|
|
Health
Topic has 40 replies.
  
|
|
Sort Posts:
|
|
|
|
 10/05/2008, 16:31
|
Jay
Joined on 26/09/2007
Posts 54
|
Re: Is top-up health insurance really necessary?
|
|
|
|
|
 Blossom wrote: | T......... no one gave any real figures on how much any particular hospital operation cost
|
|
We have had the basic rate top up from Gan since we arrived
here 5+ years ago. Shortly after signing up for the top up (couple of weeks) my
wife had an investigation into arthritis in he shoulder which was diagnosed by
a specialist in the UK, the GP here having refused to give her the morphine
based painkillers she had been on for 3 years in the UK, without a full medical
investigation. After a succession of blood tests, a full upper body scan, dye
injections and x-rays it was discovered she had a broken tendon in her shoulder
and no sign whatsoever of arthritis. Total cost to us so far - nothing. Top up
paid approximately 200€. Three weeks later she was in a private clinic having
an operation to fix the tendon, total cost to us - 7.30€ for telephone calls,
this time top up paid in excess1500€. Following hospitalisation there was 3
months physio, 3 visits a week for 3 weeks by a nurse plus a lot of medication,
bandages, sling etc., multiple visits to the GP and specialist follow ups. We
didn't keep detailed records of the cost but our top-up must have paid in
excess of 400€. This was all for a relatively simple operation. I can't imagine
the cost of something more complex!
Having said all that I went into the same clinic the following year for a
double hernia operation and they didn't even ask for my top-up insurance and I
didn't have a cent to pay. There was, of course, all the medication afterwards
plus visits from the nurse and doctor.
I have always thought that you could wait until you are diagnosed with
something nasty and hope it was nothing urgent that required immediate
hospitalisation, then invest in top-up as there are no special conditions to
obtaining it (i.e. not like PHI), but do you really want to take the chance? I
can recommend obtaining decent top-up insurance and wouldn't be without it.
|
|
|
|
|
Report
|
|
|
|
|
10/05/2008, 19:47
|
Logan
 
Joined on 23/08/2004
Posts 721
|
Re: Is top-up health insurance really necessary?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I hestiate to spoil the party but Mutuelles actually pay out very little in comparison to the amount they receive in premiums. I believe if you can afford to pay a full 300% tarif cover Mutuelle then you can afford to take the risk yourself. They may be called Mutuelles but profit is their motive otherwise they would fold.
The current government are currently pushing more and more of medicare cost on individuals. In addition they are ring fencing Mutuelles from excessive costs. I believe this is to try and reduce the French dependence on the medical service. French hypocondria is legendary and costing the country a fortune.
The fear factor is really the motivation for any assurance. The dark threat of the unknown. Assurance companies play on our human insecurities and sell us this odd modern concept named by the advertisers as 'peace of mind'. It's as if they offer you some fluffy place where you can inhabit, worry free from the woes of being alive.
Personally I prefer a large dose of common sense and control my own affairs. If I shell out 1500 -2000 Euros per annum to a Mutuelle company I want to see large slice of that cost returned in reimbursements. The truth is you will not. Yes, you may be unlucky and have a string of problems where the Mutuelle occasionally takes a hit. That is rare. Normally they pay out relatively small amounts of 20% to 30% for medication, visits to the Doc, lab tests etc. Small beer in the actuality.
If you are hospitalised for a condition which is not life threatening you will have a cost bill of 30%. Ask yourself how often that's likely? This year it will be expensive, maybe next but you might well find for the following 5 years you are home free. Mutuelles premiums saved and in your bank account not theirs.
Courage mon brave!
Dulce et decorum est
Pro patria mori.
(Horace).
|
|
|
|
|
Report
|
|
|
|
|
10/05/2008, 21:03
|
sweet 17
Joined on 05/08/2006
charente maritime
Posts 2,045
|
Re: Is top-up health insurance really necessary?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I don't think you realise that some of us don't "cost" out everything and want our money back just because we have paid.
As with contributions to the NHS, I was happy to pay and not use the service. Can you not see that, to paraphrase Oscar Wilde, you might know the cost of everything and the value of nothing?
To me, there is an intrinsic value and justice in paying into a pot and then drawing out only the amounts that I need. I'd rather pay, enjoy good health and let other poor souls benefit from the money that I have paid in and do not want or need.
|
|
|
|
|
Report
|
|
|
|
|
11/05/2008, 6:25
|
LyndaandRichard
Joined on 01/05/2005
Posts 763
|
Re: Is top-up health insurance really necessary?
|
|
|
|
|
|
With the extremely high social charge rates and other taxes in France, it amazes me that you still have to look at paying high top up charges. Where does the money go?
Your Property in France
|
|
|
|
|
Report
|
|
|
|
|
11/05/2008, 8:29
|
Blossom
Joined on 01/03/2008
Posts 25
|
Re: Is top-up health insurance really necessary?
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Jay wrote: | | I have also paid house insurance for the last 40 years and never had a penny of that back but would hate to be without it if our house burnt down. Insurance is a risk business... |
|
I do not think that it helps to conflate all insurance cover when considering risk.
For example, at today’s rates, 40 years of ‘buildings’ insurance cover on a house worth £250,000 would be, say, £8000. This, I would argue, represents good value for money should your house burn down. Whereas 40 years of top-up health insurance could be anywhere between £30,000 - £100,000! I therefore find it hard to disagree with Logan.
|
|
|
|
|
Report
|
|
|
|
|
11/05/2008, 8:39
|
Patf
Joined on 23/08/2004
SW Gers
Posts 2,101
|
Re: Is top-up health insurance really necessary?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Blossom - you asked for estimated costs of operations. Here are a few (from 2-3 years ago.)
Operation on broken leg 800€
Hip replacement 6000€
Treatment in intensive care for heart attack plus stent placement 9000€
All estimates, without cost of "B andB".
|
|
|
|
|
Report
|
|
|
|
|
11/05/2008, 9:08
|
Logan
Joined on 23/08/2004
Posts 721
|
Re: Is top-up health insurance really necessary?
|
|
|
|
|
|
| sweet 17 wrote: | |
I don't think you realise that some of us don't "cost" out everything and want our money back just because we have paid.
As with contributions to the NHS, I was happy to pay and not use the service. Can you not see that, to paraphrase Oscar Wilde, you might know the cost of everything and the value of nothing?
To me, there is an intrinsic value and justice in paying into a pot and then drawing out only the amounts that I need. I'd rather pay, enjoy good health and let other poor souls benefit from the money that I have paid in and do not want or need.
|
|
Well sweet 17 you are entitled to be generous to others with your resources if you wish. I support personal choice in all things. I also like the principal that France allows us to choose if we have a mutuelle or not. The country is a very high tax society and seeking value for the disposable part of our income is for me a priority. Contributing to the profits of assurance companies is not.
The 'value of anything' is very much a subjective principle. I value self help and incentive and taking responsibility for our own lives. The government is responsible for the health of the nation through the large slice of taxation we already pay. A mutuelle is just in reality more taxation which you don't really need to pay. It is not the same as house insurance or any other risk cover.
Dulce et decorum est
Pro patria mori.
(Horace).
|
|
|
|
|
Report
|
|
|
|
|
11/05/2008, 10:17
|
Keith CHANNING
Joined on 22/11/2007
northern Puy-de-Dôme
Posts 52
|
Re: Is top-up health insurance really necessary?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Page 2 of 5 (41 items)
|
< 1 2 3 4 5 > |
|
|
|
France Forum » Living » Health » Is top-up health insurance really necessary?
|
|
|
|