Hoping to be in Gozo by April 2010

hello
we are the only belgian on that blog in Malta.
I came here,like you,because of my gipsy blood,I've been living 4 years on my sailing boat,and when I had to work to refill my pockets,I thought that soon I 'll go back to an island..Now it's made,I live in Malta,and my boat is near me,ready to use,and to visit the islands beauties.
I work for movies,I build the sets.
I've not visit Gozo yet,I just passed close,coming from Sicily,but what I've heard is : Malta is Malta and Gozo,another country.
I've planned to go to gozzo after this too hot summer,and,will make my own idea about it.
You talked about tchatin',that's what I try to do..
Hope to hear from you
Marco

Hi Marco,
Thank you for your thoughts. I am very excited at this new adventure.  I have discovered through the Embassy that I can apply for an extended visitor visa anytime I like.  I would do that right now except that I do not have an address which is required to apply.  So I am still having little issues, questions if you may, on what exactly I can do right now.  We are looking at the great old farmhouses to rent while in Gozo.  They are amazing!  We are talking about flying down to Malta in January and look at real estate and make a decision on where we will live on Gozo.
If when you visit Gozo maybe you can give me some ideas of which little villages you liked best and why.
Thank you again Marco!  Hope to see that sail boat of yours someday!
Debbie

Hello,

me and my wife are also planning a move to the northern part of Malta or Gozo. 
We went several times over there.  This Monday (September 7) we'll be coming back for a couple of nights in Mellieha and after we're going for a couple of nights to Gozo. 
We already have some Belgian friends who live on the islands.
But it's always nice to meet some new people that are familiar with Maltese life.  Right now we are checking, what will be the best place to live for us.  Malta or Gozo.
Off course it depends on the work we'll find.

An other question for Marco is: Is it true that we don't need health insurance as when you work and you pay social security contributions, you are covered for health issues??????????

Hope to keep in contact with you.

Greetings.

Hi Bennylas,

if you are from a EU member country and apply for a European Health Insurance Card in your home country. Then you are entitled to free health care in Malta the same as Maltese citizens . But many Expats (and Maltese) have a private insurance too and pay for certain things on their own . It is not too expensive here .

If you work in Malta , you pay social security fees and have health insurance as well .If you are from a non-EU contry it is all a lot more complicated to get a work permit and get public health care .If you pay social security private health insurance companies give you a rebate as their risk is lower .

Regards
Ricky

Hello,

I know that certain people who work there also pay for a private insurance to obtain better healtcare.  But as you work you are entitled for free governmental healtcare.  And often they have the same doctors for private and governmental.  So why pay extra insurance for private healthcare then?

About the European health insurance card, you can obtain it in your home country and get free healtcare in your new country.  But this is only for temporary stay and not if you planning a new life in that country.

Greetings,

benny (tomorrow we'll be back in our paradise).

Hi bennylas,
have a good trip back to Malta .

Why a private supplemental health insurance? Well , many of our Maltese friends have it or pay private  so it can't be that bad .About 20 % of Maltese patients use only government health care and about 20 % use only private coverage , the rest use both and pay private if necessary .Of course , you can just walk into one of the several governmental health care centres dotted over the island and wait your turn to be treated by the doctor on duty at the time. Others prefer to be able to build a relationship with 'their' doctor for regular consultations and treatment. Necessary medicine has to be paid for anyway unless you are on low income and are exempt. Dental treatment apart from emergencies are not covered either .

If you are only visiting Malta the EHIC plus ID is sufficient ,otherwise you need to exchange the EHIC for a Certificate of Entitlement to qualify for the state -run health service.This is available from the Entitlement Unit at the Ministry of Health in Valletta.

So I think public and private insurance kind of supplement each other . But you are right , if you are covered by social security health care you don't need a private insurance.

I'm very happy with my ( private)doc and hope I don't have to go and visit the local polyclinic ! -)))

Regards
Ricky

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