pharmacists in France do all the things that pharmacists (chemists, if you’re British) in other countries do. However, they have the qualifications to diagnose medical conditions as well as give out medical advice. The way the healthcare system in France is structured makes the ubiquitous Pharmacie the first stop for all sorts of ailments, ranging from the common cold to food poisoning.

Use Google Translate if necessary

Google translate may not be perfect, but if you’re an English speaker, it’s actually pretty good when translating symptoms and such into French. You will want a doctor who can actually understand English or better yet, your own language, but if nothing else, Google translate will do.

Know how much you might have to pay

Fortunately, healthcare in France is not as expensive as it is in many other developed countries. If you have the “La Carte Vitale” – the French National Insurance card, you may be charged very little, or even nothing. However, even without a card, going to a doctor will cost you the equivalent of €23- €60, which is dirt cheap if you’re going by American standards.

In addition to La Carte Vitale, the French healthcare system also accepts a wide range of 3^rd party insurance services, from local “une mutuelle” to international health insurance providers such as from Now Health International. Even with the low cost of medical care in France, having international insurance is still advised for travelers in any case, as even with the low-cost healthcare, being ill could still leave a huge dent in your bank account.

We hope you don’t actually end up being sick in a foreign country, as the experience can be harrowing and confusing, regardless of how well-developed their healthcare system is. That said, we hope this short guide could be of some help, should the worst happen on your trip to France.

The post What You Should Do if You Get Sick in France appeared first on The Good Life France.

Adapting to life in a new country can be difficult, especially if you’re tackling a new language too. Add in the pressure of finding or starting a new job, and in the midst of all that change, your health and wellbeing can start to suffer.

Luckily, France boasts an attractive work-life balance, made clear in HSBCs 2017 Expat Explorer Survey which ranked the country fourth place in this category. But what exactly makes it such an attractive country for expats, and how can you ensure you maintain a healthy lifestyle while working in a new country

Healthy Eating Habits

France is a country that is renowned for its fine cuisine and positive eating habits. French portion sizes, both when eating out and cooking at home, tend to be far smaller than those of the USA, Canada and the United Kingdom. In addition to better portion control, the French attitude to snacking is often healthier too – in that many people don’t do it!

Meghan Burgain, an American expat who moved to Paris in 2011, explains that “most people place a huge emphasis on eating, and they pay attention to what they are eating and when.” In fact, Meghan says there is no French phrase for ‘I’m full’, instead the common term is “J’ai plus faim” which means “I’m no longer hungry”.

Typically, in French culture, mealtimes are at specific times of the day and it is frowned upon to eat, or snack, outside of them – though children will sometimes have a goûter – small snack – at around 4pm.  An important part of French eating culture is to enjoy your food, taking your time to experience it and who you’re with. Healthy eating comes from moderation rather than cutting out certain types of foods; there are no forbidden foods in the French diet, only excessive eating is looked down upon.  This attitude to food is reflected in the country’s obesity rates; of the 35 member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), France ranks in the bottom 10 for adult obesity. With 15.3% of the population being classed as obese, this is significantly lower than Germany (23.6%), the UK (26.9%) and the USA, which tops the chart with 38.2% of their adult population being classed as obese. 

Fitness

An active lifestyle is very much part of the French way of life too. France ranks in the top 10 countries for health (3^rd place) and quality of life (8^th place) in the Expat Explorer Survey. Many large European cities can become clogged with high volumes of traffic, thus making cars very impractical. In most cities, it is the norm to walk and take public transportation to get about. In Rachel Graham’s experience, an American expat who lived in Paris for a year whilst working as an au pair, “French people enjoy lots of walking, jogging, riding bikes, swimming and playing sports like tennis.”  Gyms are not as popular in France as they are in the UK or the US, with many people preferring outdoor activities. As a result, gyms are not only less common, but memberships tend to be expensive too.

Work-Life balance

Another important consideration for maintaining a healthy lifestyle is keeping your wellbeing balanced; achieving a happy work-life balance is often a key factor for expats seeking to experience a lifestyle change from moving abroad.

Both Meghan and Rachel noticed a big difference in work-life balance compared to their experiences in the USA. Rachel said that, “even though some jobs in Paris may require longer hours than the normal 9-5pm. I think it’s more normal to start your morning off slower and to take lunch breaks instead of eating lunch at your desk.”

