for Expats in the EU who voted remain, to be relly upset and angry at neighbours and 'friends' who have voted to leave?

I have been here for 43 years, Jura.. I have both a German and a British driving licence.

I first came in 1973, however, and it was a right hassle to register back before we were in the EU.

Actually, like most of my friends here, I have now taken German nationality in exasperation.

Yes, it is really useful, and been published just days ago.

One problem is still that those dependent on S1 will only be covered in France. No UK cover and none in other parts of the EU- and the CEAM insurance that covers those with French insurance, will not be available to them.

As for us in Swiss mountains, or not, for that matter (lots of molehills in our field for sure)- we will be covered in the UK and Switzerland- but nowhere else- totally unable to travel now EHIC will finish. Travel insurance to cover this is non-existent here- as everyone on Swiss insurance is automatically covered. Even if it did, those of us over 65 with pre-exisiting conditions would probably never be able to get it. So we have a few months to try and find a solution. So far the only one we can find would cost us about £1000 a MONTH. Molehills indeed.

Not sure about EHIC Jura, have never used it here just shown the passport. Details are then taken so they can bill Leicester. EHIC is only for emergencies. I think if you show your passport the country you are in will still bill Leicester. Of course the UK does not do this but bares the cost maybe not in future which of course will be quite right.

You do seem a little overwound jura if you don’t mind me saying so.

Sterling exchange rates fluctuate up and down always have. Swings & roundabouts! This means ex pat pensioners (like yourself as well as others) will, by default, go through boom and bust times as their pensions, paid in sterling, have to then be exchanged for euros.

This has always been the case.

Brexit, of itself, cannot be held responsible for those windfall (or hardship) months. Ex pats knew this when they chose to live abroad.

Of course the health insurance is another matter entirely as Brexit is responsible. That said, reciprocity has not been fully negotiated yet.

Spain (at present) is looking into this situation and so far ex pat pensioners on the Costas might well be pleased, as the Spanish government, acknowledging that retirees are not looking for work and are freely spending their hard earned disposable income out there in the bars, restaurants, hair salons, public transport etc. are a valuable source of income and are working to negotiate an amicable outcome.

It’s early days yet to get het up. Chill your beans.

Where are you Coolio? EHIC will definitely not be available to anyone British. And your passport will make no difference.

There is no 'early days' about this Urmstongran ... it is what it is.

In our case, that means we will be unable to travel anywhere outside Switzerland. Or return to UK. Travel insurance does not exist in Switzerland, only for top up over the 'double cost' covered by normal insurance. Not easy to understand perhaps... that means we can't go shopping, walking or sightseeing in nearby France or Italy- can't drive home through France to visit DDs and GCs. Those retirees in the EU on S1s won't even be allowed to use the NHS- and won't be able to access top up insurance for travel to EU.

So 'chilling my beans' is not really relevant.

I thought you weren’t affected jura - just posting on ‘behalf of others’.

But if what you say about Switzerland is true, then that is another kettle of fish entirely.

Will you sell up and return to the U.K. do you think?

I take your point, Mamie, but MEPs should represent the interests of everyone in their constituencies. How far they go in doing this, I could not possibly say.

Urmstongran- my initial post was not about me, but about the 10s of 1000s of British expats in EU.

But then I was asked about my own situation, and I replied- our situation in Switzerland is indeed different- as we will be aloowed to continue to use the NHS in UK, as well as be covered by S1 in Switzerland. But without cover anywhere else in the EU - whereas before we were covered for up to double the cost (eg the estimated treatment cost in a Swiss hospital).

We are trying to find solutions, and hopefully have until Dec. to do so. Working with insurers and with the British Embassy. Neither have any answers so far. But we hope we will find a way.

If we don't, we will have 3 choices

a) remain within Swiss borders permanently- or so close that we can be taken back in case of an accident or emergency.

b) move back to the UK and hope to get travel insurance that will take us with pre-exisiting and age.

c) take up Swiss health and accident insurance to which we are currently exempt with Form S1 - which will automatically cover us for EU - at the massive cost of about £1000 a month for both of us.

This post is NOT about me- but you asked and I always try to answer. And of course it is true!

Here is the video which prompted such resentment in many expats who voted remain

youtu.be/RUErHV5T2_s

Many pensioners (like us) manage to get private healthcare insurance jura it might not be as exorbitant as you fear. (Your B option).

We pay £105 which covers both of us for ANNUAL private healthcare.

Many bank accounts come with travel/health insurance, worth looking into. We have always taken out health insurance regardless of EHIC which only covered basic health care, not repatriation.

I am in Portugal and they will reciprocate.

So we have a few months to try and find a solution. So far the only one we can find would cost us about £1000 a MONTH. Molehills indeed

I have always taken out health insurance and it actually formerly came as part of our RBS bank account.
Taking it out separately has not cost thousands or even hundreds a year
Mountains out of molehills as I said. .

Switzerland is a jolly lovely country to live in I believe. Bloody expensive but very nice.

I had friends who lectured in Switzerland but lived in Liechtenstein, cheaper rent, food well everything really.

I believe Jura is saying they both have pre-existing conditions which as I know to my cost makes travel insurance exorbitant.

