Comments on: French healthcare system – changes for expats

By: ca va

ca va — Wed, 18 May 2011 23:47:37 +0000

alors! zut
update: EU has great debts, all benefits in danger of
‘austerity.”

By: Jan de Voogd

Jan de Voogd — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 21:05:33 +0000

Even after the latest French Directive has been issued (in November) by the French authorities it is unclear to me what prevails in case a pensioner with a statutory pension from another EU state has lived for more than 5 years in France: 1) direct CMU insurance under the fRench law, or 2) right to benefits in kind under the CMU system on the basis of submissionm of an E121 form to the local insurance agency.

My question may also be formulated in another way: suppose you have been living in France for more than 5 years and been insured under the CMU system, and only after these 5 years you will receive a statutory pension from another EU country , will you have to submit an E121 form which may also imply that you have to pay your premiums to your pension state? This may be relevant fro UK pensioners (as they do not have to pay premiujms to the UK) and for Dutch pensioners (who have to pay higher premiums to the Netherlands than to the French system)

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 09:49:07 +0000

Rona,

If you have a look back on this site next week we should have an update as there are a few big changes that have come through on the 23/11/07 but we are just awaiting confirmation from the British Embassy before putting it in print. But if you have both been living in France full time and paying tax here you should be able to stay in the French system – do you both have a Carte Vitale at the moment ?

Steve

By: Rona Machin

Rona Machin — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 03:29:22 +0000

Is there a more worrying aspect to the proposed changes to health care for UK expats.? My husband has been recently turned down for 2 stents at Rennes Hospital. Both a Cardiologist in Thailand and France have acknowledged he requires them……!*?

He is covered by an E121 but is under 65. I (the spouse) am under 60. I both take care of my husband, who has a long history of major heart problems and work seasonally in the UK. Are we covered?
We’ve owned and lived in France for 16years.

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 12:46:17 +0000

Hi Linda,

As Boris points out some of this is still unclear, as France has yet clarify a few points which is why I highlighted them in the article. However I think within the coming weeks the situation is going to be made clear with regards to cover for spouses under partners E121s and cover for those with a disablity. So keep an eye out for an update.

By: Boris

Boris — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 15:50:19 +0000

Hi Linda,

Since this was a guest article I’m not able to comment specifically, but I would certainly imagine that no new law would be permitted to impinge on existing equality laws, nor would that be the intention of the new law.

Really I’d be inclined to wait if possible until the situation has been clarified before taking any important decisions (I understand our local insurance office is getting a great deal of requests for health insurance). Everything I hear one day seems to contradict what I heard the day before, so I think we are still some way from a clear understanding.

Cheers

By: Linda

Linda — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 14:24:37 +0000

I can sort of see the logic in this from the French point of view – but aren’t there also European directives regarding male/female equality? To say that if I were dependant on my husband and therefore qualify for healthcare but not the other way round does seem to contradict all we have understood about the spirit of EEC equal opportunities legislation. Why shouldn’t my husband be my dependant? I would like to see a test case go to the European court.