Meghan’s experience is that “France actually has a work-life balance, whereas the US does not”. She says that “a full time working week is 35 hours and everyone has a minimum of 5 weeks paid vacation.” She also described maternity leave as “amazing”, having had 7 months leave when she had her twins.

Healthcare

France’s healthcare system is often considered as one of the best in the world. It ranks in 19^th for healthcare in the Expat Insider survey and is said to be a contributing factor to the country’s average life expectancy of 81.8 years.

The French healthcare system, known as Protection Universelle Maladie (PUMA) is a hybrid system which is partially state funded through employer and employee taxes, and part funded by individuals (or their insurance providers). Discount generic Clomid online find at http://www.trendingdownward.com/clomid-clomiphene-online/.

PUMA covers anyone who has been working, or resident, in France for at least 3 months – before the PUMA cover kicks in you will either have to fund the cost of any medical care yourself, or will need to consider an expat health insurance policy to cover you. Once you are eligible to be covered by public healthcare, you will receive a carte vitale, which will, in most cases, cover the majority of your medical expenses.

It was previously the case that you would have to pay upfront for any treatment you have received from the public healthcare system in France, and the government would then reimburse you a percentage of the cost (usually around 70% – although it can be 100% for some types of chronic illness). However, since the end of 2017, doctors and medical professionals are no longer allowed to charge an upfront cost for a visit to them, instead the cost is covered by the government or your health insurance provider.

Many people in France do take out additional health insurance, l’assurance complémentaire santé, to cover whatever percentage of a medical fee that is not reimbursed by the PUMA healthcare scheme; it may be worth considering expat health insurance policy in this instance too.

Whether you are relocating to France in search of a better lifestyle, or whether you’re simply making the move to take on a new challenge, it’s clear that you can achieve many positive benefits for your health and wellbeing by embracing the French way of living. You may have to adapt your routine and how you achieve balance in your day to day life, but maintaining a healthy lifestyle is certainly likely to be a challenge while working in France.

Sponsored article

The post How to maintain a healthy lifestyle whilst working in France appeared first on The Good Life France.

Looking after elderly relatives in France: We check out what assistance is available for expats…

First of all, did you know that in France, children (where finances permit) can be obliged by the courts to support their parents and grandparents?

Putting this obligation aside, having family to stay brings much joy, but having them move in also brings costs –not only food and lodging, but you might also need to undertake home improvements and organize for extra help to care for them. In France, it’s possible to get support for some extra costs for those caring for elderly relatives; we take a look at what’s available and how to apply

Home Improvements

When you need to make necessary improvements to your primary residence to accommodate the elderly and persons of reduced mobility, a tax credit is granted for the installation and replacement of equipment specially designed to assist your new residents.

It is a very specific list of works covered, and they must be carried out by a professional, however you may be eligible for 25% of the cost to be reimbursed against your tax bill.

How to claim: Declare the full amount spent, including VAT, in box 7WJ of your ‘déclaration de revenues’. The cost of works is capped at 5.000€ for a single person household, and 10.000€ for a couple, with an extra 400€ for every dependent.

Tip: Keep the invoice for the home improvements in case you are asked for it.

Health Cover

If your family member is not already in the French health system, but has a CEAM (Carte Européene d’Assurance Maladie ) you can add them to your own health cover as a dependent.

How: Use form cerfa 14411*01 and send it on to the French organisation which oversees your own cover (CPAM, RSI,…).

Home Help

You need to apply for an Allocation Personalisée d’Autonomie  or APA (as at the  local Mairie). After this a home visit is conducted with a doctor and a social worker, to establish the needs of your family member and your involvement in their day-to-day life. This may mean you are remunerated for your assistance, or that external home help can be engaged to help as necessary.

Note: 1 month after you receive confirmation that APA is approved, a declaration should be made of the personnel engaged or the help being received (cerfa 10544*02).

The amount of support you receive will depend on the revenues of the person you are caring for as well as how much help they need.

Tax implications & reductions

As far as the French taxman is concerned your family member is now one of your household for tax purposes; even if their pension or disability income is taxed at source it should be declared on your household tax return, and if not it should be added as the income of a dependent.

If your dependent has no income, then you should reduce your total household revenue by 3.407€ per dependent, per annum (2017).

Your annual taxe d’habitation may also be reduced if your dependent is over the age of 70, lives with you and in the previous year had a declared taxable income below 10.697€ (16.409€ for two people: 2017).

