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27/04/2008, 20:50 Russethouse Joined on 23/08/2004 Forum Moderator Posts 9,723 Re: Laboratory refuses to do the necessary analysis  Remember that story, and I think I mentioned it here, but it seemed that she had some misdeed ( perhaps falsely claiming benefit ? ) that somehow made her less worthy ? It's to the credit of the community to which she belonged that they continued with their support IMHO www.quimperclub.org 99    Report

28/04/2008, 10:56 Quillan Joined on 23/08/2004 Forum Moderator Posts 3,594 Re: Laboratory refuses to do the necessary analysis Firstly I would like to say I am very sympathetic to Normans health problems and hope that he makes a speedy and complete recovery and enjoys life for many years to come illness free. If I gave the impression that I was unsympathetic then I apologize. Perhaps things differ from one region of France to another, we have seen this happen with other issues in the past. Where we live I expect to hand over money for any visit to my doctor and specialist. I also have to pay for any 'lab' work done and until last year when our local hospital updated their computer system (or perhaps something else, I don't know) for all xrays. Even when in hospital I had to pay for some services like lab work etc. I handed over my money (a little more than Norman, about 78 Euros comes to mind) and was then given the claim form. With the doctor he uses the Carte Vital, as does the specialist/consultant so I don't get any form to send off. This is the case for any of my health issues be they 100% covered or not. I get the impression, based on how it works in my neck of the woods, that Normans specialist or probably more to the point his secretary never sent the bill on to Norman enabling him to pay and then claim back and that may well be where the problem lays. When we first used the health system here it came as quite a shock to discover that we had to 'pay up front' in some cases and as we progressed through the system we never knew if we had to pay then claim back or not and to this day it's still a guess in some cases which is why we always take a cheques book with us. The only things we use at the moment that we don't have to pay up front for are primary hospital care, MRI scans, xrays and prescriptions. So yes people should be aware that they have to pay some charges but then you do get the money back and it may be a bit worrying for those on a low income. I think I would pay the bill (because it the quickest way of getting the new test results) and then go and have a word with the specialist and ask him to explain how this situation could have arisen in the first place. I still don't think its a good idea to compare the French and English system because they are different and the mentality behind the systems are also different. I get the impression that the French attitude is that normally if you don't put in you can't get anything out where as the UK system is come one come all and you will be treated FOC. Oh and yes I also remember the lady who was 'thrown out'. Originally it was reported with no reason given but after a couple of days it then transpired that she had been claiming a lot of money in benefits illegally and it was for that reason she was thrown out. http://www.chambresdhote.com    Report

28/04/2008, 12:54 NormanH Joined on 10/04/2008 Posts 179 Re: Laboratory refuses to do the necessary analysis In fact I now understand better. I went to the lab and paid the old bill today. The clinic that did the first biopsy last year never settled the bill with the Lab, which normally they should have done. So when the lab got another sample with my Sécu number it came up on their internal records as an unpaid bill. At the same time I had in fact paid the clinic last year, so I had no way of knowing that there was a problem. (I don't know yet if what I paid included the lab work, or it was just left out of the loop) the Lab did in fact do the most recent analysis which was paid directly by a different clinic in which my other Doctor works, and which is a bit more organised administratively, so they weren't as heartless as the letter sounded. They sent me the letter to get their money from the last time. Although I have been in France a long time my British instincts surfaced in the fact that this would never happen in the UK. With the NHS the medical care comes before money.    Report

28/04/2008, 13:06 virginia.c Joined on 28/02/2006 Posts 122 Re: Laboratory refuses to do the necessary analysis I'm  very pleased you are sorted out now Norman,  I've been reading this thread with interest.  IMHO to compare and contrast helps promote understanding - long may you continue to do so!    Report

28/04/2008, 13:09 lerochers Joined on 27/04/2008 Posts 10 Re: Laboratory refuses to do the necessary analysis  NormanH wrote: In fact I now understand better. I went to the lab and paid the old bill today. The clinic that did the first biopsy last year never settled the bill with the Lab, which normally they should have done. So when the lab got another sample with my Sécu number it came up on their internal records as an unpaid bill. At the same time I had in fact paid the clinic last year, so I had no way of knowing that there was a problem. (I don't know yet if what I paid included the lab work, or it was just left out of the loop) the Lab did in fact do the most recent analysis which was paid directly by a different clinic in which my other Doctor works, and which is a bit more organised administratively, so they weren't as heartless as the letter sounded. They sent me the letter to get their money from the last time. Although I have been in France a long time my British instincts surfaced in the fact that this would never happen in the UK. With the NHS the medical care comes before money.   Yes health before money in NHS . thats because the State pays the bill. Here the people are self employed.    Report

28/04/2008, 18:08 Sunday Driver Joined on 07/10/2005 Deux Sevres (79) Posts 2,813 Re: Laboratory refuses to do the necessary analysis Not quite - the UK tax payer pays the bill.  In France, the tax burden is much lighter and heathcare contributions are billed separately.  And I think you'll be surpised to learn that the majority of French people are actually not self employed. As stated previously, different systems, and if you have your proper insurance cover in place (and your bills are paid on time), you get the health.......   Waddya mean it's only Saturday......    Report

28/04/2008, 18:22 NormanH Joined on 10/04/2008 Posts 179 Re: Laboratory refuses to do the necessary analysis But of course there can be the sort of glitch I experienced, even with all in place and paid up. Money before care is fine while you have money.    Report

28/04/2008, 18:44 cassis Joined on 28/12/2007 Manhattan and Glasgow Posts 458 Re: Laboratory refuses to do the necessary analysis And if they don't *** up the paperasse. Zoggy played guitar, jammin' good with Weird and Golly. Lyrics copyright Sausage Music 2008    Report

28/04/2008, 21:56 Quillan Joined on 23/08/2004 Forum Moderator Posts 3,594 Re: Laboratory refuses to do the necessary analysis I was wondering if this is a one off case or have there been others and if so does it happen a lot? I know of people from outside the EU even who have received quite expensive and extensive health care in France and not paid a bean. Likewise I also knew a person who was British and received long term treatment as both in and out patient for an illness that eventually killed them (here in France), their partner (because they only had an E111 at the time but had lived her for 2 years- it was about 4 years ago) had their passport taken away, some form of compulsory order put on their house and ended up paying around 90,000 Euros before the body was released for burial in the UK. It seems to me that there appears to be no 'standard'. From what I understand of what Norman wrote they actually did not refuse to do the lab work. http://www.chambresdhote.com    Report

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