Health care insurance

Post by **Kate** » Thu 15 Nov 2007 18:12

I have received a letter from one of the large assurers (AXA in fact) giving me general details and prices of their proposed policy for ex pats.
I know that some of you were wondering what kind of prices you were looking at so here's their price summary. This is of course before any group reduction (which they would be prepared to give generously some of them say!!)

There are 3 levels (which I'm not going into now cos I'm too lazy to write it all down) and it is of course dependant on age.

...............................Level 1......... Level 2...........Level 3

35 - 44 years ........... 90,48€..........166€.................221,69€
45 - 54 years ............99,05€..........190,93€............246,12€
55 - 60 years.............122,35€.........252,88€...........325,61€
61 - 65 years............171,83€.........355,60€...........457,66€
Under 21s..................58,26€..........110,67€............147,31€

Niveau 3 seems to cover everything from a boob job to a new pair of choppers!!
Niveau 1 seems to be quite OK - 100% back on some things, 75% on everything else.

Am awaiting other quotes from other insurers (some of whom are proposing 20% - 25% reduction for a large group take up) so will let you know as and when.

Just before anybody gets on that old hoss by the way, I am not getting any commission or fee or free pen and pencil set from any insurance group. It was just as easy to send an email to 20 as to 1 so I did. Nowt in it for me, honest!!

outie · Post by **outie** » Thu 15 Nov 2007 18:23

Kate for us ageing rockers would you mais could you make the premiums a little clearer,

monthly years etc

Post by **Kate** » Thu 15 Nov 2007 18:34

Sorry - didn't have my glasses on when I wrote it!!!!!

Edited 5486000 times in total

Roger O · Post by **Roger O** » Thu 15 Nov 2007 19:55

Kate, those figures above are monthly premiums and per person??
If they are, I'm getting excellent service from AXA (via Gras Savoye http://www.grassavoye.com/BTB/default.asp ) on level 3 for our family (2 adults - one over 65 and our daughter 17) at under 300 euros per month.. but this was carried over from the Amadeus collective policy which seems to make a huge difference in that case.

mpprh · Post by **mpprh** » Thu 15 Nov 2007 21:44

Kate

If there is a deal for collective premiums, should we work together ?

Peter

PaddyFrog · Post by **PaddyFrog** » Thu 15 Nov 2007 22:07

removed by PF

Roger O · Post by **Roger O** » Thu 15 Nov 2007 23:33

Yes Sir, of course you're right. I've been taking the CPAM for granted so long, I didn't take the alternative into account and have just been thinking "mutuel" the whole time.

Post by **Kate** » Fri 16 Nov 2007 09:24

If there is a deal for collective premiums, should we work together ?

Hi Peter
Most definitely. The bigger the group, the bigger the reduction. All that I have done so far is send emails to all the big insurers so it's early days, but I think this is the way forward to prevent people taking out insurance policies which are not suited , overexpensive or plain crap!!

Ann · Post by **Ann** » Fri 16 Nov 2007 14:42

Kate,
We went into our local AXA office in Limoux today and they had no information on any comprehensive Private Health insurance scheme. What is the name of the policy that you were quoted?

Post by **Kate** » Fri 16 Nov 2007 15:33

It's called Premier euro non assujettis
It could be a rough draught as it's obviously several photocopies put together.

sue and paul · Post by **sue and paul** » Mon 19 Nov 2007 13:32

That all sounds very promising and thanks to Kate et al for all the information.

On a slightly different yet allied topic...we applied to CPAM to have our Carte Europeenne d'Assurances Maladie extended, as it expired not long ago. (EHIC, if we were in the UK system). Today we have had a letter from CPAM, explaining why we can't renew it ( although we each have valid current Carte Vitale, and they use our Securite Sociale number as their ref))

It goes like this (with accents, of course, which I can't do here)..." Nous ne pouvons traiter votre demande relative aux cartes europeenne (sic). En effet vous faites partie du regime migrant, etes assures an France et en Angleterre, mais si vous souhaiter une carte vitale europeenne nous vous prions de vous adresser a la caisse et au pays dont vous etes affilies..."

As we went to the Mas Vermeil CPAM office, we are hoping that a personal visit to the HQ in St Mathieu will do the trick. What a pain though.

opas · Post by **opas** » Mon 19 Nov 2007 14:03

Where are you fulltime resident for tax puposes?

sue and paul · Post by **sue and paul** » Mon 19 Nov 2007 14:26

fulltime tax resident in France

PaddyFrog · Post by **PaddyFrog** » Mon 19 Nov 2007 17:25

removed by PF

sue and paul · Post by **sue and paul** » Mon 19 Nov 2007 17:57

thanks. will try online. good idea

Neil N · Post by **Neil N** » Wed 21 Nov 2007 09:19

HI - sorry if I missed it in the trail - but are the figures quoted monthly per person? do they cover 100% or are they only reflecting the 'missing bit (i.e. you still need the top as well).

Thanks - and thanks for all the info generally, it's very helpful

Post by **Kate** » Thu 22 Nov 2007 09:22

Hi Neil
No, you haven't missed anything. It's me who hasn't been clear!!
These are monthly premiums and ,depending on the policy and the service, provide between 75 and 100% back. There is a list for each policy saying what percentage you get back for what. Am in the UK at the mo on a VERY slow dial up connection but will scan and post when I return

outie · Post by **outie** » Thu 22 Nov 2007 19:10

Kate,in France 100% of ,medical cover does not mean 100% of the cost of any/all medical treatment,once again it is all the little extras that add up,I think you are on an hiding to nothing going down the route of medical insurance quotes.

