IFP Forums

[Ed.]

The right of access to the State health insurance system is being removed for 'non-active' expats from the EU under retirement age, although, contrary to some recent press reports, it is by no means clear this new rule applies to those already settled in France.

Some expats who are not affiliated to the health service through employment or a business, are apparently being advised that their rights to affiliation to the health service are being withdrawn.

We have made enquiries to seven of the local health authorities, four of whom advised us that the new rules do not apply to existing expats. Only one stated that it did apply to existing expats, and two were simply not informed enough to comment.

If you are an existing expat and you have been told your entitlement will cease, then do post a message, in order that we can assemble as much information as possible about what is happening on the ground.

What is your experience of these rule changes?

[Ed.]

This issue is now being covered in the French press with an article in Le Monde:

http://www.lemonde.fr/web/article/0,1-0@2-3214,36-951431@51-951543,0.html

The Ministry of Health seems to be acknowledging that the whole thing is a bit of a mess, but do not deny that the new rule itself exists.

What have you heard?

[User37862]

We are just about to move to France both below retirement age. If we are not allowed any benefits after our first two years in France, does this mean they will not be taking the social charges from our savings, which we believe are levied to pay for all the benefits the French are entitled to?

macbrit

[Ed.]

Macbrith,

I am afraid you will still be liable for the social charge (CSG/CRDS) on your savings, which is something apart from the 8% you would otherwise pay into the State health insurance system. However, the social charge will not be levied on your (future) retirement pension, provided you are a national from within the European Community.

You can read more at about it at:

http://www.french-property.com/guides/france/finance-taxation/taxation/social-security#7.6

Neither are social charges levied on certain bank savings schemes.

You can read more at:

http://www.french-property.com/guides/france/finance-taxation/banking/savings/#10.2

[Ed.]

If you have not already done so, you can read our latest update on this whole issue at:

http://www.french-property.com/newsletter/2007/9/14/health/

[Owen]

Hello,

I can only agree with your newsletter that it is "too early to panic on new health rules". Although elements of the French administration may wish to deny affiliation under CMU legislation to those whose E106 has expired this step is fraught with difficulties. By definition this category of client have been accepted by the CPAM as legal stable residents of France. Indeed issue of the E106 is tacit admission that one is shedding UK residence and all that implies. CMU will apparently still be available to French nationals so to deny the same facility to legally resident expatriates strikes me as having dubious validity. There are other factors that support continued affiliation when E106s expire and to this end I have prepared a case and forwarded it through FCO channels.

Regards

Owen
pjowen@expathealthdirect.co.uk

[Ed.]

We have today received a communication from the French Government clarifying their position on expat health cover for early retirees.

The press release advises that those proposing to relocate to France from the EU on an E106 will continue to be permitted health cover on the same terms as at present. That is to say, health cover for up to two years, depending on national insurance contribution record.

At the expiry of the E106, those who remain 'non-active' will be required to take out private medical insurance.

Those currently in France in the CMU will be allowed six months cover to find private medical insurance.

There is no change for those who are covered by an E121 i.e. fo those of retirement age or in receipt of long-term incapacity benefit.

We question the legal validity of this decision and we hope that it will be challenged in the French social security tribunal.

We also believe there are employment or business solutions, which could legitimately be explored, as we set out in our last newsletter.

http://www.french-property.com/newsletter/2007/9/14/health/

[Ed.]

Herewith a copy of the press release we have received, in French:

Au regard du droit communautaire, la libre circulation et le droit de séjour des citoyens européens sont des principes et ceux-ci ne peuvent se voir exiger un titre de séjour. Néanmoins, une directive de 2004 fixe certains critères pour les inactifs ainsi que les étudiants et les membres de leur famille :

Au titre de la directive 2004/38, la régularité du séjour de ces personnes dans un autre Etat membre que leur Etat d’origine est conditionnée par 2 critères :
- la détention d'une assurance maladie préalable
- des ressources suffisantes afin de ne pas devenir une charge déraisonnable pour les finances de l'Etat d'accueil.

Cette nouvelle directive a été transposée en droit français notamment par la loi 2006-911 du 24 juillet 2006 et par le décret 2007-371 du 21 mars 2007.

