Website aims to battle French health care changes

A WEBSITE has been launched that aims to lead a campaign to ensure the recent changes to the French health care system will not mean people have to sell their homes and return to the UK.

The French Health Issues site aims to provide the latest information that is available on the changes, but also gather together case study examples and put people in touch with parliamentary representatives from the UK, France and the European Union.

Deborah Dudley, aged 53, left the UK three and a half years ago and retired to a property near Le Mans with her husband, who is 59, and is one of the people behind the website after seeing the possible impact the health changes could have on her own life in France.

"We will have to pay for private health cover and although my husband suffers from asthma he doesn't take many drugs," Deborah said.

"But difficulties could arise if he gets something related, for example, a bout of pneumonia which has happened before and if this means a hospital visit, but the insurance company say 'it is related to your asthma so pay for it yourself', we could be talking a lot of money."

Although the French Health Issues website has only been up a few days already a number of people have contacted Deborah and those helping her run it.

Messages have been sent by people who suffer from high blood pressure who've checked health insurance policies, but found they won't be covered for pre-existing conditions.

Others who are currently undergoing medical treatment, for example, chemotherapy are unsure what the future holds, and people are looking at ways to register small businesses to ensure they are registered in the system.

While one of the biggest concerns for Deborah is that people looking to move to France soon might not be aware of the impact the changes could have.

"One of the misconceptions is that the changes will only impact on rich Brits who've retired early," Deborah said.

"But those worst hit are likely to be those who can't afford to pay for health insurance, either because they are ill or they have retired to France as it's the only way they can stretch their pension to afford to keep a home.

"Right now there could be people sat in the UK signing a contract on the sale of their home who are unaware of these changes and won't know what difficulties they could face."

Raising awareness of the issue will be one of the key elements of the site with advice available on how people can lobby representatives of the parliaments in France, the UK and Europe, as well as the media.

The site is also looking to gather together the experiences of how individuals have been dealt with by both the French and UK authorities, as already different interpretations of the regulations have been made by CPAM offices.

"Many people have worked hard all their lives and have either retired from work as expected or due to a health issue," said Deborah. "And if they were in the UK they would still have access to the NHS.

"The EU rules currently in place are meant to ensure the free movement of people in member states, but without access to healthcare that is just a myth.

"Since moving here people have paid into the system, paid all their bills when required and now this has all been changed.

"A concerted effort will be needed to make it obvious to the authorities that they are dealing with human beings and to ensure people don't becoming ‘stateless’ as a result of the new French legislation."

Website: French Health Issues

Update: 16/12/07 French health changes could still bite back

Comments

[Gill Barker]

I can understand the French govenment to a point. There is a high percentage of British people who have now retired to France. However, there are many French people living in England and as they are EU members they receive free medical treatment in the UK. This doesnt seem fair!

[dougb]

Hi gill, not quite true, if retired they (the french retired in uk) will have an E121 so france picks up the tab.
The changes for us in France are certainly not fair though. They affect "ressortissants britanique" more than other EU folks as we are probably the largest group here.
My familly have been here 10 years so having a good grasp of the language i wrote to the CPAM (in limoges) and asked that our and others situation be clarified. In reply I received a call from the lady in charge of the service internationale to say that when our E106 expires in Jan 08, (odd, but we have had it for the 10 years because of our situation)we should apply to Newcastle for an extension(which will be refused)and then apply to her. Point: She said it will be considered on the basis of the lenght of time we have been resident. After 5 Years, and from I believe the start of this year EU and other citizens can apply for a "carte de sejour résidence permenante" so, apart from the fact that it is a very useful document to carry and lighter than a passport, could reduce the paperwork in proving residence of over 5 years.
This could be great for those here already, those on the point of "early retirement" and signing for a property... well it is as it was 10 years ago. Then you needed to prove you could support yourself and provide your own medical cover before becoming resident! This rule is blatantly contray to the spirt of the EU, perhaps why they changed the law and outlawed the sale of private insurance in 2000.
I have wrote to all my local MEPs (6) in France and in my old local area in the UK(6).I have had replys from all the UK ones, and 1 french so far( to be fair the french ones were contacted yesterday).
All were asked to support Mary Honeyballs, MEP's declaration. With any luck things will change. As the lady from my local CPAM said, things are changing daily!