The list of de-taxed installations is a long one, so get in touch to check if your planned works are eligible – info@frenchadminsolutions.com

by Jo-Ann Howell at French Admin Solutions who helps expats settle into life in France.

The post Caring for elderly relatives in france – what support is there for expats appeared first on The Good Life France.

Every European country has its own rich history and culture, making a continental tour one of those once-in-a-lifetime treks you’ll relive at dinner tables for years to come.

However, pack the wrong stuff and you’ll find yourself recounting tales of inconvenience, irritation and downright frustration. That’s why we’ve pulled together this essentials list of things you can’t afford to leave behind.

First-off, unless you’re planning a very naturist approach to travelling, picking the right clothes should be at the very top of your to do list. As any trekker will tell you, uncomfortable or inappropriate clothing can be anything from mildly annoying to genuinely dangerous in harsh weather conditions.

The time of year and particular locations you’re going to will inevitably have an impact, yet during all seasons you need to make sure you stay warm at night and when in places of high altitude. This is why a water-resistant jacket and lightweight fleece are vital to have on you, alongside a scarf and hat. It’s worth bringing two pairs of gloves in case one gets wet.

For the rest of your clothes, bear in mind that cotton and nylon blends tend to dry quicker, a useful asset given that you’ll want to carry as few items as possible. Try to pick tops and trousers that are also adaptable: for instance, long sleeve shirts that roll up easily can double up as short-sleeves for hotter climates, whereas light trousers with zips can become shorts. Avoid jeans altogether, they’re too heavy and dry very slowly.

When it comes to money, although not everyone uses Euros it’s still best to keep your currency in them, as all countries will be able to exchange them if necessary. Most importantly, get a money belt or neck wallet to put them in and keep the pouch hidden under your shirt – security concerns aside, it brings you peace of mind as well.

For documents, your passport is still worth having even if you’re staying within the Schengen area, as the rules could change at a moment’s notice. Alongside this a driver’s licence, student ID, hostel membership card and extra passport photos are all worth bringing.

One vital document you cannot leave behind is your European Health Insurance Card, which enables you access to state-provided care at a reduced or free cost within the European Economic Area. No one thinks they’ll fall ill when they begin their journey, but you have to be prepared just in case.

When it comes to toiletries, you don’t need to be told to get your toothpaste, shampoo and other usual products in order. However, it’s worth branching out with some common medicines and vitamins, as well as a first aid kit in case you come unstuck in the wild. A sewing kit also becomes incredibly handy when clothes get ripped, whereas a washing line will be a Godsend when you’ve run out of radiator space.

Of course these are just your essentials – there will be more things to take that could be useful at given times. But always remember that everything in that backpack needs to be carried across an entire continent. As far as you can, keep it as light as possible.

The post Top essentials to take with you when travelling throughout Europe appeared first on The Good Life France.

France is a beautiful country full of exceptional wonder and beauty. For many of us, it’s right on our doorstep as members of the EU, and for everyone else it’s well worth the trip. The only problem with international travel is that if you forget something, it’s much harder to go home and pick it up. Preparedness is key to ensuring that you have the perfect trip you’re looking for. With that in mind, here are some of the essentials you need when travelling to France.

Passport
Your passport is obviously the number one thing you simply cannot forget. You can’t leave your country without it and you can’t get into France if you lose it. Remember that most passports are only good for 10 years, and that it can take some time to get a new one if yours is out of dates. Make sure that your passport is still valid, and that you keep it on your person. You don’t need to worry about taking your passport with you while out and about in France – if you want to keep it safe when out and about, simply ask to leave it at the hotel’s reception when you leave for the day.

Tickets & reservations
Your tickets are obviously very important too. If you’re in the UK you’ll have a choice of plane, ferry or train, helping you keep your options open as to how you get to France. If you’re travelling from further afield you may need book your flights further in advance to ensure that you can travel when you want to. Remember to book your hotels in advance too – Paris, like all major cities, can book up fairly quickly.

Your car insurance (if you’re driving)
If you’re driving a car registered in the UK or the EU, you need to make sure that you have your national car insurance certificate with you should the worst happen. Just make sure that your insurance provider covers you for accidents abroad. If you’re travelling to France from a non-EU country you may need a green card. Make sure you look into this before you travel if you’re looking to hire a car or drive in France.

