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

Jura - those you know who have arrived in the last 2 years and are scared - I don't think you'll find any sympathy for them on here. They can only blame themselves for moving when there was so much uncertainty
They should go back home.
Having said that, if they've bought a home in France it might be difficult to sell.
As Kitty says, life is full of these challenges, we should try to learn from them

The card under discussion is the EHIC card which entitles the citizens of EU member states to reciprocal health treatment when on holiday in another member state. I think it used to be called the E111. This may disappear by the end of the year if talks break down. It will affect the population of the UK plus those residents in other member states who have the UK as their competent state, because they are in receipt of a state pension.
HTH

That is a bit harsh Fennel. Surely someone who has moved with their husband and been widowed soon after deserves a bit of compassion?
I do agree that there is not much point debating the issues on here though.

That’s right Mamie I’d totally forgotten about the card, due to various health problems we always take out Travel Insurance, so have never used the card.

We need an edit button, then I could have changed my post, or deleted it altogether.

Travel insurance is indeed wonderful - if you can get it where you live. If you can't, then ...

Fennel, yes very harsh. Many had planned to retire to France for many many years- some had bought property well in advance- and moved when they retired, either before the Brexit campaign- or at the start when all promised a 'Great Deal, the best Deal' ever...

Others have developped severe health issues after the move, and as said, I know many who have been widowed. S1 covered those of official UK retirement age, and they dependent spouse, even if younger. Hard enough to lose your partner, and to lose your rights too. And for many, they have put all their savings and the proceeds from their UK house to purchase the house in France, Spain or wherever in the EU, and to do the necessary renovations. They now have houses that can't sell (they were cheap because in areas where the 'natives' don't want to live) - and no savings to fall back on.

So, yes, as said on previous threads- their only choice will probably be to return to UK destitute, and request housing, social care and health care from the UK. Not sure this will be beneficial to the UK- let alone them. (and as said before, that will not apply to us- we have made sure in our plans that we left all doors opened, and the fall in Sterling and the rise in CHF- would ensure a very nice profit- but that is NOT the point). DD1 and GCs will probably move here if things turn bad for financial services in the UK- so it would be ridiculous to move back now.

We will - adapt and survive- we are VERY lucky. Many won't be able to - and yes, they are not ATBU to be annoyed and more, at those in their shared communities who actually voted for their demise. And yes, no point in asking for any empathy from GN.

Maybe it was a bit harsh, Mamie.
But we met so many couples during our years in France who had come out to 'live the dream' but soon found it wasn't as easy as it seemed. Most of them returned home, but I could tell you many sad stories of financial loss, divorce, bereavement etc. I had 3 english friends whose husbands had died there, they all went home to their families.
Those who remain have faced the practicalities of living in France , probably like you have.
We were lucky to sell our house when we did, there were others in our commune who returned and still can't sell, which means they're still paying out on house taxes, insurance, maintenance etc.

But, lots of us have had major health scares, or even a couple, which restrict what we can do. It happens and one copes.

This is a small problem in comparison to, say, one of DD2's friends - aged 38, newly married, a triathlete - who has just been diagnosed with MND! I bet he would like to be worrying about his next holiday rather than whether he can get onto the new drug trial and/or whether he will see 40.

He isnt moaning on a forum. He has started a charity to help others in his position.

I have friends who voted to leave because in their judgment it was best, they haven't become 'friends' all of a sudden

And, no one person swung the Brexit vote so, yes you are being unreasonable.

‘No point in asking for any empathy from GN.’

Probably because many Gransnetters have very real problems in their lives jura. You have a difficulty that may yet prove to be not a difficulty, depending on the result of negotiations. Wait and see would be my advice.

Who has been widowed shortly after moving with their husband?

their only choice will probably be to return to UK destitute, and request housing, social care and health care from the UK

Oh cue the violins!
The poorhouse clearly awaits.

Jura's post of 12.03:38 * MawB*.

I am just wondering about the people who have moved to France in the last two years as mentioned in the afore-mentioned post:

Why would anyone, especially where one is very elderly, possibly requiring healthcare in the near future, have relocated to the EU since the UK voted to leave?

Surely they should have exercised a degree of caution? I cannot understand anyone who would be so reckless and relocate to Europe, knowing there would be so many uncertainties about our future relationship.

Indeed Callistemon.

I am rather too

Why can you not buy travel insurance in Switzerland for travel in the EU? And beyond?
Surely Swiss people travel throughout the EU? And beyond (I've met some but never thought to quiz them about their travel insurance. My own costs enough).
What do they do for insurance?

Have I missed something?

That was one of my points too Callistemon.
And @maddyone - maybe others on here would have loved to have been able to spend some years in "A Place in the Sun" but couldn't do it for various reasons.
I know that we were very fortunate.

We might have relocated overseas but would have had to pay for private healthcare a not inconsiderable amount.
And our pensions would have remained at the level they were when we left the UK

So we stayed.
The grass is not always greener.

Sorry, Fennel I should have RTWT first!

It is not democracy when 17 million out of a population of 67 million voted for tbis brexit nonsense 4 years ago.and the future of our children and grandchildren has been blighted by this appalling travesty of democracy.

I've re-read *jura's post about travel insurance which says that, although travel insurance is not sold in Switzerland, the Swiss have to have compulsory (health?) insurance which covers them in the EU and worldwide.
As citizens with dual nationality you say you are both entitled to treatment on the NHS although I have heard that that is not always the case.

I am wondering what the problem can be then

What am I missing?

If I have missed something on this thread I apologise, but why is it not possible to purchase travel insurance in Switzerland?

Do Swiss Nationals not go on holiday?

Apparently they can't, GrannyGravy (I don't know why not - what about their human rights?)

From what I surmise, they have to join a national Swiss medical insurance scheme which also covers them in the EU and worldwide.
So it seems to be a compulsory combined Swiss healthcare and travel insurance.

I could have got it wrong

Apparently they can buy travel insurance for cancellation, baggage etc but it does not cover health as their compulsory health insurance covers this. It was the same in the Netherlands. Our health insurance covered us world wide.

Oh yes, the Swiss are great travellers- and yes, you got it right Calli- Swiss and Swiss residents, incl. British expats (and there are very many here, just not many in our region) have to have Private Health and Accident insurance, by Law. And that covers them worlwide automatically.

We however, have an excemption- as we are British retirees on UK pensions only, having paid into the UK system all our lives. This exemption is via Form S1- which will continue to give us cover both in Switzerland (we have to pay about £250 before it kicks in, per year, then 10% up to about £800- then free) - and also access to NHS in UK.

But this will not give us any cover in the EU after 12.20- and there is nothing here to replace it. There is no 'holiday insurance' that will cover us- as 99.99% of the population is covered- so there is no need for the vast majority of the population, and until 12.20- no need for us either. Nothing to do with human rights !

So, the only way to get insurance to travel- would be to rejoin the full Health/accident Insurance we had before official retirement age- at VERY expensive cost (as said, about £500 per month per person) and sort of pay 'twice'. Unless we can persuade an insurer to invent a new insurance product for the few, like us, in this position. As said, I don't know a single expat who is- and we are probably a very small number. All British expats I know who are retired here, worked in Switzerland for many years before retirement, and are not able to access S1 exemption, are on VERY fat Swiss pensions, and covered by their Swiss insurance scheme.

So what is the problem?

Sorry, that was a X post before I read your explanation jura

I see now.
You are caught in the middle.