Sandy M · Post by **Sandy M** » Fri 23 Nov 2007 11:38

We've just received our copy of 'The Connexion', the newspapar which originally broke the news about changes in French healthcare for those under retirement age. The main headline on the front page is:

"Healthcare ban will NOT be retrospective - U-turn follows talks with British Embassy".

I'm about to read the whole article closely now, but thought I out to post this on the forum as it does sound very promising for those already in the system...

Sandy

tin knees · Post by **tin knees** » Fri 23 Nov 2007 19:11

I've been following this thread with a great deal of interest and I'm afraid I can confirm that this is now happening.
In Sept I replied to what appeared to be an innocuous "update" type questionnaire from the CPAM in Perps enclosing (yet again) copies of all the usual docs - passport, tax details etc.
In Nov I got a letter advising that if I didn't respond to the original letter our CPAM cover would be taken away from us. When I rang to protest I was told to ignore the latest letter - lots had been posted in error to the wrong people & I shouldn't worry.
Last week I received a letter from the CPAM at Perps with the heading of "Refus de renouvellement" advising that due to the new laws and the fact that we are both pre-retraite our cover was being withdrawn. Kindly they will let the existing arrangement stand until 31/03/2008 to enable us time to find alternative cover providing we take in our Carte Vitales to have the changes registered on them.
Accordingly, as summonsed, yesterday I went into CPAM at Perps and even though I protested strongly & showed them copies of our URSSAF contribution invoices etc. there was nothing the nice English speaking lady could do - "ze law, is ze law".

In the end I'm afraid our Carte Vitales have been modified.

So Kate, it really brings into focus the need to obtain the best possible insurance deal as this could work out quite expensive for us. I appreciate that group deals etc could become complicated but if it looks as though it might finish up in the "too hard" file perhaps there's someone with experience out there on the forum that could give us all pointers as to what to look for in a good Healthcover deal.

To help cheer me up how about a quick round of suggestions as to what CPAM may stand for in English??? I'll start with : Clowns Preventing Anglais Medicine.

Rose · Post by **Rose** » Fri 23 Nov 2007 23:43

Can't Provide Any Money

Rose · Post by **Rose** » Fri 23 Nov 2007 23:44

or

Could Provoke a Malaise

Post by **Kate** » Tue 27 Nov 2007 16:37

C'est probablement another mistake

Seriously though, for those who haven't yet seen this, I have pasted below an article from The Connexion of 26th November 2007

BAN ON HEALTHCARE WILL NOT BE RETROSPECTIVE: CPAMs BEING UPDATED THIS WEEK
Early-retiree British expats can remain in the French healthcare system, it has been revealed to The Connexion.

The ban on early retiree affiliation – even by payment – will not be applied retrospectively but will still apply to newcomers to France. Ophélie Rota, spokeswoman for the French Health Ministry, said explanatory circulars were being sent out to local state health insurance bodies (CPAMs) this week. Once the circulars have been received new applications by “inactive” expats would be rejected. Those already affiliated to the French health system through the CMU regime will be allowed to remain in it. Social security spokeswoman Stéphanie Gaillard told The Connexion that the circulars had been sent to a central body for distribution to the CPAMs on November 23.

The Connexion suggests that readers do not press their CPAMs for information until next week to allow time for staff to be adequately briefed and therefore able to advise correctly. If you visit too early workers may not been aware of the reversal.

Ms Gaillard said the position had been reached after weeks of talks between the French health ministry and the British Embassy in Paris. The announcement followed the publication on the internet, at the end of summer, of a government document stating that inactive expats in the CMU would lose their affiliation at the end of March, 2008, and must then take out private insurance instead. The Connexion is not, at this stage, aware of any concessions for those with E106 forms but we are still waiting to see the full contents of the circular. Full details will be given on this site as soon as they are made available to us.

The “five-year rule” will still apply for newcomers to France. It does not apply to those already in the French system as the ban is not being applied retrospectively. New arrivals can join the CMU after being in France for five years. Those currently covered by E106 forms, will also be subject to the five-year rule until or unless they have reached UK state retirement age and can access French healthcare via an E121 form. The promised circular may clarify this further.

See the earlier update in the archive pages for more information about how to prove your five-year residency.

I'm sure that it will be a big relief for some - fantastic

edann42 · Post by **edann42** » Tue 27 Nov 2007 17:15

Excuse my ignorance, but the premiums you are quoting Kate, are they Mutuelle figures or for Private Medical Cover aka BUPA???????

Edwin

Post by **Kate** » Tue 27 Nov 2007 18:31

Full medical cover as far as I understand it. have anoter quote in the pipeline from Generali which I am hoping to receive soon.

sue and paul · Post by **sue and paul** » Tue 27 Nov 2007 21:21

Thanks for pasting the article from Connexion, Kate. I have asked for the paper in one or two paper shops, and only got blank looks ( well, being from the planet Zog, it's only to be expected!) and a sad head-shake. I might subscribe (to the paper, not the attitude).

Sandy M · Post by **Sandy M** » Tue 27 Nov 2007 22:28

Apologies. I should have given more detail about the article in 'The Connexion' (and about the newspaper itself), and not just posted the headline. I was in a hurry at the time, as can be seen from the typos in my original posting. To think I was a trained proof-reader in a former life. Shameful!

Sandy M

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