Anybody had a baby in France?

[RogerB]

I work long term for a UK based company in France along with my Fiance. We have just discovered we are about to be in the family way. Keen to remain in France as we love our lives here, we are anxious as to how to proceed with healthcare. At present we are EHICS covered but are unsure as to whether this will cover the apparently astonishing costs of sprog production. Any and all valid advice much appreciated by shellshocked father to be.

[Bevdeforges]

First of all, congratulations!

OK, allegedly the EHIC covers routine maternity care while overseas, but on the EHIC website, there is some specific information about use of the EHIC in France: EHIC and health advice for travellers : Department of Health - Health care
As far as the French are concerned, the EHIC is for INACTIVE (i.e. retired) residents of France who aren't otherwise covered by the French national health system.

If you are working and resident in France, there is the big question why you are not paying French cotisations to be included in the French health care system. And even if you were, you would normally also have a French "mutuelle" insurance to fill in where the French system doesn't pay or reimburse.

I would suspect you should talk to your employer's personnel department to sort out what your medical status should be - and to correct that, if necessary. Then, you need to see about some sort of "mutuelle" or private insurance. It's going to be tough to find a private insurer to handle a pregnancy already in progress, but there are mutuelles that advertise that they will cover you for maternity benefits with no waiting period. (I have no idea what they might charge.) Normally, in France, a pregnancy and birth should be more or less fully covered and not expensive at all - but if you are relying on "travel insurance" that could all change.

The other option, if you find that you truly are still back on the NHS or other system in Britain is to return to Britain for maternity exams and treatment. There is an option for companies to keep their employees out of the French social insurance scheme for up to five years, if they are on a limited "exchange" - but to do so, they are supposed to be maintaining their eligibility for the health and retirement systems back home. This is the case for US companies - I didn't think it applied to other EU members, but perhaps this is what your employer is doing. If you are planning on staying in France, you need to get your situation sorted out with regard to the French social insurance schemes.
Cheers,
Bev

[giantpanda]

Originally Posted by RogerB

I work long term for a UK based company in France along with my Fiance. We have just discovered we are about to be in the family way. Keen to remain in France as we love our lives here, we are anxious as to how to proceed with healthcare. At present we are EHICS covered but are unsure as to whether this will cover the apparently astonishing costs of sprog production. Any and all valid advice much appreciated by shellshocked father to be.

Hi!

Do I understand you correctly:

You are working in France ?

And you have no Carte Vitale ( i.e. you are not in the French Health system)?

More with the answers.

Yours,

giantpanda