Healthcare in France - the conclusion?
It appears that the rules about health care obligations for expats in France have been finalised (see note at bottom added january 2008). An approximate translation of the bulletin is as follows (please don’t rely on my summary translation if it has an important impact on you, seek professional advice - there are links to the original articles at the bottom of this article):The circular of 23rd November lays down the rules, and applies from that date.
Those resident in France who are inactive, students, or registered as unemployed can benefit from the CMU from the time that their stay in France becomes ‘regular’.
The right to stay in France depends on two conditions: having sufficient resources, and having health cover arranged. Nevertheless, those from other European countries already members of the CMU at 23rd November 2007 can continue to remain in the system.
The circular is accompanied by a list of ‘frequent questions’. Examples:
Q) What happens if someone falls ill who does not meet the two conditions above?
A) In these circumstances, the individual does not have the right to stay in France, and becomes an ‘irregular’. if the person has lived in France less than three months they are entitled to ‘urgent care’. If resident more than three months, they might benefit from AME (state medical aid) although this also has conditions related to available resources.
Q)Who is affected by these changes?
A) Inactives, and resistered unemployed who have recently moved to France and do not benefit from the CMU at 23rd November. Inactive is those who do not exercise a professional activity and therefore do not have health cover through their profession.
Q) Will current holders of E106 cover automatically enter the CMU when it expires?
A) No. The requirements to have independent health cover apply, without which the residence in France can not become ‘regular’.
Q) Who is not affected by these rules?
A) Those already in the CMU at the 23rd November, because when they joined the CMU they met all existing conditions.
(Note the answer to this question also refers to the dossier needing to be checked first by CPAM, I’m not clear why or what this might suggest).
Q) How long does someone need to live in France to become eligible to join the CMU?
A) After five years of regular, uninterrupted, residence you have a right to permanent residence in France, and with this the right to join the CMU.
Q) Are there are any exceptions allowing earlier access to the CMU?
A) Under certain unavoidable and unforseeable circumstances, referred to as an ‘accident de la vie’, this may be possible. Examples might include separation, death of a partner, divorce, impossibility of obtaining private health insurance because of a pre-existing serious illness.
Just to repeat my note of caution - I have translated this in good faith but sometimes words in translation lose some of their exact meaning. If you are in doubt you will need professional advice before making any decisions.
The original circular can be seen here (in French) and is accompanied by a list of ‘frequent questions’ seen here.
Edit: added 28 January 2008. The rule regarding holders of E106 have been relaxed, and it has now been stated that anyone resident in France at 23rd November 2007 and holding an E106 will now be entitled to join the CMU when the E106 expires.
See my commments 24.03.2008 under “the French health care system”:
what prevails after the lateset French directive has been issued E121 registration or can you cointinue to rely on your CMU insurance in case you change your status from just resident in France to resident with a statutory pension from another EUstate?