Holidays and dialysis, two words which are not incompatible but which require a certain organization. For Stéphane, for eight years, his life has been synonymous with planning. Waiting for renal transplant, his weeks are divided into two stages: dialysis on the one hand and its personal activities on the other. But in summer, complications are felt. His illness leaves no room for spontaneity. “I said goodbye to the unforeseen events and the magic of last-minute decisions since the start of my kidney failure,” he said.
This 61 -year -old Parisian goes four days a week to a dialysis session. “I am accompanied in a clinic close to my home. I always choose the 18-hour niche to give me time, the day, to do my personal activities, “he explains. It must be said, the four hours of dialysis are a significant source of fatigue. “The advantage of ending the day with dialysis is that after I go home and has little to do,” he says.
Reserve the dialysis centers several months in advance
But when approaching the holidays, everything is jostling. For reservations for dialysis sessions, it is important to determine as soon as possible the period, place or region chosen. “In France, it’s very complicated. Centers favor patients in the region. It is necessary to book more than a year in advance, ”deplores Stéphane.
In the other countries of the European Union, it is simpler. “I went to Greece last year, I called the closest city dialysis center a month before my arrival and they had slots,” he said. “In recent years, I have also been leaving every year to Morocco. With them, it’s very fast and they take into account the social security reimbursement price, ”underlines Stéphane.
A large dependent remains depending on the country
Because yes, it must be said, a dialysis session costs a lot of money. In France, it takes around 400 euros per session. They are obviously 100 % supported by Social Security. But when you go abroad, it’s different. “On the old continent and with the European health insurance card, the sessions are fully reimbursed if the country has signed a specific agreement. But outside the European Union, there is a package of 86.95 euros reimbursed per session. So when it’s a session at 400 euros and there are four a week, it’s impossible, ”says Stéphane.
“The system is not easy. We have chronic care and yet we have the same system as people who have a unique consultation abroad. And the rest is not normal. It is not with our disabled adult help that we can travel like everyone else ”
This is the reason why he chooses Morocco today to deposit his suitcases in summer. “The hospital that carries out my on-site dialysis sessions has had the intelligence to cap this treatment at the same price as social security so that there is no remains to the patient,” he rejoices. “You still have to be patient. Health insurance takes about four months to reimburse us in full and it requires significant administrative procedures. »»
Administrative procedures that no longer end
Because France is the queen of endless procedures, you must indeed have no administrative phobia. According to the Ameli site, a favorable opinion from the reimbursement organization is possible and “is materialized by the request of an administrative agreement to take care of the health insurance fund before departure. Other papers are added to it: an authorization from the nephrologist, and an invoice from the dialysis center on the vacation location. “This invoice is to be sent to the Social Security and then you have the agreement to leave. But advice, send the request by email if you want an answer before your return, ”smiles Stéphane.
“Upon your return to France, you must transmit your original acquitted invoices and proof probing payment (for example: proof of checking checks, an account statement attesting to a cash withdrawal corresponding to the amount of the expense.) To your health insurance fund, accompanied by the S3125 care care received abroad and the administrative agreement of management”, specifies health insurance on its site. Added to this, a CERFA care document abroad, and a copy of plane tickets
Stéphane deplores the complexity of the reimbursement for a care without which he could not live. “The system is not easy. We have chronic care and yet we have the same system as people who have a unique consultation abroad. And the rest is not normal. It is not with our disabled adult help that we can travel like everyone else. For this fifties, to pass the ocean, it is not even possible.