One of my friends has been living in France for 25 years. The thing that infuriates him is that he still doesn't know how badly he will be affected by a vote he couldn't take part in.

I would have thought that living somewhere for 25 years would mean that you'd consider that country home with all that entails.

Paw and I had several holidays (European) in the years after his transplant, including St Petersburg for all of which we took out health insurance.
I think Paw’s “existing conditions which were not inconsiderable might have notched up a new high - but we got guidance from the Transplant Support Group in finding “sympathetic” insurers.
Just saying.
But I thought OP started this thread saying that it did not affect her but UK expats in general?

Sorry Jura but you are wrong. The Withdrawal Agreement is not just about France, it is about all UK citizens in Europe. The S1 is part of that agreement. It has been out for some time, but until the last election it was, of course, unclear whether it would become law. There may well be people who don't know this, but the information is on the BiE / RIFT sites and they are obviously on Facebook and Twitter.
Anyone on an S1 will, of course, still be covered by the NHS when in the UK. The UK remains their competent state.
The things that you are worrying about were part of a No Deal scenario. For Citizens Rights, that worry, at least, is gone.
As for the state of the pound Urmstongran I am afraid I can't regard the loss of over 20,000 euros from our income (monitored on our financial spreadsheets) since the 2016 vote as a normal fluctuation. The consistent, overall decline of the pound should be clear to anyone with an eye on the economics of the situation. Given the lack of a coherent trading plan I can't see it getting better any time soon.

Thanks Mamie - this is fabulous news if S1 will now be upheld- this is not what I had previously been told in the past.
It does seem that those on S1 will not be able to join the top up system that covers them in the EU to replace EHIC.

Maw and others- yes, Holiday insurance is available in the UK - this is very clear. We used to have a yearly cover at reasonable price- although I imagine it would be more expensive 10 years on and now with pre-exisiting conditions.

We cannot buy UK holiday insurance, as we are no longer residents- and that is the crux. The insurance 'product' just does NOT exist in Switzerland, as residents here, Swiss or otherwise, who are not covered by S1, are automatically covered by their compulsory Swiss health/accident insurance, for up to double the cost an intervention would cost here. Top up insurance exists- to cover cancelllation, repatriation, and any excess on top. So the only choice we will probably have, to replace loss of cover in EU - is to purchase full Swiss health/accident insurance (despite being covered in Switzerland by S1 and in UK by NHS) - and the cost for this is, I can asssure you, about £500 each x 2 per month. Fact. Our Insurance broker is trying to find a solution- but as we are possibly a handful in the same position- no insurance is going to 'invent' a new product to cover us.

And this, on top of the massive loss of income due to falling Sterling value since we came here.

So yes, you are right dear poster above, I am a 'little wound up'.

Maw, yes it does affect us- but in a different way altogether, and as we are not living in an expat community here, there are no tensions on this subject. The only expats (immigrants) around all feel exactly as we do. They are not affected in the same way, as they have worked here for a long time and are part of the system - getting fat Swiss pensions anc fully covered by their insurance- not on S1s.

Coolio, we live on the French border, in a very cheap part of Switzerland, and do most of our shopping in France- it helps a bit, for sure.

For info to Mamie- those on S1 will not be able to get a CEAM card, that will cover for emergency treatment in EU/EEA - just as EHIC. Same for us in Switzerland. Unless you have information to the contrary?

I was only going on your own words Jura which were (to me) quite clear this is NOT about me so, sorry if I misunderstood that.
As for the absence of travel insurance, that may well have to be one of the disadvantages you have to take into account when you consider your future now that you are no longer responsible for elderly relatives and with family in the U.K.
Given the price of property in Switzerland, I suppose you might also choose to relocate back here or even to France which mamie describes as being a rather better “deal” for expats.

It was always in the Withdrawal Agreement Jura but for a time no deal looked more likely. Not sure what you mean about "the top- up insurance to replace EHIC". I can only speak for France, but our top-up insurance is not about travel. The French system only pays 70% (apart from serious illnesses) and everyone, French included (apart from those who choose not to) pays into a supplementary insurance or mutuelle to pay for the rest. The companies cannot discriminate for pre-existing conditions. It costs us about 250€ a month.
I think the EHIC system is not part of the WA and is part of the next phase of negotiations, so at this stage nobody knows. However, I see no reason why agreement should not be reached for it to continue. Like the S1 form, it is in nobody's interest to stop it.
For travel insurance we have used a Europe based scheme and our credit card insurance.

Bluddy hell I am afraid I can't regard the loss of over 20,000 euros from our income (monitored on our financial spreadsheets) since the 2016 vote as a normal fluctuation

That’s some serious income if that’s your ‘loss’ due to market fluctuation. I wish I had your problem! The amount you’ve lost is huge.

Remember May 2009 though? You must have lost a great amount there then as I can recall parity between sterling and the euro! Nowt to do with Brexit either. It wasn’t even a twinkle in the eye. Our hotel in the Canaries offered 99 CENTS for a pound sterling!! They kindly rounded it up to 1 euro. Admittedly the bank rate or an exchange server would have got us 1.03 euro to the pounds ha!