Sorry for drolling on, but the more people who contact there MEP's and local represntative the more pressure will be applied to remove this unjust interpretation of the EU directive.In my humble opinion it is illegal under the French constitution. Sighting the term "égalité"...et pour qui, mais oui,... pour tous et toutes !

[B Watling]

With regard to the above re Carte de Sejour Permanante, I was unnder the impression that this catre was no lonnger neccessary in France, haas their law changed again.???

[Deborah Dudley]

The rules on titres de sejour have indeed changed, but only for newcomers to France. See the French government announcement, here
http://vosdroits.service-public.fr/particuliers/F12017.xhtml?&n=Etrangers%20en%20France&l=N8&n=Citoyens%20communautaires%20en%20France&l=N112
It may indeed prove to be wise to insist on having a permanent CdeS once you have 5 years' residence, as it could improve your chances of retaining your CMU rights in the future.

[Craig McGinty]

Many thanks for everyone's comments, it looks like this issue has a long way to go yet.
Regards
Craig

[william richmond]

Any comments on our situation? I'm married to a French citizen who gets her full UK state pension + E121 when she become 60 at beginning of December 2007. She is also applying for a small French state pension earned when she worked in France in the 1970s. I will be 65 in June 2008 with a UK state pension + E121(hopefully).We have lived(retired) in France since 1999 hence 8+yrs of permanent residence.We have been paying full CMU contributions, all impots etc since that time.I am a dependent on my wife's Carte Vitale at the moment. I assume she will be covered under the CMU system but what are the chances of myself remaining as a dependent on her Carte Vitale? There has been some comment that certain CPAMs are not recognising Form E121 and a phone call to Newcastle this week indicated that the French Authorities have started querying the value of Form E121.

[Craig McGinty]

Hi William
I think your situation highlight two of the main points that are yet to be resolved.

No one seems to be able to say if a husband will be covered by his wife's Carte Vitale, although it seems likely cover will exist if the situation is the other way round.

Whilst the possible five year rule on residency has been mentioned in some quarters, but some offices are unaware if cover will apply in this situation.

All I can say is that I will ensure the site covers any future announcements.

All the best, Craig

[william richmond]

Thanks Craig,
Look forward to hearing of any updates that arise! From this end(Grenoble) we will keep the site posted with our situation. Here's an interesting personal observation....... have the French Authorities calculated the loss in revenue that will occur when all the European expats stop contributing to the CMU.I am certain ( as a doctor) that a significant number of contributors do not get their money's worth!!

[Craig McGinty]

Hi William, must agree you are not alone in wondering what real "savings" are likely to be made from the changes.
And please feel free to either drop me a line or leave a comment with any updates you see.
All the best, Craig

[christina]

hi there, i'm very confused and i don't think it's just the hormones! can you explain where we stand and if i'm faced with having baby in UK rather than France as hoped. hubby and i have had an address in france 2 years in january, we're uk residents and i've applied for self employed this year wanting to keep myself right with uk tax man. i'm now 6 months pregnant and have returned to french home to have baby as had good reports from friends on maternity care here. husband had e106 sent to him in the summer which covers him until june 2008 but no mention of me on it. i need to know if i'm automatically covered as his wife? i went to cpam the other day and he wants me to ring newcastle to see if i can get e106 in my own right? what is he up to? i thought i was automatically covered as i'm married to e106 holder and thought i'd just need to sign document to say i was married and show relevant marriage and birth certs etc? am worried response from newcastle and tie up with french system will take longer than the baby!! due in feb! the guy said to come back to cpam with docs bill for refund but still wants me to pursue e106 for me and if not, letter from newcastle why not. is he a jobsworth and i have really nothing to worry about as pregnant ladies have 100% cover in France or will they hit us with a bill at end of all this which we an't afford? any help gratefully received!!