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Moving To France

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Everyone knows that France offers a great lifestyle and
great house prices, there’s loads of stuff that would lure you over to France permanently
and that just isn’t the fantastic house prices or the food.

Individuals may be wise to research a suitable international
health insurance plan before moving abroad as well. You can check online to see
how much this would usually cost you and get free quotes.

It doesn’t matter where you decide to move to in France it
really is a brilliant place, with great weather, great town’s and houses it’s
really the perfect place to live. Maybe the only thing that could take a bit of
getting used to is the language but in most country’s English is the second
choice language anyway as half the world speak it.

Even though France is a lot warmer than Britain it’s
strongly recommended that you visit France in the summer and winter before
moving across as the winter can be a shock to some people with the cold
weather.

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Keeping Hold Of Your Private Medical Insurance

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Employees or even ex employees risk damaging their private medical
cover if they don’t keep to being reliable to their company’s and end up
retiring, resigning or at the worst get made redundant.

 Loads of people out there have private medical insurance
through a programme run by their work where it’s put out as a taxable benefit.
One option is corporate PMI which over the course of time is less expensive and
a lot more generous.

With the recent recession effecting the whole of the world
and this meaning a lot of jobs are getting cut back people are walking away
from their company’s PMI without realising they could keep a hold of this even
if they have left the place of work for whatever reason.

Most big private medical insurance company’s like AXA offer
employees the chance to keep their PMI. This results in getting private
hospital rooms and faster treatment for whatever reason compared to ones who
are on the NHS. The only thing employees can’t keep is their subsidised premiums.
Cover can be kept for pre-existing conditions which can really come in handy
for the older minority. Others who would gain from this are people who have ongoing
medical problems since they would struggle to get the same policy elsewhere.

 But the continued cover option may only be possible for
employees who have never claimed on their corporate cover. And those that have
claimed may face exclusions on a new individual policy. So before you make any
rash decisions remember it is possible to hang on to your private medical
insurance from ex employees!

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If you're intending to move abroad in the next couple of years remember to do your homework. You should research the country you intend to move to, and you should research the area of that country you wish to stay in, and you should definitely find out about the culture in the area you wish stay in.
One of the few things people think about when moving to countries within the European Union [or even further afield] is what level of health provision they expect. We Brits are used to having all our medical needs covered through taxation, we expect this to carry on abroad [partially because of the old E-111 form, now replaced by a EHIC [European Health Insurance Card]]. But many people are surprised to find out that this only covers you for emergency treatment, and for anything else you will either need to be covered by private insurance or you will have to pay up front for your treatment.
What is more there has been more and more incidences of of the various medical systems across the world tightening their guidelines about what they will, and exactly what they will not cover on the EHIC.
Sad as it is it seems that if you are looking forward to a life in the sun of the Med, or even down under, you might like to consider your options when it comes to private medical insurance. It looks as if that this might be the best option.

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An interesting study emerged this week linking child obesity to the level of care a child recieves from its grandparents.
Using data from the Milleniun Cohort Study, researchers from University College London have outlined the link between children that are cared for regularly by their grandparents and risk of obesity. The study finds that in 12,000 three year old children throughout the UK are at a  34% higher risk of obesity, whilst those that went to nursery or had a childminder had much lower risk levels.
For more on this controversial study, see the following websites:

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Your insurance policy

With the economic downturn showing no real signs of easing for us 'ordinary' consumers (unemployment still on the rise), those of us lucky enough to have a job are really having to prioritise and shop around for the best deals on everything we buy.The downturn over the last few years has affected our society in a myriad of ways (some of which we probably are not aware of yet) – and one of these has undoubtedly been in health – the NHS has been stretched to its limits as more people fall ill from stress related illnesses, this has made it even more difficult to get an appointment with a specialist if you fall ill.Therefore, even though our finances are somewhat under pressure, there are still many people who wish to have the security of private medical insurance behind them, for soem assurance if something should happen. Most consumer experts will encourage you to shop around for your health insurance quote. This can be done effectively online, there are numerous health insurance comparison sites, however, sometimes it may be wise to go direct to the company themselves. Most of the biggest health insurers should be able to give you a free no obligation quote.Good luck with getting your quote, if you have any experiences which may be useful please feel free to let us know.

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This is all over the news today, but just incase you have missed it The Nuffield Trust has published it's report into the NHS post-devolution. The principal headline is that Scotland is performing less efficiently than England despite high levels of investment and the most doctors and nurses.
You can download the report in full from the Nuffield Trust website.
There is also a powerpoint presentation available to download featuring some key facts and figures from the report (click here to open).