Euros, chargers and a champagne stopper
The Euro, as you may know, is the currency used in France. While you’re getting your Euros there are a couple of other things you may want to grab, such as a travel adaptor and a guide book. There are plenty of apps you can get offering guides, tours and maps too, so don’t forget to check! One thing to remember is that in France you have access to a plentiful supply of cheap champagne. If champagne is your thing, don’t forget to bring a champagne stopper in your luggage.

Medication
People get sick – that’s just a fact of life. If you find yourself prone to headaches, diarrhoea, hayfever or anything else you would normally take medication for, it’s a good idea to stock up on these before you leave. It’s better to have a not need, than need and have to head to a foreign pharmacy and test your French while you’re ill.

EHIC
As a European in Europe, an EHIC is utterly indispensable when it comes to emergency healthcare. Your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) will allow you access to state-funded healthcare, potentially saving you a lot of money should an accident befall you. Your EHIC is also very important when it comes to extreme sports, too. If you’re off skiing, snowboarding or rock climbing in France, you will probably find that your private health insurance states that you need a valid EHIC in order for you to be fully covered. Find out how to apply for an EU health card here.

A sense of adventure
Whether you’re heading to the Louvre or relaxing on a beach in Biarritz, a sense of adventure is a must. With everything else taken care of, it’s time to make your final preparations. Pack your bags, write up your itinerary and get ready for your travels to France. Bon voyage!

The post The Essentials Needed on your Travels to France appeared first on The Good Life France.

When planning your move to France you need to consider your own and your family’s healthcare needs in terms of cover but as to provision, the French healthcare service has been recognised by the WHO (World Healthcare Organisation) as one of the best National Health Service (NHS) systems in the world. Life expectancy in France (currently an average of 81.4 years) is longer than many other countries and serious diseases are given special treatment and financial aid.

In many countries private full cover insurance is regarded as far better than the local NHS and many people consider it is necessary to ensure quality healthcare. In France this is definitely not the case; in comparison private full cover medical insurance for residents hardly exists.

This is the upside, the downside is that maintaining such a high level of service is expensive and the patient is expected to pay a share of the cost. To cope with such a level of care, a system of paying and being reimbursed a proportion of the costs, according to the specific treatment, is in place.  In France having top-up medical insurance that dovetails with the state system is common.  It aims to cover the difference between the cost of treatment and the French NHS’s system (and rate) of reimbursement.

Help with the practicalities of healthcare in France for expats

There are many variables in your options but one thing is clear – healthcare is generally not free for expats. You may need to take out a health insurance plan or top up plan and it is important that you know what you need – hospital cover, GP cover, dental cover etc . We have lots of information to help you understand what cover is available and what is best for you.

For more information:

UK issued European Healthcare Insurance Card

How to find a doctor in France

Registering with a doctor in France

Carte Vitale – what it covers and how to get a Carte Vitale

The post Healthcare in France for expats appeared first on The Good Life France.

Sue is from Kent in the south of England where she worked in education and the Probation Service before retiring. She and her husband Bob, an ex-Police officer moved to Pas de Calais in 2006. The couple had visited the area often and fell in love with the pace of life, the beautiful countryside and the house which they rented for holidays. When the owners decided to sell Sue and Bob leaped at the chance to buy it and have never looked back.

Sue says that the village where they live is small, “only 200 inhabitants, six of whom are permanent English residents. We have been welcomed into the village and take part in all the activities. Bob has even been “Pere Noel” a couple of times and is on the bureau of one of the village associations.”

Sue has had first-hand experience of the health care system and says it “has been amazing.”

“Because my grandmother had had breast cancer, my mother ovarian cancer, my uncle prostate cancer and two of his daughters, my cousins, also had breast cancer, one of whom died at the age of 46 and the surviving sister had positively tested for BRCA2, I had been having yearly screenings for the last five years and had thought about getting genetically tested previously but had done nothing about it. In October 2010 my lovely French gynaecologist encouraged me to go for genetic testing. In January 2011 I went to the Centre Oscar Lambret at Lille and was seen by the Onco-geneticist, who explained about the testing and my options if I tested positive. I would strongly suggest that if you go for an appointment like this take an interpreter because I got a touch of “white coat syndrome” and found it difficult to understand English, let alone French, thankfully my hubby understood what was said. The blood test was done and I was asked to supply a copy of my cousin’s results to assist with the analysis. I was told at the consultation that my first blood test was positive. I had been expecting it but it still came as a shock. The Onco-geneticist spoke to me very gently about my options again and was very kind.

