|
| French idyll or French nightmare? |
|
|
| Monday, 19 November 2007 | |
|
The dream of a new life in France is shortly to be shattered for thousands of Britons living in the country. Lives and livelihoods are being put at risk by changes to immigration laws in France which are being hurriedly implemented, thus giving the people affected little chance to make alternative arrangements. This legislation demands that non-French European Union citizens take out private health insurance, from the date at which their home countries stop supporting them – in many cases as early as the New Year. “This isn't a problem of the cost,” said one of the founders of the pressure group “French Health Issues” formed last month by a group of concerned expatriates and immigrants to France. “Every honest person who has moved here is well aware of the fact that they must contribute a percentage of their worldwide income to the French healthcare system (CMU) The worst aspect of this is that few, if any, private insurers are prepared to cover anybody with a pre-existing or chronic condition. “Take, for example, the case of Keith and Dorothy Askew, a retired policeman, and his wife - a former town hall economic development officer - who moved from Yorkshire to the Charente in 2006.”  'We did all our homework and realised we could afford to be reasonably comfortable if we moved here and enjoy a well-earned rest from a life of hard work. We knew - as the law stood then - that we would have to contribute 8% of our joint incomes to the French healthcare system when our E106's ran out, and were well prepared for this and happy to do it. 'When Keith developed cancer shortly after we arrived here, we received excellent care from our local hospital and our GP and nursing staff. It wasn't until recently, that we found out we'd no longer be able to get treatment here unless we took out private health insurance. Because Keith has cancer, and this has to be closely monitored over the next five years, there isn't an insurance company anywhere, which we have found, which will take us on. 'The medical staff here are amazed and scandalised by what is being done to us - they could not believe it when we explained what was happening.' Keith and Dorothy are just one couple amongst many who are facing the stark reality of these inhumane changes to their healthcare rights. Many more Britons who already pay a substantial percentage of their incomes towards their state healthcare, are due to be ejected at the end of March. EU Directive 2004/38, which the French are citing as justification for making these changes, demands that any changes to laws which affect European citizens, should be announced in due time, thus allowing those affected to make plans to comply. Said Nick Greenwood, who moved from Hampshire to the Lot in 2005: “We had carefully costed and considered our financial situation, basing all our calculations upon the regulations and prices pertaining at the time. Since January 2005 we have been of independent means through the early drawdown of a private pension, topped up with rental income from a small gite we had converted prior to our arrival. “My wife has long-term hypertension and this pre-existing condition will preclude health insurance. This means that she will continue to live in France but will be breaking the law in doing so, as the law states that she must have fully comprehensive health insurance.” Clearly, eight weeks is not sufficient time for thousands of UK citizens to sell up and return “home”, particularly given that a significant number will be undergoing important treatment for medical conditions at the time. Said Deborah Dudley, one of the founders of the pressure group “French Health Issues” – and a resident herself: “It is self-evident that what is being done here goes directly against the principal of free movement throughout the EU, which is one of the cornerstones of the Union. We are not asking for free healthcare – just to be treated in the same way as a French citizen in the same position would be. We are now in effect, becoming ‘stateless’ as neither government wants to have anything to do with us. Is this what the European Union – which we have embraced – is about? We think not.” For further information, including contact details for the individuals quoted in this release, please contact: Deborah Dudley, Media Co-ordinator, French Health Issues This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it +33 2 43 20 59 38 |
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
