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Moving abroad

C

Chris_tim

Member
I'm currently weighing up the possibility of moving to either Copenhagen or Berlin to potentially live there for good, maybe even become a citizen. It wouldn't be for some time but I'm curious as to whether any other T1's have up sticks and moved across the water to mainland europe? I'm more swayed towards Berlin as I love the city and the Germans have a very good national health system, I'm not moving because of that though.

What would I need to do regarding prescriptions and my medication, getting a doctor etc? I wouldn't move until I ave found work and a place to live but after that I would need to sort everything else out ASAP.

Any info or advice would be great!
 
Hi Chris-tim, i have been living in italy for nearly 7 years but was only diagnosed in jan with type 1 lada. I am insulin dependant. Although as a resident i get my needles, insulin etc for free i still have to pay for some blood tests and it can be very expensive. Over here you have to think very hard before going to the doctors or the dentist. ( our dentist is also a doctor, the town mayor and the head of the cleansing dept!)The doctors are very basic not like the gps in the uk and they basically just refer you to the hospital or a specialist which you have to pay for. I know the nhs is not perfect but boy do i miss it. Now that i've put you off moving here good luck with your adventure wherever you go:roll:

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Thanks for that! Are you living as an Italian citizen or just working over there for an extended period of time? It hasn't put me off, I've really had enough of the UK and would like out if I can. My levels are well maintained so wouldn't be too worried about paying for an annual blood test etc provided nothing changes, I know that the healthcare system in both Germany and Denmark is better than the UK. I had to briefly deal with it when I was in Berlin in February due to a burst eardrum, don't fly with an ear infection!
 
We moved to Spain 12 years ago and I was diagnosed out here. My husband has his own business and we pay 276 Euros per month which covers health care. For my diabetes medication I pay 10 percent of the cost all other medication 40 percent.

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My sister lived in Germany for 12 years, health care is excellent, the Germans seem to be very efficient, eg when she needed a smear test there was no long waiting for the result, the sample was inspected there and then.

Here are some links you might want to have a look at, if you need further info just send off emails, most Germans speak English.
https://www.gov.uk/living-in-germany

http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcare ... rmany.aspx

http://www.amiexpat.com/2009/08/18/heal ... n-germany/

http://www.diabetikerbund.de/

You could consider moving to Sweden? I have lived there for 6 years, health care is similar to Germany.
 
WhitbyJet said:
My sister lived in Germany for 12 years, health care is excellent, the Germans seem to be very efficient, eg when she needed a smear test there was no long waiting for the result, the sample was inspected there and then.

Here are some links you might want to have a look at, if you need further info just send off emails, most Germans speak English.
https://www.gov.uk/living-in-germany

http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcare ... rmany.aspx

http://www.amiexpat.com/2009/08/18/heal ... n-germany/

http://www.diabetikerbund.de/

You could consider moving to Sweden? I have lived there for 6 years, health care is similar to Germany.
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Thanks for that, really helpful. I had found the .gov link earlier and have also been looking on the German embassies site, will check the others later. The way their national insurance system works seems quite logical and dare I say it stereotypically German but for me thats a plus, you contribute from day one and I think get the same liberties as here one you register as a citizen.

I have considered Sweden, was talking to my boss today who has relatives over there. It's definitely another possibility but I would need to visit a couple of times first, Germany on the other hand I've been to a few times and loved it more each time I was there.
 
Scandinavia is wayyyyyyy above the UK when it comes to diabetes research and treatment so I'm sure u will be well looked after over there :-)


Diagnosed with GD in 2010, Completely disappeared postpartum. Re-diagnosed December 2012 with type 1.5 diabetes, age 26, BMI 22 currently controlled by only Metformin, 500mg twice a day.
 
Expensive in what way? From my research it looks relatively cheap... I could be wrong! You pay more for you national insurance but not drastically more, I'd be looking to register as a citizen not working there. Not sure if that makes a difference?


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If you aren't going to work your position in any European country depends on whether you are receiving a state pension. If you are then you will get coverage from the UK ie they will pay your contributions to the German system, though you will not necessarily get as full a coverage as you would in the UK ie you may have to contribute to certain costs.
You need a form S1 to do this so see:
http://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/wo ... dex_en.htm
You can also get limited coverage from the UK for up to 2.5 years; this is dependent on your contribution record. Again you need a form S1. This time on a short term basis

In general terms, different countries vary in their interpretation of EU law concerning the access to health care by inactive people who are not state pensioners (ie living on own income or perhaps an occupational pension). Once you have lived legally in the new country for five years then you indeed have rights as a permanent citizen so at that point you have the same rights as someone who is a national . However before then the position is not clear cut.
France, where I live, has refused admission to the health care system for the period between the ending of the temporary S1 and the five years point. These people have had to obtain very expensive private insurance. This was/is virtually unobtainable/prohibitively expensive for someone with a condition like T1, There have been challenges at EU level to this but it appears that France continues this policy http://www.connexionfrance.com/official ... ticle.html
I don't know what Germany does but understand that it is an insurance based system, you would be well advised to make sure that you have recent information and that you can get such insurance .
 
I'm currently 24 so a long way off retirement. From what I have found out so far you have to register within a week of arrival if you plan on working/living there, in doing this they will help you get health insurance (different name but very similar to NI) which covers health costs providing your paying in full for it. Like NI it comes out pre tax and it is provided by the government but it is technically a insurance, with this in mind it's likely to have access to better means of management.

Might take a trip to the German embassy


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