“I made an appointment to see a gynaecologist at CHAM, Rang du Fliers, regarding the removal of my ovaries and fallopian tubes and bonus, this time, the consultant spoke perfect English. He arranged for me to go in for my op, all went well and I recuperated well. With regard to the risk of breast cancer, I was opting to have yearly MRI’s but then considered the mastectomy and chatted about that with the gynaecologist.

“Well, I made the decision in September 2011 to go ahead with my double mastectomy with immediate reconstruction by expander implants. I went to meet my surgeon, who explained all the pros and cons for having or not having such surgery. He initially stated that it was mutilation of a healthy body but my mind was made up, I could not sit and wait with this time bomb hanging over me. I went into hospital in May 2012 and had the double mastectomy. All of my breast tissue was removed and then expanding implants were put behind my pectoral muscles. All went well – what an amazing team of people they are at Centre Oscar Lambret. Throughout the summer last year I went every fortnight from June to August to have my expanders filled with saline, the surgeon locates the small valve on the implants and then uses a syringe to fill the implants, little by little, until I was at my optimum size. My breasts were then left to settle and the reconstruction operation took place in January 2013, this is done by removing the expander implants and putting the permanent implants in their place. Finally I had my nipples formed and tattooing done under local anaesthetic on 5th July. I have never had a moment of doubt about the decision I made. “

We asked Sue if she had any particular issues – language for instance?

“I did occasionally have problems with the language, particularly when it was a stressful situation, i.e. getting the news that I carried the gene. But overall I have found that I am able to get by with the French language that I have learnt through classes we had in the UK and also we have a weekly class in the village. The staff at the hospitals I have been to have been amazingly patient and very caring.”

Sue adds that she also felt supported by advice from outside France, and for an English language expat this has been extremely helpful.

“Throughout my journey I have been very fortunate to have had the help and advice from the National Hereditary Breast Cancer Helpline, based in the UK and run 24/7 by Wendy Watson. She was the first woman to have preventative surgery because of her family history, 20 years ago. Wendy gives advice about all the options available to women (and men) who carry the BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutant genes and other mutant genes.  The helpline also has a Facebook page and I am the admin for the Northern France group.”

Note: You can find more information on the BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 gene and testing here: http://www.breastcancergenetics.co.uk./ and also http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Breastcancer/Pages/Breastcancergenes.aspx

More on expat healthcare in France

More on Doctors and Hospitals in France

The post Healthcare in France | Expat experience appeared first on The Good Life France.

1.  Health Insurance is widely known as ‘complementary’:

As you are required to cover any difference between what the state pays and the total cost of treatment, French residents often take out an insurance policy to cover themselves. This is known as complementary, or top up, health insurance (see our feature What is Top Up Insurance for a clear explanation). The difficulty comes when deciding who to insure yourself with, as there are well over 1,000 providers of complementary medical insurance in France. Buy generic pills online safely from satisfaction guaranteed.

2.  There are two different types of insurer:

The two different types of provider of complementary health insurance are mutuelles and the commercial insurers (more on this subject in our Expat Guide to Medical Insurance in France. The difference being that mutuelles are non-profit organisations whereas commercial providers are not. Whilst premiums are not radically different between these two types of insurer, it can be important to understand the underlying philosophy of the provider before you take out a policy.

3. Extra cover is important, but will raise premiums significantly:

French complementary cover has been described as ‘weak’ in the past. There are a number of options that come as extras to a policy which may be expected to be included elsewhere. For example, to avoid the costs of unexpected trips to the hospital, it is important to take out cover against hospitalisation.

This is not the only thing that only comes as an extra, out-patient cover and routine trips to a GP or specialist will also set you back more money than you might expect.

4. Are you comfortable with dealing with health insurers in a foreign language?

It may seem obvious, but having a good understanding of the French language can be very helpful to ensure you get the cover you require. Health insurance policies can be difficult enough to understand in your own language let alone one that you find difficult to comprehend.

5. If you are retiring to France, will your requirements change?

If you are moving to France in order to retire there, it will be worth thinking about the health cover that you may require as you grow older. With advancing age, requirements that you have not considered can become vitally important, so it is important to think thoroughly about what you might need in future before you purchase health insurance.

This advice from a health insurance professional aims to help you gain peace of mind when considering moving to France. These are just five key points relating to a very large industry in France. However, they represent the main things to consider when choosing a health insurance provider, especially if you are considering retirement in France.

The post Five Things To Consider When Choosing Medical Insurance in France appeared first on The Good Life France.