Ces deux textes qui reprennent fidèlement ces deux critères conduisent à considérer qu’un ressortissant communautaire inactif venant résider dans notre pays ne peut se prévaloir d’un droit au séjour s’il n’est pas titulaire au préalable d’une couverture maladie.

Au regard de ces deux textes, voici les précisions que souhaite apporter la sécurité sociale concernant la situation des ressortissants britanniques :

1) Il n'y a pas dans la réglementation française de mesure spécifiques en matière d'assurance maladie pour les ressortissants britanniques. Ceux-ci reçoivent le même traitement, en droits et en obligations, que les autres citoyens de l'Union européenne résidant ou venant résider en France.

2) Il n'y a aucune modification pour les personnes qui peuvent présenter une attestation (E 106 ou E 121) de droit aux prestations d'assurance maladie délivrée par l'administration britannique. Ils continuent à pouvoir s'inscrire auprès de la CPAM de leur lieu de résidence pour bénéficier des prestations françaises servies pour le compte du régime britannique, aussi longtemps que ces attestations sont valables.

3) Pour les personnes inactives qui bénéficiaient déjà de la CMU du fait de la réglementation antérieure, il leur est accordé un délai pour 6 mois, pour s'affilier à une assurance privée. Pendant cette période, ils continueront à être couverts par la CMU.

4) Pour les nouvelles demandes, c'est à dire pour les personnes inactives qui viennent résider en France et sollicitent le bénéfice de la CMU, les CPAM doivent refuser car, aux termes de la directive européenne 2004/38 sur le droit de séjour des citoyens de l'Union européenne (transposée notamment sur cet aspect par le décret n° 2007-371 du 21 mars 2007), ces personnes inactives doivent détenir une assurance maladie préalable à leur installation en France.

5) Si une personne inactive n'est pas couverte par le régime d'assurance maladie d'un autre Etat membre au moment de son installation en France, elles doivent contracter une assurance privée avant ou dès leur arrivée en France.

6) Des instructions vont être rapidement diffusées aux caisses d'assurance maladie françaises pour leur rappeler ces dispositions et leur préciser qu'elles s'appliquent à toutes les personnes concernées, seules les personnes déjà admises à la CMU bénéficiant du délai mentionné au point 3) ci-dessus.

7) Pour toute information complémentaire concernant leur situation personnelle, les concernées peuvent s'adresser aux services de la CNAMTS (service téléphonique anglophone + 33 (0)8 20 90 42 12) ou au CLEISS (+ 33 (0)1 45 26 33 41).

[Ed.]

We have received a number of calls from those with a pre-existing medical condition who consider they will be unlikely to obtain private health insurance, or to obtain it at an affordable rate.

We have this morning spoken to the French authorities on this point. They advise that a more detailed circular will be issued in the near future, which MAY offer some concessions to those in this position. However, there is no timescale for publication of the circular, and no guarantee that any concessions will be offered.

We also learned this morning that the French authorities are fully expecting there will be a legal challenge to this new law. Indeed, not only are they expecting it, but there is some concern that it may well be successful. We believe there is concern, in particular, about the potential weakness of their position in the differing treatment being afforded to those from within the European Community and those outside of the EU. Thus, someone from the USA who is legally resident in France would have the right of access to the State health insurance system, whilst this right is not accorded to someone from the EU in the same position i.e. under retirement age and inactive.

We also consider that the French authorities have failed to properly consider how the cessation of either employment or a business activity would affect the future rights of those from the EU to the State health insurance cover. In our view, if someone from the EU took employment or started a business, which later ceased, they would then have access into the State health insurance system, and would do so for an indefinite period. The civil servant with whom we spoke this morning did not disagree with this potential scenario. It may well be, therefore, that if this loophole exists, further steps may be taken to close it, at which point it is likely the risk of a legal transgression of both French and European law by the French Government will be even greater!

[Margaret Powderley]

We will shortly be retiring to France, I will be 60 officially retired and in receipt of my UK goevernment pension, so I will be able to get an E121. My husband however, will be taking early retirement at 59 and will have an E106, he will be 61 when his E106 expires. I understand that it used to be possible to then have your husband/spouse as ar dependent under my E121, does anyone know if this will still be the case? any information would be appreicated.