Nuffield report

We are interested in your thoughts on this report , particualrly if you work within the NHS in Scotland. Is the report out of date and inaccurate due to Scotlands unique geography and areas of deep seated poverty? (as Health spokeswomen Nicola Sturgeon has claimed).

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If you have any plans to be living abroad in the near future it would be sensible to seek out your best options when it comes to the many different ways in which health care is provided across the globe.
Here is a resume of the various different categories which you might fall under

Working for a UK employer or self-employed

If
you are going to work in the European Economic Area (EEA) or
Switzerland, and continue to pay compulsory UK National Insurance (NI),
you may be entitled to healthcare paid for by the UK. This will include
any dependants that go with you.

You will be treated on the same basis as a resident of  that 
country. Make sure you check any country specific information before
travelling to see what is covered.

Use the 'country-by-country guide' and select a country from the list for detailed information.
However, if you are moving outside of the EEA it may be necessary, and indeed highly advisable, in some countries, to take out private insurance, thus giving you the peace of mind in this time of upheaval.

Working abroad for over two years

Once you have been working abroad, past a certain threshold, dependant NI contributions etc, British Citizens living abroad start being regarded as Residents in those countries, although most countries have their own insurance sectors, the legalese and jargon often means British people living abroad like to take out medical cover from companies with easily recognisable names, who you know have stood the test of time.

Moving to an EEA country

The
NHS is a residence-based healthcare system. Therefore, once you have
moved permanently away from the UK you are no longer entitled to
medical treatment under normal NHS rules.

You must notify your former GP so that you and your family can be removed from the NHS register.

You will also no longer be entitled to use your UK-issued European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to access healthcare abroad.

Receiving a UK state pension or long-term incapacity benefit

If
you're receiving a UK state pension or long-term incapacity benefit,
you may be entitled to state healthcare paid for by the UK. You will
need to apply for an E121, which you  need to present to the health
authorities in your new country of residence. You will then be treated
on the same basis as a resident of that country.

It is advised to check what is covered before leaving the UK and make arrangements if necessary.
Use the 'country-by-country guide' and select a country from the list for detailed information.


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Health Insurance For Retirees

Retired Couple Abroad

Any retirees considering a move abroad at anytime should
make sure they have researched healthcare provisions from top to bottom of the
country they have chosen, Shelter Offshore has claimed.

On the site it does remind expats that health infrastructure
can change a lot from one country to another and finding out what level of care
is available is a must if you’re going to make that move overseas.

Earlier on in the month the site did advise any retirees that
were planning on making the move  that
when choosing a expat medical insurance, buying directly may be a cheaper option
than going to a broker.

The expat portal also suggested that even in countries with
reciprocal healthcare arrangements, retirees may also wish to top up access to
cover with an expat medical insurance policy.

Expatriate Health care specialise in providing international
health insurance,  so before you commit
yourself to anything and move to another country make sure your sorted out.

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There is more proof to convince smokers that if they want to kick their habit they need to hit the gym. A new study uses images to show how getting your blood moving by exercising for even 15 minutes minimizes your cravings to smoke. Here is a look at how the study was performed.

Lenneice A. Drew is an experienced journalist currently focused on healthcare reform. She is working to help others achieve better lives by finding affordable health insurance alternatives and reporting stories related to the healthcare industry. She lives in Miami, Florida.

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The flu pandemic has left many concerned especially with talk of a vaccine shortage.  But that doesn’t mean there is a shortage on ways to prevent you from getting sick.  Here are three simple steps that will protect your health not just now but all year long.

Step 1  Be sure you regularly disinfect the kitchen sink, the trash can, the bathroom faucet and the tub. These places harbor a lot of germs. The champion of the contamination? The kitchen sponge. Clean it in the dishwasher weekly.

Step 2  Lace up your sneakers and take a brisk walk five times a week. Regular exercise can help reduce chances of catching a cold.

Step 3  Include probiotics in your daily diet to help your immune system ward off bad bacteria. Try yogurt, fortified drinks, or a tasty treat like the 90-calorie Attune Milk Chocolate Crip Probiotic Bar.

Lenneice A. Drew is an experienced journalist currently focused on healthcare reform. She is working to help others achieve better lives by finding affordable health insurance alternatives and reporting stories related to the healthcare industry. She lives in Miami, Florida.

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