how to get insulin if working in France

Messages
2
My daughter is going to work as a chalet host for 4-5 months in France. She is a UK resident, type 1 Diabetic on Lantus and Novorapid, but planning to switch to a pump soon, and has a European Health card - can she get medication when she is in France, and will she have to pay for it ?
 

phoenix

Expert
Messages
5,671
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
This is about using an EHIC. It would be different if she was paying French contributions and tax... though given my experience with the system she would only just about get registered when it was time to go home.

The NHS site gives some advice here
http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcare ... rance.aspx
but this is a fuller and as far as I can see accurate article here
http://www.origincare.co.uk/lorigine-ho ... France.pdf

A few points:

She will have to pay up front to see a doctor to get a prescription
If she has any lab tests she would again pay upfront.
She will only be reimbursed at 70% for doctors visits /lab costs (of I think €22 for a GP, €41 for a specialist about €20; for an HbA1c )
She may be better going to a diabetologue , I don't think many T1s are cared for by GPs but of course any doctor can prescribe insulin. Be very careful though about whether they are sector 1 or 2. Sector 2 docs can charge considerably more than the amount the authorities will base their reimbursement on. )


Again at the the chemists she will probably have to pay upfront for for insulin/strips etc
Prices (2010) 5 rapid insulin pens 43,18 euros, 5 basal pens (lantus or levimir) 67.41E, 1 vial rapid insulin 21,65 E
100 strips are about €44
I am not certain whether she will be 100% reimbursed for insulin, the article suggests that some medications get 100% back, and insulin seems to me to be an essential medicine but TBH I've never heard of that.
The normal reimbursement for most 'important' medications is 65%.
I don't pay for anything that is related to diabetes, including seeing a doctor but that is because I've got a specific exemption which your daughter won't have... it takes a while to get it authorised. .

It's really important to make sure that she gets the feuille de soins for claiming back at the CPAM.
She should be able to claim back the non reimbursed costs in the UK.

Pump supplies :I'm really not sure how that would work. They have to be prescribed by a specialist and are sourced from private companies called prestataires. My pump supplies are delivered to my home every 3 months. The prestataire is not only responsible for consumables but making sure that I have a 24hour emergency helpline, pump replacement if it goes wrong, ongoing education etc and gets a monthly fee for it.

I have to make frequent trips to the UK and with aged parents am never sure how long I'll be there. I make sure I have enough pump supplies for a long time because it would be equally difficult for me to get them in the UK.
 

head323

Active Member
Messages
38
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
smoking
no i dont think she hve to pay for her medication over there insulin is expensive thats why we get it of the nhs r i goet it of hse over in ireland . the only thing she hve to pay for is a new prescription wen she goes to doc every six months and just bring all her details from her chemiest with her and letter from doctor in hosp explaining to the chemist over in france what the condition is . they hve her lti book long term illness book . if thats any help i glad .