French Top Up Insurance

Just a quick question for any ex pats living in France.

We are planning a move to France once the full impact of Brexit is understood. One of the things causing us much confusion is the French Health Care System. It appears that the state will pay 70% of all health costs but we have to have a top up for the remaining 30%.

Has anyone on here any experience of the French Health care System and can they recommend a good Insurance company?

[Prada47]

Great question Ogilvie hope someone can give you the answer, but as you say Brexit is a problem at the moment. I have been looking at the possibility of crossing Europe and into Asia but waiting for Brexit to become clearer. The other consideration is renting our Bungalow and then renting a Gite from Early Summer to the end of August. To old to make the full time move lol

[Lezzers]

I believe that at the moment the amount you pay is dependent on income & possibly age. I am aware of someone who doesn't have to pay anything towards medical costs as their income is just below the threshold for insurance purposes. But they're patiently waiting to see what happens after brexit!

[Sillyfroggy in reply to Lezzers]

I’m not sure any current arrangements will stay in place once we are no longer EU members - there’s no reason for them to allow us what we had as members, and I very much doubt they will. I have a feeling retirement in Europe is going to change drastically!

[Lezzers in reply to Sillyfroggy]

Maybe they'll be reciprocal arrangements for those already in the system, who know....no point in speculating really. However, I do know the French are very geared up medically for heart patients.

[shopman in reply to Sillyfroggy]

Spoke to someone yesterday who has just come back from holiday on the Costa del Sol. His son had an accident and gashed his leg requiring treatment. Hospital refused both his EHIC card & Insurance and insisted he had to pay cash up front. Appreciate I don't know the full details but it makes you wonder.

[Lezzers in reply to shopman]

My sister used hers 2 months ago in Spain & had no problem. She'd broken her leg (no insurance!!) so used her card & only had to pay for her prescription.

[shopman in reply to Lezzers]

Don't doubt we are going to get variations.

[Prada47 in reply to shopman]

If they had gone to the Costa del Sol Hospital in Marbella or the Hospital in Malaga I am sure they would accept EH111. It's a scam in Spain the Hospitals don't tell you they are Private and out with the State System !!!

[Sillyfroggy in reply to Prada47]

Martin Lewis has been talking about this for some time. The EHIC card will almost certainly be extinct for uk citizens, and the possibility raised of making EU nationals pay to stay will also have ramifications no doubt.