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| Taking healthcare to heart and the issues to the EU |
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| Tuesday, 04 December 2007 | |
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Since the ejection of thousands of Europeans from French state healthcover, Deborah Dudley has launched a campaign to clarify and hopefully get a repeal of the new measures. She talks to Barry Bridgens in the Sarthe. The EU Directive 2004/38EC, which refers to rights to health cover in member states, has been implemented by the French government in a draconian way, according to Deborah Dudley. “The majority of early-retired British people living in France do so as law-abiding citizens, paying taxes and contributing to the French health system. These changes are unjust and against the spirit of the EU,” she claims. The changes affect people who are not in full employment or have retired early to France and who will, as from March 31, 2008, no longer be able to contribute to, or benefit from the French state health system. In order to remain here, they will have to provide proof of comprehensive health cover. This situation becomes untenable for people with existing medical conditions who will find it difficult or impossible to find such cover from private insurance and will not be able to stay in France. Those who are employed or are retirees covered by an E121 are not affected. Deborah and her husband have lived in a village near Le Mans for the last four years. It was while discussing these issues on a British expat forum that Deborah and a small group with similar concerns decided that the only way to resolve them was to make their feelings known at high levels of government. Their first task was to enlist the help of MEPs who would be sympathetic to their cause, Mary Honeyball, Labour MEP for London, quickly provided support and encouragement, soon to be followed by French MEP for west France and chairman of the Group of French Socialists, Bernard Poignant who, in a letter to the French Ministry of Health, wrote: “It seems that you have taken the decision to ask all inactive foreigners in France to leave the State healthcover system and to find private insurance. This looks unfair to me, particularly if the measure is applied restrospectively.” To coordinate and provide information for the lobbying activities a website was set up in early October which aims to allay people’s fears by providing factual information where possible and addresses where further help can be obtained. There are also draft letters, both in French and English, which can be downloaded and sent to the relevant people. The site, despite only being live for four weeks, is currently seeing in excess of 400 hits a day and has had more than 500 emails of support. Deborah Dudley, who was heavily involved in the Le Mans 24-hour Club Arnage has had to relinquish those responsibilities so she can spend an average of six hours a day on her new mission. As she says, “We are doing this not for selfish reasons but for all the worried people who retired to France because they love the country and who have not come here to get something for nothing.” The site has also been visited by those who have had to put their retirement plans on hold and for some it will mean not being able to fulfil their dreams. The group is composed totally of volunteers and covers the whole of France and UK. Many of the members have never met. There is also an e-petition to the Prime Minister Gordon Brown at http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/healthinFrance/. The petition has a deadline of December 10, 2007. To date there are nearly 2,000 signatures. To offer support or to get involved visit the website www.frenchhealthissues.eu . |
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