Insurers will be fair with refunds

WHAT will happen to people who bought private health insurance after being told by the French authorities that they were losing eligibility to state healthcare - only to learn the ban has now been reversed?

We spoke to insurance firms about their refund policies and their rates for people who moved to France after November 23. All future early retiree expats are now not elligible for state healthcare until they have been resident in France for five years (first two years may be covered by an E106.)

Tim Slee, global sales director for the British private health insurance company Bupa, said: "We did some advertising in France reminding people that whatever the French government does or does not offer them, Bupa is always available, whether through a local adviser or directly.

“We have seen an increased level of interest but these people have been quite confused about what they are entitled to from the state and, as an insurer, we have had to be careful about what we say.

“We told them that for official information about they need to go to Foreign Office or French government sites but that we think our international cover is a good idea full stop.

“You’re covered wherever you travel in the world (unless your policy excludes the USA) and even if you are in France you can opt for treatment abroad - for example Switzerland or Italy."

Asked about refunds for those who took out insurance only to find they can now join the CMU, he said that if the customer's only reason for taking out the policy was to replace state healthcare, the company would be "sympathetic."

Asked about policies for future early-retirees, he suggested Bupa's "essential" international cover, which focuses on hospital in-patient and day care, at e2,833 for a couple of a 55-year-old man and a 50-year-old woman.

Larry Fulton of French-based Exclusive Healthcare said there was "no question" about the increase in interest because of the healthcare upheavals.

"Enquiries have gone from about eight or nine a day to 100 a day."

He added the take-up was harder to evaluate. “Some people are having doubts and saying 'I might not lose my state healthcare after all, can you not cash my cheque and put it on hold?'.

“I am still hearing of people getting letters from Cpams referring to them having to leave the CMU at the end of March.

My advice has been that if they wish to be sure they will be covered they can take out a policy and if they get confirmation they can join the CMU we will only charge them up until the time they cancel."

Mr Fulton said one of his average policies, Platine France, covering hospital and outpatient treatment throughout France cost about e1,377 per year per person at 50.

Becky Gaywood, overseas sales manager for the Exeter Friendly Society, said: “From October until recently we have seen quite an influx of enquiries from expats in France about private medical insurance but quite a few took it up only to find that they don’t need it now because the government keeps moving the goal posts.

“If that happens we want to be fair about it - although it is an annual policy, if you have just joined recently and are now entitled to the CMU we will consider either a full refund or a pro rata one.”

She said, depending on the range of treatment included, their policies for treatment in France typically cost about €70 - €95 a month at 50 and €104 - €144 a month at 60.

At the higher cost levels an element of UK cover is also included.